Pick up Novel Writing Tips from The Word Queen in this video

 

All authors, from those who are just starting off on their book-writing journey, right through to the more seasoned writers, have one thing in common; they all need manuscript editing services!

Manuscript editing services range from line editing, including spelling, punctuation and grammar, to a full critique of a book, or novel looking at aspects such as characterisation, sense of place, dialogue, pacing, structure, plot and marketability. Both fiction and non fiction works benefit from manuscript editing services in a similar way.

Since I began offering manuscript editing services via my position as The Word Queen I began to realise how much writers, both old and new, benefited from the guidance. And how imperative they are to lead writers on to the road to being offered a publishing deal, or landing a literary agent.

As a writer it’s incredibly difficult to edit and critique one’s own work. We literally become mentally super-glued to each word, each sentence, each character, each metaphor (no matter how ridiculous in some cases) and each dialogue exchange. When sometimes, in order for the book to work, they may need to go.

But don’t worry, I’m not totally ruthless when I’m engaged in my manuscript editing services. I always tell writers what needs changing in a positive, upbeat way. My ultimate goal is to improve the author’s manuscript so that it sparkles and shines to such a degree that a publisher or agent will snap it up faster than a croc’s mouth.

So if you need manuscript editing services and you want to ensure your book / novel is in tip top shape before you begin the submissions process, then send me an email on info@thewordqueen.com and I’ll give it a good going over…ooo errr missus!

I charge $250 per 20,000 words for an edit and critique or $200 per 20,000 words for solely an edit and I love what I do greater even than weeing in the sea in the middle of summer (and that takes some beating)

Love & Light

The Word Queen x

Before you begin planning your book you must spend some time considering the intended market. Your reader is the most precious asset. To escalate up the book charts, it must amaze your readers and have them wanting to read more of your work.

I’m always shocked at how many new writers set off on their book-writing journey and don’t stop to think about who will be reading the finished product. Before you begin writing answer this question:

Who are you writing this book for?

Is it just for you? Is it for your friends and family? Is it for your local community? Is it for the bookshelves? Is it for the whole world?

This isn’t a trick question. It’s simply to help you start thinking about your market. You might think, ‘but why do I have to think about my market already?! I haven’t even begun!’ Well, now is the perfect time to consider your market because this way you can sculpt the book to your market’s needs.

The worst thing that could happen is that you ignore this advice and you plough on with your book regardless. When you’ve finished it, you’ll no doubt send it out to publishers and agents in the hope of landing a book deal. Then the reality will hit home. You’ll receive rejection after rejection and now again one agent might be so kind as to suggest why your work was rejected. Time and time again you’ll hear ‘I don’t see how this book can be marketed. I don’t know who this book is for. I don’t know what genre your book falls within.’

Don’t allow agents and publishers to use this ammunition against you!

One piece of advice which I received years ago from a published writer was this:

‘A new writer writes for themselves, a published writer writes for their readers.’

This has remained with me ever since.

Now let’s now look at the steps to take to identify and determine your book’s market and genre.

Your Ambitions

How big do you want this book to become? Many people just want to write a book for their friends and family. I know my elderly neighbour did. I remember reading his book, which wasn’t written to a very professional standard. It was a confused mess of notes which didn’t make much sense to anyone who didn’t know him. There’s no way any publisher would have taken it on. But that was not his aim. He just wanted to get his memories down on paper, particularly the period of his life during the Second World War, in order to pass on to his grandchildren and a handful of friends. His memories meant something to him.

When you are writing a book for your family, or about your life in general be realistic about the outcome. I’m forever hearing people say, ‘my life would make a great story!’ That may well be the case. But will anyone else want to read about it? If you are serious about publishing your memoirs, then I recommend that you study successful autobiographies and take a memoir writing course.

But let’s say you’re a writer with a dream of getting published. You’ve written a novel and you want to see it in the bookshops. The next question to ask yourself is:

What Genre Is Your Book?

The answer to this question very much depends on who is going to be reading your book.

Imagine the bookshop in your local mall. You walk in and where do you see your book? Which genre / category is it in? Chick-lit? Sci-fi? Horror? Young Adult? If you can be clear about what ‘label’ your book has, then your job will be far easier when you try and sell it to agents and publishers.  

If you’re not sure about the genre, or if your book is a mixture of genres, I’d strongly advise you not to write it at all. Agents will be confused and your manuscript will be slung on the ‘no’ pile in a jiffy. It’s not about narrowing down your market. It’s all about the positioning.

