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Released today, August 6! My epic compendium (445 pages!) of tales, myths, magic, and more! A book that features Norse, Finnish, and Sámi traditions with loads of beautiful, retro-style illustrations. Suitable for ages 13 and up, I'd love if you would buy a copy and leave a nice review somewhere. More information in the comments.
I'm going to be featuring interviews with publishing industry experts in my A. Keyes Writing newsletter soon... and I want to know what your questions are about writing, publishing, getting an agent, and more.
What would you ask an expert if you could?
Also, you can sign up for my email list at my website... akeyeswriting.com
Even though I think that anyone considering writing a book needs to figure out what their book is about BEFORE thinking about publication... it's still important to understand your options.
Hopefully this demystifies the different between traditional publishing and self-publishing.
If you’ve been feeling that little tug to write your book… I’m here for you. Comment here or send me a message, and let’s chat. 🌟
"Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs, who never knew one another. Books break the shackles of time—proof that humans can work magic." - Carl Sagan
What magic do you want to weave with your book?
What legacy do you want it to leave?
How will your book reach across space and time?
Big questions, yes, but there's a reason why books never go out of style. Just ask the scribes in these ancient Egyptian tombs (photo 2). They were writing books 5000 years ago!
Photo 3 is from the tomb of Ramesses IV in the Valley of the Kings... spells to protect the king in the afterlife.
❗️You can’t publish a manuscript that doesn’t exist.
Too many aspiring writers dream of publication before they’ve even finished a decent first draft.
While it’s great to have an idea of how you want to get your book to the people who need it, remember that you need to have a manuscript to publish in the first place.
I can offer guidance on the best publication option for your book, business, and publication goals.
Comment on this post and I’ll send you a free worksheet to help you get started.
Spent this weekend working on my website and adding a free worksheet for anyone thinking about writing a self-help OR how-to book. If you know someone who might find it useful—maybe that someone is you—send them this link:
akeyeswriting.com
💖
🔥Want to publish your novel?🔥
✋Write a non-fiction book first.
Why? The market for non-fiction is wider and with more options, and you'll establish your credibility as an author a publisher can rely on to submit a solid manuscript on time.
I've written and co-written more than four non-fiction books and edited several more, and I'm just now publishing my debut novel.
Not sure what your non-fiction book should be about?
What are you passionate about?
What subject are you an expert in?
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger?
Got a book idea brewing? Let's chat! Send me a DM and schedule your free 30-minute consultation.
💡Book coaches and editors love to tell authors to identify their target audience. Sure, this is really important, but what if you figured out who your book ISN’T for?
Once you do that, you’ll be able to refine your scope and your writing process will become a lot easier.
🔥 No matter how clear you are, someone will misinterpret what you write.
And it's usually not about the words you use, but your reader's expectations.
Sometimes they only read a few pages and think they've figured out your whole book. Or maybe they're just having a bad day and aren't reading your work all that closely. Maybe they've got a pet peeve, and they're just waiting to pounce on you when you don't address it.
Their reaction isn't your fault.
That said! Do your best to avoid confusion. Give your draft to colleagues and ask for feedback. Write and rewrite and make adjustments.
Just be prepared!
🌟 Planning on writing a nonfiction book? That's amazing!
📚 But before you really get serious about outlining and drafting, you need to know what genre your book will be.
Why? Because the genre shapes:
✒️ Audience expectations
✒️ Style and tone
✒️ Word count / book length
✒️ Marketing and publicity
🤔 Not sure where your book fits? Let's chat! Schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me to get started!
✍️ What does it take to finish writing a first draft?
Perseverance.
Tenacity.
Patience.
Persistence.
Consistency.
Dedication.
..and maybe a little bit of spite? 🤪
A lot of people I talk to want to write a book. They have bits and pieces scattered around hard drives and notebooks, but they're not sure what to do with it all. Let's change that! Whether it's organizing your thoughts or navigating edits, I'm here to guide you.
But don't you want to be able to hold your own book in your hands and be proud of all that hard work, dedication, and love you poured into it?
Let's make that dream of writing a book a reality!
DM me or head to my website to schedule your free 30 minute consultation.
I can't wait to hear about your incredible book idea!
✍️ If you're a thought leader or entrepreneur writing a book for the first time, you'll probably feel frustrated more than once. And that's completely normal!
Even the most seasoned, professional writers feel stuck in their projects.
Here are a few tips for getting through that "messy middle" and closer to completing your manuscript.
Remember: if you keep working on your book, you'll be be celebrating the completion of your manuscript before you know it! 📚
🌟 If the idea of writing a book feels daunting, let's chat! DM me or head to my website to schedule your free 30-minute consultation.
"If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word." - Margaret Atwood
This personal philosophy can apply to so much more than writing, even beyond what we think of as creative pursuits. Any progress we make towards our goal or destination—in art making, politics, activism, even just cleaning the house—gets us closer to where we want and need to be.
Can we talk typos? Let's talk typos.
They happen. Usually on the first page you look at when you get your author copies.
Ask me how I know.🙃
Today in the UK is World Book Day. Curiously, the rest of the world seems to celebrate it on April 23. I thought it might be because of Shakespeare's birthday or St. George's Day, but it seems to be because of the timing of UK school holidays. So, good news: we get two of them!
