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Leaving the World Behind: Writing Retreats

Author: Laura Resnick

Leaving the World Behind: Writing Retreats

Writing retreats offer a chance to work in peace and restore creativity Sometimes we need to escape our everyday lives and become a hermit for a time to meet that pesky deadline or work out a plot point. Or maybe visit with like-minded souls to remind ourselves why we write and to recharge our creativity. That’s where writers’ retreats come in, hence the name. Writing retreats run the gamut. They consist of organized workshops with an itinerary of writing instructors and industry professionals,...

creativity, habits, mental health, productivity, self care, writer psychology, Writing

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What’s in a Book Title? A Rose By Any Other Name

In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare writes this line from Juliet to Romeo: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Likewise, authors sometimes wish readers would judge our books purely based on prose, character, and plot. But let’s face it, readers are often swayed by an eye-catching book cover or a clever title. The reality is that there are millions of books competing for a spot on the same bookshelves and book club lists. So, the distinctiveness...

branding, business, Discovery, genre, Marketing, promotion, Publishing, sales, Writing

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Smart Marketing: Facebook Ads and BookBub Ads

In my previous blog post, we kicked off our deep dive into how to use ads without losing your mind. NINC member Pam Kelley shared her tips and tricks for running successful Amazon ads. This month, we’re going to tackle Facebook ads and BookBub ads. Are you ready? Sarah Woodbury should be no stranger to any NINC member! Not only is Sarah one of our membership committee chairs, she’s also headed up our conference sponsorship team for the last three years. When she’s not giving her time and talent...

ads, business, Marketing, sales

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Smart Marketing: Amazon Ads

Because just about everyone in NINC is smarter than me about advertising, I reached out to three people who I know are experiencing success on different ad platforms. And since they were all so generous, this grew into a two-part article; come back in December for more ad advice. Pam Kelley, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women’s fiction, family sagas, and suspense, said, “I do well with Amazon ads and have been using them for years. I like them because they allow you...

business, Marketing, money, promotion, sales, Tools, tutorials

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Magical Literature: The Current Popularity of Witches in Novels

It’s October, where the onset of fall, Halloween, and the alleged thinning of the veil between the living and dead initiates interests in ghosts, sorcery, and witches. But in the last few years, there’s been a proliferation of witches in literature, including romance, cozy mystery, science fiction, and urban fantasy, among others—and not just at Halloween. It’s a current trend that’s created a social media label “witch lit.” On TikTok, the subcategory “witchtok” has garnered almost 7million posts. “Witches...

craft, wicca, wiccan, witch, witchcraft, Writing

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Pondering the Pursuit of an MFA? Consider the Pros, the Cons, and the Worth of Your Why

When Black & Published podcast host and author Nikesha Elise Williams queried 12 agents in November of 2022 with her latest manuscript, The Seven Daughters of Dupree, she told herself that if she didn’t receive representation, she would pursue earning an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) degree. She had plenty of options to choose from; there are 256 low- and full-residency MFA programs across the country, according to the Poets & Writers MFA Programs Database. There are also several no-residency...

career, craft, education, Publishing, Writing

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