When you walk into that agent’s office, you want to be prepared. If you have no knowledge of the other authors in your genre, then this doesn’t look good. What are they doing? What are they writing about? How do they connect with their readers? What can you model from them? I’m talking basics here – from word count, chapter length, number of characters, typical storylines, etc. And I’m also talking marketing strategies – do they have a blog for their book? Who is their ideal reader? How do they reach them?

So, choose a genre, research it thoroughly and model the most successful authors within this genre.

 The Market

Next, spend some time thinking about the impact you want to make on your market. 

What do you want to get out of your book on a personal level? How many copies do you want to sell? Which countries do you want to sell to? What TV shows do you want to appear on? What radio stations do you want to be interviewed for? Which bestseller lists do you want to top? How much money do you want to make and within what timeframe? Do you see it in the future as a film?

It’s ok to think big at this point. Someone once told me this:

‘Reach for the stars and you’ll at least hit the moon!’

Also, consider the ecological impact of your book. How does it serve humanity and the world on a grander level? Writing is not just about you. A good book is meant to be read by millions. A good book is about communicating your message to other people. 

Writing carries an element of responsibility. No one says writing a book is easy. If they do, don’t believe them. Writing a book takes courage, commitment, hard-work and patience…

Love & Light

The Word Queen xx

As you are writing your book make sure you take the time to consider the layout and presentation. You can always go back and tidy it all up at the end, but it doesn’t hurt to bear in mind the main points while you are writing. Not only is it a good habit to get into, but it will also save time at the end.

Here are my tips for laying out and presenting your work:

1. Type your work directly into a good word processing programme. Microsoft Word is the standard one which almost all writers use.

2. Always use a font which is easy to read, such as Times New Roman, or Arial. Don’t make the writing too small, or too large. A point size such as 12 or 14 is perfect.

3. Include a title page at the beginning of your manuscript. This should include the following:

• The title of your book in a large point size, centred on the page.
• Your full name, address, email address and contact phone numbers on the bottom left hand corner of the page in a smaller font, point size 12 or 14.
• The word count of your book (which obviously you won’t know until you have finished writing it!)

4. Start each new chapter on a new page.

5. Double space your entire manuscript so that the lines aren’t one on top of the other.

6. Don’t include any images or fancy patterns on your manuscript. Keep it plain and professional looking.

7. Indent all paragraphs by hitting the tab key on your keyboard once. Do not indent the first paragraph of each chapter.

8. Start all new dialogue on a new line.

9. Include page numbers and a header and footer on each page. The header should include the title of your work and the footer the author’s name.
What Does A Book Layout Look Like?

Look at some examples of the genre you are writing in, and copy what looks good. There is a ‘standard’, but in practice every one is different!

You’ll need to know your rectos from your versos! Rectos are right hand pages and are odd numbered. Versos are the left-hand pages and are even numbered. The book always starts on a recto, and chapters always begin on a recto. (As with all things, break any of these rules if you have good reason).

If you go down the self publishing route you’ll need to create your own artwork and illustrations. Use clip-art, drawing programs, friends and whatever else comes to hand. Avoid colour, as it is very expensive. Be careful of copyright, as well, particularly photography. But we’ll discuss more about all this in a future book!

Getting the layout and presentation of your book right will impress agents and publishers and increase your chances of getting published. Take heed of the advice in this message and in the end you’ll be glad you did!

  Love & Light

The Word Queen xx

If you’re writing a book, or you’re thinking of doing so then there’s at least one daily exercise I’d suggest you engage in. Even if you don’t do any of the others I’ve ever suggested this one is golden. “So what is this mystery exercise…?”

Meditation!

Meditation stills the mind, and when this occurs all sorts of ideas are able to flow in. Writing is a hard craft and mentally fatiguing.

Getting into the habit of practising daily meditation can work wonders on taming that fatigue and purifying the ideas and knowledge that enter your head.

All you need to do is set aside a daily timeframe of say 15 minutes, get into a comfortable position (lying or sitting), then close your eyes and empty your mind of all thoughts. This is easier said than done for a beginner. You will find that all sorts of thoughts pop up and it can be very difficult not to dwell on them.

Fortunately there are many guided meditations out there, which make the process far simpler. Usually the person speaking helps you relax your body by having you focus on the various parts each in turn. Next they might lead you down a spiral staircase counting backwards from ten to one. But remember that all meditations vary. Some are set outside, maybe on the beach, in a boat upon a relaxing lake, or surrounded by the sounds of nature. Others might involve descending in an elevator, focussing on a bright white light, or feeling the suns energy radiate through your crown charka.

