Author Resources: Writing, Publishing and Marketing Tips

General

• 6 Tips on How to Publish
  This presentation features Keith Ogorek, senior vice president of Marketing for Author Solutions. Keith discusses his six tips on how to get your book published.

• Top-Earning Authors
  This article by Jim Menick discusses the changing world of publishing and how top-earning authors is no longer a "boy's game."

• Grammar Rules
  Think you know how to talk real good? Test yourself: These grammar rules will surprise even the experts.

• 24 Things You Might Be Saying Wrong
  The Reader's Digest Version of all those confusing words and seemingly random rules you missed in English class.

• Writing What You Know
  Watch this video as Reader's Digest editor-at-large, Liz Vaccariello, gives advice on how to live your life better and more simply.

• 5 Keys to Turn Your Idea into a Manuscript
  If your goal is to publish a book, with a little support and a lot of motivation, you have what it takes to write that manuscript you’ve been dreaming about.

• How to Turn Your Passion into Your Work
  If you can identify your passion and then convey that passion with passion to readers, you’ll be in a great position to spread your message and touch peoples’ lives.

• The 5-Step Writing Process: From Brainstorming to Publishing
  Being conscious of your own writing process is especially helpful when you find yourself struggling with a particularly tricky piece. Here are five tips to help you.

• A Beginners Guide to Book Marketing 
  Everyone has to start somewhere. Check out these simple tips and take your marketing efforts from bland to powerful.

• Your Book Title: The Basics
The book title is more than a reference tool and shouldn't be overlooked as one of the most important parts of your written work.

• Get Organized: How do I Track Research Materials?
The volume of research material that an author collects when developing a story can be overwhelming, here are some tips to stay organized.

• Breaking Points: Looking for Weak Spots in your Writer Life
As with any job there are certain pulls on your daily routines that can either make a day successful or wasteful. When you’re a writer you have to produce to get paid and have to produce well to continue to get the job assignments.

•  5 Actions for Overcoming Writer's Block
Read this article to learn techniques that can help you overcome writer's block. The key to unlocking trapped creativity is... Creativity!

• 23 Contemporary Writers You Should Have Read by Now
  Looking for your next reading list? Check out this list of writers.

• 5 Words You’ve Been Using Incorrectly This Whole Time
  Take a look at this article to see if you have been using these commonly misused words incorrectly.

• Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing: The Reader's Digest Version
  Read this article to learn Leonard's important rules of writing.

• The Best Love Stories of All Time
  If you are looking for a new love story to read, look no further than this article of the best love stories of all time.

• The Best Thriller Books of All Time
  If you are a fan of thriller books, check out this list of the best thriller books of all time.

• Dealing with Haters
  The reality of being a writer: Your work isn’t for everyone. There will be people who love you. And then there will be the haters.

Fiction

• Story Ideas: What Comes First, the Characters or the Story?
  The important part of this equation is that both pieces are needed to create a viable story idea. 

• Character development and plot: Why is it important that the main character NOT get what he/she wants?
Michael Esser discusses how to tell a compelling story that sucks in your audience and creates a three dimentional world where your characters come to life.

• 3 Stereotypes to Avoid
Jen Veldhuyzen discusses stereotypes to avoid and how to use an archetype to build deep characters on a familiar foundation.

• Tips for Writing Dialogue
Author Bob Martin gives tips on how to avoid having all of your characters sound like you.

• Creating Dramatic Tension
Point of view goes hand in hand with with the idea of showing instead of telling. Here are some tips for creating dramatic tension.

• Research: Conducting Crime Research
One must have basic knowledge of crime situations to write a believable story, we will highlight tips to make your story accurate.

• Five Traps and Tips for Character Development
Characters often drive the story; learn how to develop effective and memorable characters in this article.

• Characters 101: The Importance of Weaknesses
Author Michael Esser discusses why it is important to develop a character's weaknesses along with their strengths.

• Researching: Conducting Legal Research
Courtroom and legal stories require knowledge of how legal proceedings work, here are some tips to ensure that your story follows these rules.

• Creating Composite Characters
R.J. Lee gives tips on how to create characters that fit your book and that are also relatable to your readers.

Nonfiction

• Writing Self-Help Books
  We help you successfully help others with these tips on how to create a successful self-help book.

• Memoirs: Researching Your History
  Learn techniques to best capture source material within your network of family and friends.

• Writing to Inspire
  Reader's Digest editor-at-large, Liz Vaccariello, shares the key to writing an inspiring story.

• The Fundamental Differences between Memoir and Autobiography
  There are obvious and practical differences between the two similar genres that we’ll highlight.

Children

• Liz Vaccariello's Tips on Writing for Children
  Learn how LifeRich Publishing can help you write for children or teenagers. Be creative and channel your inner kid!

• Writing for Children: 5 Tips to Writing a Book Kids Love 
  While many people have the potential to write a children’s book, it takes a dedicated author to craft and publish a successful children's book. 

Cooking

• Writing Cookbooks
  Reader's Digest editor-at-large, Liz Vaccariello, describes how the LifeRich recipe will help you turn your passion for cooking or your family recipes into a book.