Writing 101: Let's Talk About Title Case

I've Noticed a Disturbing Trend Among Authors, and I Can Stay Silent No More. Title case, which I just demonstrated in my last sentence, is being used way too much...and incorrectly, at that. 

It's Not a Title!

Writing perfectly in your novels isn't enough. If I get one more title case quote recommendation on Goodreads, my wrath will no know bounds. I've pointed out many, many times that you must always conduct yourself like an author. And if you're using title case incorrectly -- anywhere -- I'm going to see it. And I'm putting you on my Do Not Read list.

Indie News: Indies Prefer Tradition

A new survey shows that the majority of authors, even indies, still prefer traditionally publishing to taking the indie route. 

The Road More Traveled

Digital Book World and Writer's Digest partnered for the Author Survey, which shows exactly where writers stand when it comes to choosing their path.

Among traditionally-published authors, only 7.5 percent said they wanted to self-publish. Among authors still aspiring to be published, 10.1 percent said they would take self-publishing over being more traditionally published. Only 35.1 percent of self-published authors said they preferred taking the indie route, and only 29.8 percent of hybrid authors preferred to self-publish alone.

More than 9,000 writers participated in the 2014 Author's Survey, with the majority of participants stating they had not yet published any work. The vast majority of authors who took the survey are fiction writers (to the tune of over 80 percent).

Books on Film: The Princess Bride

Unless you've come here from the planet Twilar, you've at least heard of The Princess Bride. And if you're like most people, you've seen the movie at least 10 times. After all, doesn't it come on cable like every day? But before it was a movie that everyone can quote, it was a book...though its origins still remain a mystery to many.

The Book

William Goldman wrote The Princess Bride in 1973, and the world was for ever changed. Now, the origins of the book are shrouded in mystery because Goldman is quite the jokester. At the top of the book he explains that it's an abridgment of The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern, which does not exist. Morgenstern did not exist, either, until Goldman himself wrote a novel under this pseudonym (presumably to further his joke).

Writing 101: The Great Cheap Book Debate

Depending on who you ask, cheap ebooks are either a scourge upon society and the potential death of all literature...or an amazing way to affordably spread the written word. I got pulled into the great cheap book debate rather unexpectedly recently. Much of the argument has since taken place between me...and me. 

Why Cheap Books Are Bad

I search for myself quite regularly on Google -- not because I'm vain (though for the record, I am) but because I advise all indie authors to do this. I stumbled across some of my own blog posts being plagiarized one day, and I've since appointed myself as my own watchdog. So imagine my surprise when I found my name appearing in a debate about cheap books...and how evil they are.

I was introduced into the topic in the comments section, after I'd already read through an impassioned blog post and a very persuasive argument that nearly inspired me to run right to my Amazon page and lift the price on all my novels.

Writing 101: Write As Who You Are

Are you funny? Do your friends laugh a lot when you share little anecdotes? If you're funny by nature, you might really struggle to write a tragedy or dramatic novel. If you're not a touchy-feely affectionate person, maybe romance isn't your genre. You should write in a way that's true to your own nature...because this is how you'll do your best writing.

The Voice

You've probably heard about authors who need to find their voice, or the ones who already have. Your voice is really just your natural personality, and the way it appears on the page. Certain writers have their own distinct style, a way of writing that evokes certain feelings. 

Writing 101: Co-Authoring

All authors have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to writing a story. So what if you find an author who's strong where you're weak? When is co-authoring an option, and can it work for you?

Writing with Others

Finding another author to shore up your own work may sound like a good idea on the surface. But there are so many things to consider, even planning for it can be an overwhelming experience. And even the best-laid plans can go awry. Writing with others is difficult, and it doesn't always work out well.

Writing 101: Writing Realistic Dialogue

Many authors excel at the flowery descriptions, the planned-out plotting, the character development. But dialogue is a whole different animal. If you want yours to be any good at all, stop writing and start listening. 

How People Talk

In the movie Young Adult, Charlize Theron is a ghostwriter who writes a popular YA series. She's also totally screwed up, but that's beside the point. In the film, there are a few funny scenes were she noticeably eavesdrops on teenage girls having casual conversation. Later, she uses what she's heard in her writing. Listening to people talk, in a non-creepy way, is totally acceptable. More than that, it's what every author ought to do. 

Again, I emphasize the part about not being creepy. Don't listen in on people's intimate or personal conversations. But out in public locations when people are just chatting? Pay attention to what they're saying, and get more of a feel for how people really talk. And write that way.

You should always be writing your dialogue realistically. If you're writing about teenagers, know what teenagers are saying and how they speak to each other. If there aren't any teens handy and the mall is too far away, get on Twitter. Go into a chatroom. See what the teens are saying to get a feel for their language. If you're writing about someone elderly, listen to some elderly folks speak. Go to a nursing home, or to a McDonald's early in the morning, and listen. 

As a writer, you should always be listening. This is the only way you can learn to write real dialogue. If you listen enough, you'll be able to hear your characters talking while you write the dialogue. Then, you'll know if it sounds real or not. When you're done writing, go back and read your dialogue out loud. Great dialogue takes a lot of work, but if you can learn how to do it you'll always have people willing to read what you write.

Meet Me at Smashwords

My newest author interview is now live at Smashwords!