Meditation doesn’t have any core goal. Instead it is a technique, or a tool if you like. Writers use meditation to improve their writing, or to develop interesting ideas.

Meditating doesn’t have to mean sitting cross-legged in the middle of a field chanting mantras and looking like an oddball. Many people still believe that to meditate you have to be a zen monk, or some kind of spiritual master. But that is not the case. Anyone can meditate and writers who meditate tend to come up with better ideas, plus they are able to stay more focused on what really matters – getting their book written.

How To Meditate

Sit on the sofa, or on the floor if you prefer, and close your eyes. Inhale deeply through your nose and as you exhale through your mouth visualise and repeat the number three, three times. Repeat this once more, but as you exhale visualise and repeat the number two three times. And one more time, visualising and repeating the number one three times on the exhale. This should be enough to instigate the process of relaxation. Then simply still your mind and try to refrain from allowing thoughts to enter. At first you will find this very difficult. The trick is to build up the amount of time you spend meditating each day gradually.

Don’t expect to meditate for half an hour on your first attempt. If you can manage just five minutes at first, that’s perfect. Once you have mastered five minutes you can then aim for eight minutes and from there on, all the way up to half an hour. I’d recommend finding the time to meditate every single day until your book is fully written. The benefits meditation provides to us and our minds is simply amazing and since I started meditating two years ago, I now do so three times a day without fail.

Before meditating ask yourself a question you need the answer to about your book. Try to be specific as the real power of this exercise is in the question itself. For example, you might have the general idea for your book decided, but you are wondering how it is going to begin. Ask yourself this question ‘please reveal to me the best way of starting my book.’ There’s no need to say this question out loud. It’s fine to say it to yourself. Once you’ve asked the question try and forget about it. Don’t dwell on it or consciously search for the answer. The answer will come and probably when you least expect it. I have found that answers enter my head at the most unlikely of times, completely out of the blue. Cool hey?!

Happy meditating!

Love & Light

The Word Queen xx

Do you have an Author’s mindset? If not then it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever get your book written and later published.

You see, the mind is an incredibly powerful part of us and whether we like to admit it or not, it determines our reality.

Whatever you see around you in your life right now…whether you’re rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, surrounded by friends or lonely and miserable…you’ve created it at all. That’s right..YOU!

It’s the same story when it comes to writing your book. If you don’t BELIEVE that you’re capable of writing a book, or if you don’t BELIEVE you deserve to be a published-author and live the dream life that accompanies it, then guess what? You won’t!

You know that little saying that goes ‘seeing is believing’? Well we got it completely the wrong way around…It’s SUPPOSED to be, ‘believing is seeing’. In other words, what you believe in your subconscious mind, you’ll see come true in your reality.

That is why it’s essential to spend some time taking a look at your beliefs. What were you taught about success growing up? Did your parents encourage you to write, or did they nag you to ‘get a proper job’? Did your English teacher praise your creative writing? Or did he/she tell you that you’d never make it as a writer? These moments in childhood are what shape our beliefs in the here and now.

But it’s not too late. You can change them. The trick is pluck out the old weeds (the beliefs that no longer serve you and your writing dreams) and replace them with seeds which do. Over time – sometimes a month, or maybe 3 months – those seeds will then grow into the beautiful flowers that you deserve and you’ll have your first published book in your hand.

So here’s the million dollar question: What next? Well, I’m pleased to have the answer for you. An answer that I KNOW works. How do I know? Because I’ve tried and tested this many times and it ALWAYS works – it NEVER EVER fails.

Ok, ok I’ll get on with it…! Basically, you need to start a daily ‘process’ and you need to do this ‘process’ at least twice a day, although if you can manage three times, even better.

Here are the easy-to-follow steps (we all love steps don’t we?!)

1. You need to make a list of your negative beliefs and switch them into positive, affirmative statements, better known as ‘affirmations’. For example, if one of your negative beliefs happens to be:

“If I’m a successful author my family and friends will get jealous and they won’t want to speak to me anymore.”

Then you’d change that to:

“I’m a hugely successful, best-selling author and my friends and family are delighted to see me doing so well.”

Aim for three affirmations, or more if you happen to have more negative beliefs around your writing.

2. Record yourself saying these affirmations on to a mp3 player, or similar device. Repeat each affirmation at least five times.

3. Now comes the `process’ part. At least twice a day you must

a) meditate for at least 20 minutes. Sit or lie in a relaxed position, close your eyes and empty your mind of thoughts (look out for a future email about how to meditate)

b) spend 5 or 10 minutes envisaging youself as a best-selling author, doing book signings, travelling the globe, speaking to audiences, attending press interviews and photo shoots.

c) repeat your affirmations out loud at least five times each.

d) listen to your audio recording of affirmations.

e) think of a time in your life you’ve been wildly successful, really get into that moment again, turn up all your senses – really FEEL it.

f) now at the height of that feeling repeat your most important affirmation a few more times.

