Member Blog

It’s free to join SPR and blog about your writing experiences. Read the latest blog entries from our community

Plot Development…Key to success

There is nothing in a caterpillar that lets you know it will someday become a butterfly…

When you think about plot, story, many things may come to mind: compelling characters, twists, unique situations and emotional ties to the reader…. at least in good plots, right? But the question most writers want the answer to is “how?” How did Tsugumi Ohba create such a compelling story, how did C.S. Lewis write multiple stories that were fresh and unique?

These are the C’s in Success… in school “C” meant average, when you have the following C’s you are an average writer, so […]

2011-10-08T18:07:44+02:00June 11th, 2010|Categories: Member Blog|

Why I Self-Publish

You may wonder why I chose to become an independent publisher, especially if you know how much I resisted the idea of self-publishing for years. My first children’s book The Haunted Igloo, was published in 1991 by a traditional publisher, Houghton Mifflin. But authors know that getting the second or third book published doesn’t always happen. Even if you have a toe in the door, that door is often slammed on it. Hard. The sequel to that book (Spirit Lights) was rejected, as was another one. But the fact is, after my husband became ill and went […]

2011-10-08T18:08:56+02:00June 10th, 2010|Categories: Member Blog|

An Interview with Amber Riley

An interview with Amber Riley, author of Kindred Blood. Info on completing this interview here.

1. How did you come to self-publish? Did you try to get published
traditionally?

I did try to find an agent. I believe I sent query letters to about 10 seeking representation before decided to self-publish. Once I found iUniverse, I thought it would suit me better than traditional publishing. I write because I love to write. I was worried it would become more like work than my passion.

2. What self-publishing service did you use? Happy with the service?

I used iUniverse […]

2011-10-08T18:11:44+02:00June 1st, 2010|Categories: Interviews, Member Blog|

Getting a Free eBook with a Physical Book

Cross-posted at my blog as well.

I saw a post on the Kindle forums asking “Will Amazon offer free to Kindle users, the hardcovers they have purchased?” and the obvious answer is no, since it’s not Amazon’s decision. Books you buy are not just the words of a story, no matter how ideal that would be. You’re purchasing a product, and a lease to use (read) that product in a certain environment. It’s not the words themselves that are being purchased. That’s how traditional publishers are treating digital books.

But I’m not part of a traditional publisher. And neither are […]

2011-10-08T18:34:12+02:00May 27th, 2010|Categories: Features, Member Blog|

Mischievous Tame Fox Inspires Picture Book

Hello! I am new to this blog. My name is Stevie, and I am an illustrator/author/veteran self-publisher. I published my first book, Lizzie Fox-Top, in November 2009. From the back cover:
***
“Lizzie with your hair so red, what’s that fox doing on your head?”

So demand the townsfolk of Lizzie’s world the morning after an abandoned baby fox wanders in through her moonlit window. When the fox finds comfort on top of the little girl’s red head, the pair become fast friends, despite the townspeople’s protest. After a few mishaps including one angry grocer, several stolen eggs, and a […]

2011-10-08T18:26:20+02:00May 25th, 2010|Categories: Member Blog|

iPad Review for Chinese Publication

Despite the fact that the UPS tracking showed my iPad in Guangzhou, China on April 2, the enchanting device showed up magically at my doorstep in the morning of Saturday, April 3. Amazing!

Growing up I used to love reading a good book while listening to music. Now I can have a vast number of books with virtually unlimited music selection (thanks to Rhapsody) and can take them anywhere! Would this not have been possible on my laptop and other tablets? Laptops don’t have the form factor to make it convenient. Having to fold open and close a laptop in […]

2011-10-08T19:36:20+02:00April 12th, 2010|Categories: Member Blog|

How to Become a Blogging Expert Overnight

With age comes wisdom…but, not when we’re talking about blogging.

It doesn’t take years to become an expert blogger. You can *conquer all obstacles* and become a professional as early as…tomorrow. Yes, I said tomorrow. To become a blogging expert, all you need to do is:

–         Define Your Niche – Mental blocks will be unheard of. Never will you tire for what you’re passionate about. Mental juices will flow. The articles will ring true—with an honest voice. The reader will devour your post.

–         Carefully Proof-Read – Checking for the usual punctuation and grammar is a given. Beginners can […]

2011-10-08T19:37:39+02:00March 29th, 2010|Categories: Member Blog, Resources|
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