Hi Everyone! I've decided to provide a post that was just a whole list of resources and info for authors. I've done this before (I think it was 2017) so yeah, it's time for updating. I've done the legwork of inserting hyperlinks so that all you have to do is click on the links of whatever item you're most interested in. There is a TON of information out there for authors and it can be overwhelming to search and file through websites/social media platforms, so hopefully this post can help take some of the stress out of your search. This is by no means an exhaustive list of resources, it's just some that I know about and some that I've even used. At the very end I provide a basic template for constructing a pitch line for your manuscript (this template has helped me tremendously!) Let's Start With Websites/Resources: Manuscript Academy -- Offers workshops and events for authors in various stages of their careers. Also offers consultations with editors f...

Happy Monday All, Recently I've been posting on Tuesdays, but I felt like shaking things up, so I'm posting today. Back in 2010, I wrote a blog post called "Road Map" talking about tips and things toward getting published. Some of that advice still works and some of it is a bit outdated (for one thing, Nathan Bransford isn't an agent anymore) . I figured I'd give a little update since I've gotten published and talk about some of those other things that helped me get here. Let's start with the basics... Know your genre. I have a whole blog post on genres (although, it's an overview and doesn't get into every one that's available nowadays). Know your audience --this goes with genre, but it also speaks to who is reading that genre. Typically women read Romance, although, there are men out there who read Romance, too. Depending on the romance you're writing, you have to know how to tailor your story for that audience. What...

Happy Thursday All, Lately I've been working on a couple of new projects. One of them has to do with one of my published novels, and the other one is a WIP. Both projects are moving along pretty well and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them. One of the projects deals with another side of writing that's often talked about, but some authors struggle with--networking. It's funny, but I get asked about this more often than I thought I would. I really don't consider myself an expert on the subject, I'm pretty much doing what everyone else does--picking which social Me with the amazing Christie Craig If I didn't open my mouth and network I wouldn't have gotten to know this gem of a person media works for me, going to writer's group meeting, attending the annual conference, talking to readers, seeing what opportunities open up for me. A lot of authors are shy and/or introverts. Some aren't, but the majority I've come a...

Happy Thursday All, Smokey Mountains in Gaitlinburg, TN, 2013 In writing, editing, critiquing, and being a judge (yes, I've done a little judging for a contest) there's a few things about writing that are true all the way across the board--no matter what genre, no matter if you're a newbie, or best seller, or somewhere in between. Or if you're a "pantser" or a "plotter". And that's organizing your story. Every writer is different and every writer does this differently. I call myself a "half-in-half" writer because I do a little plotting and I do a little pantsering. But the main things every writer needs whether they do it before they write the first draft, or in the editing process are for every important/main character(s) in one's novel: Me, at the NWHRWA Lone Star Conference, 2014 Goal, motivation, conflict. Yes,  GMC that leads to the actual plot. Whether you're writing the hero, heroine, villain, whatever...

Happy Friday All, Again, I've been MIA! I've got to stop making this a habit. I'll keep working at it. Meanwhile, follow what's going on by following me on Twitter (@WriteByBethany)--you can also see what I tweet/retweet in my Twitter Feed in the margin of this blog. Or find me under my name, Bethany Averie, on Facebook. Facebook and Twitter are updated regularly.  I've also joined Goodreads, for those who get on that. Been thinking about updating the Road Map that I posted in 2010 (you can find it in margin of this blog...you'll have to arrow down a bit). But I also thought it would be fun to let y'all know what advice the authors I've interviewed had to give to aspiring authors. Since I've done several interviews, I'm going to post this list with author's name and genre. You pick which one you want to check out (or read the whole interview for that matter). By the way...I do intend to do author interviews this year. I have one alre...

** EDIT: 1/13/2025:   Author Will Graham, a friend, mentor, and when I was a member of Northwest Houston RWA, a chapter-mate passed away sometime in 2020 (not from Covid-19). He's greatly missed by those who knew him. Hope he's happily in Heaven, regaling everyone with his theories on Sherlock Holmes and James Bond.** Happy Tuesday All, Today, it's my honor to introduce to you author Will Graham.  He generously agreed to do an email interview with me. I hope you'll be sure to check out his story in Suspense Magazine , entitled Perception . It's really excellent, and I honestly didn't know if the character was a good guy or a bad guy until the end of the story. So be sure to go check it out, but first join me in getting to know a little bit about   Will: Me: What was the inspiration behind your story, Perception , which appeared in Suspense Magazine ? Will G. :  There was no one real thing that triggered the idea, but it started after a conversation wi...