There, now that you have the recipe for success, it’s up to you to put into practise. Consider this. You wouldn’t go a whole day without brushing your teeth would you? Well just make this ‘success process’ as much a part of your routine as brushing your teeth and you’ll be at the top of the Amazon best-sellers list before you know it!

Love & Light

The Word Queen xx

If you’re at the stage of writing your book where you’ve finished editing and proofreading and you’re ready to send it off to publishers and agents, then first you’ll need to put together a submissions package.

Unfortunately, not too many writers are familiar with the kind of information they should include in their submissions package, so today I’m going to let you know!

Along with your writing sample you should also prepare and send the following to prospective publishers and agents:

An introductory / query letter
A synopsis
A CV
An outline of the market
A book blurb

Introductory / Query Letter – This will most definitely be read so take the time to write a good one! Include such information as what kind of book you want to publish, whether you have completed the book or not and some details about your personality. One side of the page is plenty – any longer and you run the risk of boring the reader. And one last tip, begin your letter well, as the first 11 words are absolutely crucial.

Synopsis - If you have written a fiction book then share what kind of book it is and what genre it sits within. Do not describe the plot in chapter by chapter order. Instead, sum it up in a nutshell, without going into the back story. Like the covering letter aim for no more than one side of an A4 sheet of paper.

If you have written a non-fiction book say what the competition is and why your book is different. Include facts, figures and other interesting detail about the subject of your book.

CV - Don’t just print off the CV that you used to apply for your latest job. Most of the information in it won’t be relevant to writing and getting your book published. Rewrite your CV focussing on your strengths of character and any writing achievements, or press interviews that you have experienced. Publishers seek authors who are willing to get stuck into the promotion of their book and who possess the necessary traits to make a good job of it.

Outline Of The Market – Again stick to one side of an A4 sheet of paper for this. Include what kind of book you have written, your qualifications to write it, how the book differs to others focused around the same subject and the kind of person you believe will purchase your book.

Book Blurb - This is the writing on the back of a book, which usually propels readers into making a decision about whether to buy your book or not. It should tempt the reader into wanting to know more immediately, without giving away how the book ends.

Once you have all this ready, then begin sending off your manuscript excerpt and supporting documents to relevant publishers and agents. Good luck!

And remember, if you are having trouble putting together your submissions package, or you’d like me to do it on your behalf, then I offer the full service, including a list of 30 relevant publishers and agents to approach, for a fee of $200 / 150€ / 135GBP.

Love & Light

The Word Queen xx

The Word Queen interviewed talented author, Katie Salidas, about her first vampire novel, Immortalis Carpe Noctem. The second in the series of four, Hunt & Prey, is due for release in 2011. Here she answers my questions.

Why did you decide to write this book?

It wasn’t really a conscious decision, “I am going to write a book today.” I have always jotted down short stories or odd little quirky snippets of things. This one just ran longer. Ha!

Seriously though, Immortalis Carpe Noctem was a story that I couldn’t let go and I found myself working at it daily. That’s when I knew I had to do something with it.

How did you come up with the idea?

The idea kind of came to me. I love to read vampire fiction but I noticed that the transformation is sort of glossed over a bit. I really wanted to focus on that. I wanted to take the reader through that change, step-by-step and show them what becoming a vampire might actually be like.

How long did it take for you to write the book?

Immortalis Carpe Noctem took a long time to write. It was hard for me to narrow down the plot. I had so many ideas floating around in my head I could barely keep things straight. That’s when I knew that this would have to be a series of books not just a stand alone book. The first one took five years, after that, the second one, Hunters & Prey, which will be out in the Spring of 2011 only took 6 months to write.

Can you describe the book in a couple of sentences?

Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition, that is the hard part.

What kind of people do you think will enjoy reading your book?

Readers of vampire fiction or anyone who loves the Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance genre will enjoy this book. But you don’t have to like those genres to really get into it. I’ve had many readers approach me and tell me this was the first vampire book they have ever read and they were surprised that they found them selves getting sucked into it.

How did you know there was a market for your book before you wrote it?

Vampires have been around for centuries and always manage to find their way into pop culture. I think there will always be a market for these kinds of stories.

Of course, it does help that they are extremely popular right now. With the Twilight series enthralling the YA market, and the Sookie Stackhouse series keeping older readers hooked, not to mention the TV/movie spin-offs, there is a huge built-in market for vampire stories.

