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You are here: Home / Archives for Belinda Pollard

Pen Names: Different names for different genres?

By Belinda Pollard 44 Comments

One of the reasons writers use pen names is not because of any need for privacy or secrecy, but purely to help readers differentiate between the different types of books they write.

This is a reason close to my own heart, and you’ll soon see why.

I’ve discovered that pen names are an issue occupying a lot of writers’ minds, since my previous Pen Name articles, 3 reasons for using a pen name, and How to choose a pen name continue to generate conversation.

That’s why I thought I’d walk you through the steps I’ve used to decide: Will I use a pen name for different genres? (You’ll have to read to the end to find out my answer! Oh, the suspense.)

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Self-Publishing

Tools I use for Writing, Publishing & Blogging

By Belinda Pollard 27 Comments

I often get questions about what I’m using for different phases of writing, publishing and blogging.

I’ve seen other bloggers post a list of their favourite tools and I’ve found them really handy. I think, “Ooh, what are they using for such-and-such??” and voila! there is the answer. 🙂

So [drumroll….] here is my list. Hope you find some useful ideas in it. 🙂

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Self-Publishing, Writing & Editing

The other reason book editors are SO expensive

By Belinda Pollard 44 Comments

I’m an editor, but also a writer. This is the second in my series on why book editing costs so much!

Filed Under: Self-Publishing, Writing & Editing

Why are book editors so expensive??

By Belinda Pollard 76 Comments

I’m an editor. But I’m also a writer. I hire editors for my own projects, out of my own funds, and it hurts! Why are editors so expensive?

Filed Under: Self-Publishing, Writing & Editing

The one big reason authors need to blog

By Belinda Pollard 26 Comments

There’s a lot of kerfuffle on the net about whether authors need to blog, and people coming down on both sides of the debate.

Just this week, I was thinking about the one big reason why it’s good to blog if we possibly can.

Yes, it’s good to get some writing practice, it’s good to build community, it’s good to have a “marketing hub” for our efforts, but the clincher for me — the thing that’s hard to get any other way — is this one…

Filed Under: Book Marketing, Self-Publishing

How to self-publish a print book, worldwide

By Belinda Pollard 21 Comments

The world is abuzz with how ebooks have revolutionised self-publishing. However, their “comrades” in the publishing revolution — print-on-demand paperbacks — are the often-overlooked Quiet Achievers.

Someone working in their pyjamas can now supply a professional-standard paperback to a global audience, without spending the kids’ inheritance or becoming a slave to the post office.

Let’s look at how this works, and how to tell if it’s a good path for you to take.

Filed Under: Self-Publishing

How to create a (professional) book from your blog

By Belinda Pollard 4 Comments

Roll up! Roll up! Make a book from your blog today in ten minutes and sell it to naive readers!

Hmmm. [makes frowny face]

Creating a book from your blog is a fantastic idea… but I wish there weren’t so many “gurus” luring writers into creating poor-quality books that may damage their careers, on the chance of making a quick buck.

If you’d like to create a book from your blog that will:

–Boost your credibility and reputation as a writer and/or in your chosen field
–Be something you’ll be proud of for many years to come
–Actually HELP people
…then read on. 🙂

Filed Under: Writing & Editing

3 surprising facts about self-publishing

By Belinda Pollard 29 Comments

I encounter a whole swirl of opinions about self-publishing, from naivete to quiet confidence to militant opposition to strident support.

And I run into a lot of myths. Oh. My. Gosh. So many myths.

It’s much easier to decide whether or not to self-publish if you have a clearer picture of the facts.

So let’s see if we can debunk a few of those myths, shall we? 😉

Filed Under: Self-Publishing

Briefing a Beta Reader: Practical details

By Belinda Pollard 15 Comments

Beta readers are those wonderful people (often volunteers) who read and critique the manuscripts of our books. Chosen carefully, briefed effectively and “heard” with discernment, I regard them as the superheroes of self-publishing. They can provide forms of editing – especially in the developmental stages of a book – that many self-publishers miss out on.

Traditionally-published writers need beta readers, too. You’ll find that most successful authors have at least one and often a team of them, whether they are other writers, editors, or trusted advisors who read their work before it reaches the publisher.

Last time in our beta reader series, we talked about a wise general approach to briefing a beta reader. This time, let’s look at some tips for the logistical side of your briefing.

Filed Under: Beta Readers, Writing & Editing

Putting your SELF into your writing: Exercise 2

By Belinda Pollard Leave a Comment

Writing that gives us insight into the writer’s life and emotions makes a personal story come alive.

And the techniques we learn from releasing our own stories can be used in a variety of writing situations and genres: memoir, self-help, how-to, anecdotes for a variety of non-fiction projects, blogging and even fiction.

In Exercise 1: Time Travel we used introspective methods to extract life and colour from our memories.

Exercise 2: The Interview is a completely different approach. This time, you ask someone to assist you by asking questions, and you record the conversation for later review. It’s similar to techniques I’ve used myself a number of times over the years, when helping authors bring a dry or incomplete story to life.

Check out these “interview” tips, to see if they could help you with your story.

Filed Under: Memoir & Personal Story, Writing & Editing

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Lawnton, Queensland, 4501
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I hope to see you again soon. ~ Belinda

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