Publishing News Roundup Series: The Writing Rules You Need to Know
by Maureen Crisp • June 6, 2017 • Follow
Published in News • 10 comments
Follow the rules and you will get published. What rules are people talking about?
There aren’t that many, but believe it or not there are a few writing rules that can make or break your submission. Finding out these rules will help you groom your manuscript for a better chance at being selected. Now you just need to know: what are the rules?
The Writing Rules
Thou shalt read the writing rules… well they are just guidelines because every writer is different.
However there are some rules that you can’t break.
1. Don’t send a manuscript out to a publisher in Comic Sans font.
2. Don’t submit your child’s drawings as illustrations with a picture book manuscript.
I’m sure you can think of a couple more. Ruth Harris has a comprehensive post on writing rules and guidelines, which is well worth a careful read.
Kris Rusch has another stellar post on brand and defining your target audience. I always struggle with this. Kris has some great advice. This is a timely read.
Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are two rock stars in the writing blogosphere. They have a great post on helping authors succeed, because we are all in this together. Angela has put together a list of actions that everyone can do to help others. They have a pay it forward mentality… so of course they also reached out to promote Kristen Lamb’s first fiction book. Kristen has a great post about running your own race in your writing career but choose carefully who your running buddies will be.
Jane Friedman has an interesting post on FOMO (fear of missing out) and how it can cripple your productivity. How do you stay focused on the writing prize?
Danica Davidson has an inspirational post on 7 things to do when you want to give up. (Instead of giving up.) When you read she started submitting novels as a teen you realise she does know what she is talking
about.
about.
Penny Sansevieri has a must read post on book sales. It’s not about how many followers you have… it’s about engagement. Think super fans and micro influencers….
Derek Murphy likes to change things up by breaking rules or guidelines…. Recently he wrote about the weird ideas he does to write and publish bestsellers. He starts from the cover….
Julie Munroe Martin was writing recently on Writer Unboxed about putting together a survival pack if you are a writer. (No. Not a pack full of wine…) A way to keep you hitting your writing goals.
This weekend is the second 2017 Indie Fringe event run by the Alliance of Independent Authors. This free one day online conference has the focus of book marketing and some great topics will be covered check out the speakers!
In The Craft Section,
Story grid your non fiction book– Shawn Coyne
5 writer goals to avoid overwhelm- C S Lakin
9 things your Main character needs– 10 minute novelist- Bookmark
Legal myths debunked for authors– Bookworks- Bookmark
Ways to start your novel– Now Novel- Bookmark
How to strengthen characters– Jami Gold – Bookmark
6 things to remember after you’ve finished the MS– Jody Hedlund
In The Marketing Section,
Two great posts from Book Marketing Tools, Put calls to action in your books and Loglines – how to write them. – Bookmark Both
Three Keys to writing back copy– Chris Syme- Bookmark
Insiders guide to author websites– Bookworks
14 Book Cover sites– Nate Hoffelder- Bookmark
Optimizing Blog posts– Rachel Thompson
To Finish,
Reedsy has pulled out another great infographic. This one is on copyright. This is a comprehensive fact filled How To and Go To guide on the subject. Copyright is one rule you should not break!
Maureen
@craicer
About Maureen Crisp
Maureen Crisp has been writing her weekly publishing roundups for over seven years. She is a traditionally published children's author as well as indie-published. She lives in New Zealand and is heading the team organising the 4th National Conference of Children's Writers and Illustrators. She is currently trying her hand at writing a children’s book series if she can drag herself away from forever tweaking her Mars novel or obsessing over space.