Pen to Pen

In the Pen to Pen column, authors share what they’ve learned about the art and business of writing. From creating characters to marketing your book, we’ve got it covered.

Do you have wisdom to share, or maybe a lesson you learned the hard way? Please sign up to be a guest author.

Pen to Pen: Write Blurbs that Sell More Books with Clare London

I’ve been working on blurbs for some upcoming releases these past couple weeks, so the topic of this week’s Pen to Pen post by gay-romance writer Clare London has been fresh on my mind. She’s got some great tips for luring in new readers with the power of your words. And since you’re a writer, isn’t that what you were born to do? … Read more

Pen to Pen: Audiobook Creation for Indie Authors with Isobel Starling

black man speaking into microphone

This week in Pen to Pen, romance author Isobel Starling stops by to advise independent authors on publishing and marketing audiobooks using ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), a platform developed by Amazon and Audible.com. She’s got a lot of information, so she’ll have two columns this week. Today’s, “Using ACX: Audiobook Creation for Indie Authors” is on creating your audiobook and paying for a narrator. On Thursday, she’ll be back with some great promotional tips in “Marketing Your Audiobook.” … Read more

Pen to Pen: Matching Character Dialogue to Age with Ginna Wilkerson

infographic condensing the main article points

I spent last week revising a young adult story that had been lazing around on my hard drive, so the topic of this week’s Pen to Pen column by Ginna Wilkerson has been on my mind. Wilkerson recently published the young adult urban fantasy Buried Secrets, for which she had to reacquaint herself with the ways that teens talk—not only now, but also three centuries ago. Read her advice and try out the easy-to-follow checklist. … Read more

Pen to Pen: Editing your first chapter with Annetta Ribken

People sitting on couch, working on tablet and laptop

Developmental editing takes a look at the big picture, rather than the nitty-gritty of word choice and grammar. It’s the first type of editing any story should go through. Annetta offers great advice on specific things to ask yourself and where to start: your first chapter.

… Read more

Pen to Pen: Selling your Special with Sonni de Soto

group of smiling friends covered in body paint

Guest author Sonni de Soto argues that the key to success is to publishing success is emphasizing what makes you different. Sell based on what makes you special. Your stories are one-of-a-kind, and that’s what readers are looking for. … Read more