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The Rise of Cozy Fantasy and Why It Matters

Author: Laura Resnick

The Rise of Cozy Fantasy and Why It Matters

A new wave of ‘gentle fantasy’ is captivating readers who crave wonder without the war The first time I spotted Legends & Lattes at my local bookshop, I experienced a flutter of recognition. Here was a fantasy novel about an orc who retires from adventuring to open a coffee shop. No dark lords. No chosen ones. Just someone building a small business and finding community. As a cozy mystery author, I thought: “They’ve finally done it. They’ve brought cozy to fantasy.” What defines cozy fantasy Cozy...

genre, Publishing, readers, Writing

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Jump Genres—but Not Into the Fire

  Have you ever considered changing genres? Or did you try but it turned into an utter non-starter? As I head into my next major genre leap, I asked some fellow jumpers five basic questions about their ideas, successes, and fu—, uh, hard lessons learned. The jumps Some say that writers’ brains are wild, entropy-driven vortices. Based on the jumps these folks have done, that is an accurate assessment. First, there are the small sideways slides: Barbara Keiler (aka Judith Arnold) shifting...

branding, business, career, Discovery, genre, Marketing, Publishing, readers, sales

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19 Blog Content Ideas That Entertain Readers & Quietly Sell Your Backlist

Blogging used to be a popular way to connect with readers and share information about our books. Over time—and with the increased popularity of various social media platforms—blogging has come to be seen as optional, and even outdated. Nonetheless, I believe it’s still a viable option for book promotion. Unless you remove them, blog posts live on your website indefinitely, allowing new visitors to discover your posts organically, unlike social media, where each one is pushed down an ever-growing...

business, Discovery, Marketing, promotion, readers, sales, social media

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Nonlinear Storytelling: How Not To Make A Mess

The beginning is not always the optimal place to start a story. Many authors have found that nonlinear storytelling, with its shifts across time and perspective, can deepen reader engagement and create a more layered narrative experience. Nonlinear novels do not follow events chronologically. Instead, authors may move forward and backward in time or develop parallel timelines that unfold in conversation with each other. Veteran publisher, editor, and bestselling author Lou Aronica has written...

craft, tutorials, Writing

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Don’t Compete with AI—Out-Human It

Estimates vary, but some industry trackers suggest that 5,000–7,000 new books appear on Amazon every day, and a growing number are mass‑produced or algorithmically generated. For working authors, differentiation isn’t just about craft anymore; it’s about visibility, connection, and trust. Author‑entrepreneur Joanna Penn suggests we “double down on being human.” Here are strategies from NINC members and other experts that showcase humanity as a competitive advantage.     Show your...

branding, business, career, Discovery, Marketing, promotion, readers, sales, writer psychology

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Sidekicks & Ensembles: Protecting the Hero and Each Other

If you’re writing a story, you’ll need secondary characters to flesh out the world you’re building. Otherwise, it’s a pretty dull world. You need sidekicks! Sidekicks are indispensable for asking or answering questions of your heroes. At the very least, they give your main characters someone to interact with. Are there differences between sidekicks, ensembles, and partners? Do you need them if your hero is the strong, silent type? Are sidekicks worthy of a tale of their own? Defining sidekicks...

characterization, craft, editor advice, tutorials, Writing

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