This collage represents most of my current work (for seven publishers): by me, plus a few co-written and/or edited with Abigail Keyes. I'm very grateful to do what I do! More books are on the way later this year and next...
"A book is simply the container of an idea—like a bottle; what is inside the book is what matters."
I find that people tend to love the idea of writing a book then jump right ahead to thinking about publishing it. But that's putting the cart before the horse. You need to fill your book with a well-crafted story or message.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield is a classic, no nonsense approach to creativity. What I love about it is that it both demystifies and reveres the creative process.
It's true. Writing a book is work. It's fun, fulfilling, satisfying work, but it's still work.
You need to make time for it and show up.
The book isn't going to write itself.
If the idea of writing a book by yourself feels scary, let's chat. You don't have to write alone!
It's true: writing a book is a commitment. It takes time, dedication, and follow-through.
And with social media, email marketing, and conferences, why add another thing to your to-do list?
Here are 4 really important reasons why you should consider writing your book.
Send me a message to get started.
Yesterday, I did a Q&A with Lisa Zahiya's Six Figure Circle, and she asked, "How do you write if you think you're not a good writer?"
Get your ideas down anyway. Misspell words. Use bad grammar. Write incomplete sentences. Be messy.
Because as Jodi Picoult says, "You can't edit a blank page."
In times when we might feel powerless, take heart and comfort in the written word... or start writing your own words so you can inspire others.
"Writer's block" happens. In fact, I think most social media discussion about writing are about feeling stuck.
It happens to many of us creative types... dancers, artists, musicians, you name it!
Without going into the reasons why blocks happen, here are some actions I take when I'm feeling like my creative efforts have come to a frustrating standstill.
"If there's a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." - Toni Morrison
I had the opportunity to write a book I wish existed, and it became the Salimpour Belly Dance Compendium. Today it's one of the core historical and cultural texts for the Salimpour School and its students around the world! 🌟
What book do you wish existed for your industry or field?
DM me to talk about how you can be the one who writes that book.
Why work with a book coach?
I can help you start writing that book you always wanted to write. I can also guide you through creative blocks and give you the push you need to finish your book.
Now is the time to start so you can share your story with your community!
I coach a wide variety of subjects and genres in both fiction and non-fiction.
Non-fiction: wellness, self-help, social science, performing arts, history, and health & medicine.
Fiction: YA, fantasy, historical/speculative fiction
Share your excellence and write your book! Send me a DM or email: [email protected]
Abigail Keyes had the pleasure of helping yoga teacher and dancer Flissy craft and edit her new eBook: Yoga Sequencing Secrets! While yoga teachers will absolutely benefit from her wisdom, movement instructors of all kinds will find inspiration here too.
Do you have a writing project that needs editing? Hit us up! Abigail specializes in helping leaders in dance, fitness, and wellness guide their clients into living their best lives.
Yoga Sequencing Secrets outlines essential and versatile principles for creating safe, effective yoga practices. Drawing on her extensive experience as a yoga instructor, personal trainer, and professional dancer, Flissy Saucier has created this book to address a wide range of subjects relating t...
Just released!
Our dance education client saw a gap in the literature for an accessible survey of Middle Eastern music, including history, theory, and instruments. So, Tim and Abby of Inkhorn to created a unique text for students of the school and anyone interested in learning more about listening to and appreciating this rich and moving art form.
We are so excited to announce this new addition to the Salimpour School resources. The Middle Eastern Music: History & Study Guide is HERE!!!
http://ow.ly/ilFs30k9qcx
Don't mess with theater kids.
Shakespeare’s Ear presents dark and sometimes funny pieces of fact and folklore that bedevil the mostly unknown history of theater. All manner of skullduggery, from revenge to murder, from affairs to persecution, proves that the drama off-stage was just as intense as any portrayed on it. T...
Pour yourself a whiskey, and dig deeper into Marvel's Jessica Jones with this collection of essays curated and edited by Tim and Abby. Coming soon from McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.
Jessica Jones barged onto our TV and computer screens in November 2015, courtesy of Marvel and Netflix, presenting a hard-drinking female protagonist who wrestles with her own inner (and outer) demons. Gaining enhanced abilities as a teenager, she eschews the "super costume" and is far mo...
Abby worked for 8 years as an analyst at the CIA. While there are things she can't tell you, she tells all about what intelligence officers know about writing in this guest post for Make a Living Writing!
What does the CIA know about freelance writing? This former intelligence analyst used these CIAs article writing secrets to become a full-time freelancer.
We'll be telling the sad and sordid tale of Mata Hari in Isadora Duncan's Neck, our forthcoming book from Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. Pre-order the Kindle version at: http://amzn.to/2xxVzkZ
In the meantime, you can support the International Spy Museum preserve one of Mata Hari's bodices.
Just published! Our Abigail Keyes talks about how regular dance classes can help fight depression.
If you’ve struggled with depression, you’ve probably heard the statistics. Depression affects more than 350 million people worldwide, and women are 2-3 times more likely to be diagnosed than men. It can be triggered by a major life event, or can arrive without warning. More than just “the blues,” it...
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