The Authorpreneur Blog
Amelia D. Hay is a virtual writing and business coach for fiction writers and the host of The Authorpeneur Podcast. Every week, on this blog, she will teach you how to develop a story idea, create compelling characters and outline your novel. Learn how to write your first draft, revise your story, self-publish, establish your author platform, and reach readers. In her, Behind the Scenes Podcast Diary (BTS) she shares an honest account of her journey to self-publishing her novels.
How to Increase Your Daily Word Count
Are you struggling to get those words out of your head and onto that blank page? Or, even find time to write? But, when you do write your daily word count is quite small. The truth is, you don’t need more time, you need to use the time you have more efficiently and increase your daily word count.
5 Tips to Become a Better Writer
So, you’ve written the first draft of your debut fiction novel and your staring at the words on the page in terror. You’ve realised you need to become a better writer. I want you to know that you’re not alone. I remember looking back at the first thing I ever wrote and shuddering. It was awful, but I knew this experience was a part of the process to becoming a professional writer. Editing your manuscript is a necessary step to improving your work. But, what actionable step can you take beyond the realm of editing? How do you become a better writer? How do you ensure that each manuscript you write is better than the last?
How to Edit the First Draft of Your Non-Fiction Book
Congratulations! You’ve finally finished writing the first draft of your non-fiction book. I think it’s really important you take the time to celebrate your current level of success because not every aspiring author makes it this far. It’s at this stage of the writing process that many new writers find themselves confused about the next steps they should take. In this blog post, I will share with you, how to take the next step and edit the first draft of your nonfiction book.
The truth about your first book
Every aspiring writer has a vision of their life post-publication. For most people, this dream is full of images of success. Let’s face it, no one dreams of publishing their first book and hearing crickets. But, this is the post-publication reality for most first-time authors. This is what has prompted me to write this blog post, to share with you the truth about your first book and what to expect. Knowing what to expect is so important, because if you can pre-empt moments of failure and success, then you also have the power to change your experience.
How to overcome the fear of judgment as a writer
Is fear holding you back, from writing and publishing your book? Fear of failure, fear of judgement, and fear of success hold many aspiring authors from writing their first book. One of the biggest fears among writers and first-time authors is fear of judgement. You can often feel like a fraud and, as a result, end up consumed by fear, a fear that someone is going to call you out for not being an expert, but a fraud. Writing is one of those amazing things that can force you to face these fears. What do you do when you’re so gripped with fear and can’t bear to finish your first draft or go on to the next phase of writing? How do you overcome the fear of judgement?
How to Overcome Writer’s Block
The blank page can often seem a difficult foe to overcome. This is because of a wonderful thing called resistance. It’s that feeling of tension between taking action and staying where you are. Everyone, no matter what goal they set will have to overcome resistance. The interesting thing about resistance is, the longer you put off taking action, the greater the resistance you will experience. Do you wonder how other authors manage to get words out of their head and onto the page? Do you want to know their secrets? This is exactly what I am going to share with you in this blog post, four ways to overcome writer’s block and banish it for good.
How to write a non-fiction book
Do you dream of writing a non-fiction book? Are you struggling to figure out where to start? If so, then this blog post is for you. This blog post will take you through a step by step process on how to write a non-fiction book. It starts off with helping you to chose an idea or topic, then it launches into giving your idea structure, and finally completing your first draft. The more structure or work you do before you write your first draft the easier the book will be to create and publish.
My Love-Hate Relationship With Scrivener
There’s more to writing a book than putting words on paper or to digital memory. Regardless of the genre of your book, you will need to go through a similar set of steps before you publish your book. To do this you will need a tool. When I first started writing, I started off using Word. Using a word processing programme was difficult. I had to format the document correctly from the first moment I typed my first word. This lead me to use Scrivener. It got a tonne of rave reviews from other well-respected authors, so I downloaded it to try. Fast forward 18 months, I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with scrivener. I would like to add my relationship is more love than hate. Here is my list of the pros and cons to using scrivener to write your first or next book.
5 Tips on How to Balance Writing, Work and Your Personal Life
One of the biggest challenges new or aspiring authors face is life balance. The act of balancing their personal life, a corporate job, as well as writing books. This balancing act can be overwhelming and can feel like you’re making no progress at all. This leads to many aspiring authors feeling like they don’t have enough time, and wanting to give up.
How to Create Great Writing Habits
If you’re anything like me, then you dream of being organised but consistently fail. You’ve read a lot of information on creating great writing habits. But, these blog posts seem to be written by people who don’t get you. This blog post is different. It’s written by someone who is just like you. So, I’d love to invite you on my journey to overcoming writer’s procrastination and create great writing habits. So, let’s get started
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Hello!
My Books
A van Gogh is Missing and A Body is on the Lawn
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?
A killer is on the loose, Excalibur is missing, and his career is on the line…
James, the chief editor of a small newspaper, returns home to discover that his girlfriend, Valentine has unexpectedly left. Later that morning, he fails to reallocate her story. To avoid blank space in the paper, James decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on… Excalibur is Missing, and his girlfriend has been kidnapped.
Currently on sale for 99¢
Find it on Amazon:
What I’m Writing Now!
Revised Draft
70,483 of 80,000 Words
Right now, I’m preparing Book Two in the James Lalonde series, for a final round of revisions. The next step is to send the story off to my editor. I aim to have this eBook published on all major ebook retailers by the end of mid to late 2021. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Publishing Updates
First Draft
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of late 2021 or early 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Revised Draft
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in late 2021 or early 2022. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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