This clear hands-on approach guides you through the process of writing, self-publishing, and promoting your book the CreateSpace Way.They say everybody has at least one book in them, and publishing trends support that notion. In 2009, an estimated one million books were published-3/4 of them self-published.Discover how to choose a marketable topic, improve your writing skills, write an entire book, lay out your pages, design the cover and promote your book.

About the Author

Blake Webster is a web & multimedia developer, web publisher, search engine optimization consultant, internet marketer and published author. He lives in Sonoma County, California. Steve Boga has authored more than 35 books, including several the CreateSpace Way. A freelance writer-editor-teacher, he lives in Sonoma County, California.

(more…)

Ellison…Brooks…Stephenson. These are some of the top fantasy and science fiction authors writing today. Their books reach an audience of tens of thousands and explore imaginative new worlds. Now writers can learn the secret to crafting their own breakout fantasy or sci-fi novel as Philip Athans provides a step-by-step guide to: developing the best plot structure; creating believable, exciting characters; writing compelling combat scenes; presenting technology that sounds as if it ought to work; and, also writing a strong proposal and finding the right publisher. Complete with an introduction by R.A. Salvatore, one of the decade’s most prolific fantasy writers, this guide holds the key to success for aspiring authors who want to fly to the stars, find treasure in the dragon’s lair, defend Earth from an alien invasion – and publish a bestseller.

About the Author

Philip Athans (Issaquah, WA) is managing editor of novels at Wizards of the Coast, t (more…)

From Booklist

A writer and seasoned creative-writing teacher, LaPlante has assembled a treasury of materials to back up her literary expertise. In her discussion of metaphor, for example, LaPlante quotes Byron, Denis Johnson, Flannery O’Connor, Shakespeare, and William Gass. In her extrapolation of the old adage, “write about what you know,” she presents a poem by Sharon Olds, a page from the journals of Leonard Michaels, and Eudora Welty’s indelible advice: “Write about what you don’t know about what you know.” Comprehensive in its coverage of inspiration, craft, aesthetics, veracity, and purpose, this one-stop guide to writing is casual in tone and rigorous in content, elucidating the nature of fiction and nonfiction and clarifying the qualities unique to each and common to both. Each chapter contains an explication of such subjects as point of view, creating characters, and narrative structure; writing exercises, and an illustrative story by the likes of Tim O’Brien, (more…)

“The Writer’s Digest Guide to Science Fiction & Fantasy” gives writers everything they need to know write the next sci-fi classic. Writers of all skill levels will discover helpful advice from best-selling author Orson Scott Card’s “How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy” on how to wield story elements that ‘define’ the science fiction and fantasy genres; build, populate and dramatize fantastic new worlds; and, construct compelling stories by developing ideas, characters, and events that keep readers turning pages, and more. In this book, readers will learn the art of world building by exploring traditional fantasy cultures, examples from world cultures, the rituals of magic and witchcraft, mythological creatures and fantasy races, weapons and armor, clothing and fashion, and much more.

(more…)

Review

“In short, if you were going to look up ‘experts’ to talk to about some aspect of the world you are building, these are the people you’d ask.” –Moira Allen “All aspiring and newly established science fiction writers should read The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction before sending out their manuscripts.” –Leslie Halpern, My Shelf Book Review

The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction: Volume One is a comprehensive writer’s guide for the amateur to semi-pro writer on the genre of science fiction. The book begins with a warning for new science fiction writers about the pitfalls and clich?s that often plague a first science fiction story. It finishes with practical information on how to present, sell and promote a finished novel and what to prepare for once the writer has achieved success. Topics range from alien creation to world building, fan fiction and space travel. EPPIE 2007: Finalist (non-fiction category) Contrib (more…)

Review

“The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy is a broad compendium of advice and resource material developed and compiled by writers who understand the struggle involved in mastering the craft.” ~Jacqueline Carey, Author Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy”In short, if you were going to look up ‘experts’ to talk to about some aspect of the world you are building, these are the people you’d ask.” ~Moira Allen”The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy is a broad compendium of advice and resource material developed and compiled by writers who understand the struggle involved in mastering the craft.” ~Jacqueline Carey, Author Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy”In short, if you were going to look up ‘experts’ to talk to about some aspect of the world you are building, these are the people you’d ask.” ~Moira Allen –Jacqueline Carey, Bestselling AuthorAll aspiring and newly established science fiction writers should read The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction before sending out their manuscri (more…)