Writing Tips – Esther Davis

Print on Demand Coming to Draft2Digital

With most of my writing time going towards that novel I keep promising, I realize the blog posts have become a bit scarce. So I figured I’d drop in few words about my favorite self-publishing service and their latest announcement.

All you self-publishing author out there, let me recommend Draft2Digital, an eBook publishing and distribution service. Having personally used both Amazon and Draft2Digital, I’m thrilled about Draft2Digital’s latest announcement: Draft2Digital is beta testing their new Print on Demand service.

Currently, Draft2Digital lets authors distribute their eBooks through a dozen different channels, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, OverDrive, and Google Play Books. Authors can set their book to any price, including $0 if they want to give their readers a freebie. Draft2Digital takes their cut as a percentage of your sales, which means no upfront cost for you.

Their partner site Books2Read allows authors to display their books alongside an author page. (Here’s mine.) Books2Read provides each book a “UBL”, or Universal Book Link, which links readers to their favorite eBook provider when purchasing your book. Draft2Digital and Books2Read turn both self-publishing and self-marketing into a seamless process.
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How To Eat An Elephant

I started writing seriously in junior high. I took creative writing classes, went to workshops with authors, and entered every creative writing contest I could. I spent several summers dedicated to writing stories and studying how to write. And I read. Lots.

I guess writing tends to run in the family, because my dad is an author, too. He got a degree in English Literature, wasn’t satisfied with what his English professors had taught him, and went on to find all of the how-to writing books I ended up studying. Any skill I have in writing I credit to him.

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When “Just Write It” Doesn’t Work

“Just write it,” they said. “It’ll get easier once its on paper,” they said. Fine. You’ll just write it. But their advice isn’t working. Everything you write sounds like junk.

Time to dump your failed manuscript off the nearest bridge.

Or maybe you can hang onto that “failed manuscript” a moment longer, because I have a secret: Everyone’s first draft sounds like junk. Quit thinking that you’re some special failed-case. You can still be a great writer!

Writing is a process. “Just write it” is the first step, not the last. Once you understand the process, you can turn your “failed manuscript” into a story to be proud of.

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Why Writers Should Never Quit: 3 Lessons from Aesop’s Fables

Frustrated at writing? Find some motivation from Aesop’s Fables.

Face it, writing is hard. Some days are frustrating. Others, out right impossible. But those are the days when you need to hit the keyboard (hopefully to type, not smash it to bits) and keep trying anyway because someone out there is waiting for your story.

Every piece you write is like planting a tree. At first your orchard looks like just a few twigs in the ground. But one day, you’ll have a fruit-laden forest.

On those days (or weeks, or months) when writing looks impossible, remember these 3 age-worn Aesop’s Fables to help you keep writing. Continue reading “Why Writers Should Never Quit: 3 Lessons from Aesop’s Fables”

Leaving Out the Parts that People Skip: 3 Ways to Write More Exciting Fiction

Elmore Leonard said to “leave out the parts that people skip” when you write. Read 3 ways to do just that.

Nothing better than a good book. Nothing worse than a boring one.

How do you write those exciting books that readers love? There’s a whole lot more to it than fits in a blog post, but three important tips will help you follow Elmore Leonard’s advise and “leave out the parts that people skip.”

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