What reader feedback have you had so far?

I’ve had a lot of really positive reviews. People really seem to like the gritty and realistic approach I took to showing how hard the transformation from human to vampire could be.

In the next book, Hunter & Prey, I’ll be tackling human/vampire relationships.

What steps are you taking to let people know about your book, both offline and online?

I’ve participated in a couple of blog tours. I find them to not only be fun, but a great way to help spread the word. Along with that, I am a regular on social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Twitter, and I have a blog of my own. Basically, I am telling anyone and everyone who will listen, about my book, Immortalis Carpe Noctem.

What advice would you give other’s who want to write a book?

Kind of like the old Nike ads, “Just Do it.” Lot’s of people say they can’t write a novel and that is because they don’t try. Writing is not that hard, it is just a bit time consuming. Just sit down and write. That’s the best advice I can give.

Have you plans to write any more books?

Oh yes. The Immortalis series is planned at 4 books. I am preparing the 2nd for publication in early Spring of 2011 and the following year, book three will be out. I’ll keep writing as long as the muse keeps whispering in my ear.

Follow Katie’s blog here!

About Immortalis Carpe Noctem:

Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity.

As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her “turning”, did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander.

Only by accepting her newfound immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.

Immortalis is available on Amazon and it can be purchased by clicking here.

When your creativity is feeling stifled (described by many as writer’s block) it means you’re not in flow, but there’s a super way to beat writer’s block an d get back in flow and it’s called freewriting!

Freewriting is also known as ‘automatic writing’ It is fast writing, generally written for the writer and not the reader. It is not usually shared. It’s commonly used in writing classes as a warm-up exercise, often with a prompt, either visual or written. But it can also be used at home as an exercise before starting your daily writing, or as a means to beat writer’s block. Written freehand, it’s a way to write without thinking or editing. It taps into the secret parts of the unconscious. Freewriting helps with writer’s block as it can be an amazing way to connect ideas. It’s often revealing.

Example:

There is no right or wrong way to freewrite. You simply start writing and watch where the mind takes you. You’ll notice that it creates links and bridges along the way. Here’s a one minute free writing exercise on doctors:

Doctors:

Need to go to the doctor. Her name is Maria. I like Maria because she’s always smiling and she smells of honeysuckle, which is my favourite flower. Her surgery is upstairs and I have to climb up. It’s a steep stairway and I wonder how elderly people manage. It’s a private clinic with nice leather sofas which I stick to when its hot out. Maria charges a bit and my mum says she may be expensive but that you get what you pay for in this world. Maria always treats me really well and she makes me feel comfortable. She likes to talk and find out what I’ve been doing and how I’ve been keeping. It feels like she genuinely does care about her patients, unlike some doctors I’ve come across in the past. Maria places a stethoscope on my chest. It feels cold and makes me shiver. It reminds me of when I was a kid and I used to play doctors and nurses with my sister. Back then I wanted to be a doctor when I got older, but that all changed since I shone at maths and decided to become an accountant instead.

How Is It Done?

A freewriting session can last from one minute (as above) to fifteen. Very often freewriting begins with a focus, such as a word, ‘doctors’, a visual prompt like a photograph or an object, or even a statement / question such as ‘is it a good idea to spank your children?’ Focus on the topic and keep these rules in mind:

• Write non-stop for a set period of time
• Do not make corrections as you write.
• Keep writing, even if you have to write something like, “I don’t know what to write.”
• Write whatever comes into your mind.
• Do not judge or censor what you are writing.
• Try not to think too hard – just write!
• Use the writing tool that is most comfortable for you– pencil, computer, or whatever.
• It’s a good idea to read your freewriting out loud when you’ve finished. Often you will pick up an idea that you hadn’t noticed as you wrote it. Spend a couple of minutes going through your freewriting. See if any other ideas or patterns emerge?

Why Is It Done?

Freewriting helps you access all the information you have stored away in your subconscious. It literally forces you to place words on page without stopping. It also helps to discover connections which you might not have noticed previously.

Benefits of Freewriting

It makes you more comfortable with the act of writing.
It helps you bypass the “inner critic” who tells you that you can’t write.
It helps to release inner tensions.
It helps you discover things to write about.
It indirectly improves your formal writing.

You can use freewriting at the beginning of each day, or to explore specific topics or themes, such as your main characters, the setting / location of scenes, or at any point when you are want to beat writer’s block. It’s a great tool and one which you’ll come to adore!

Love & Light,
The Word Queen xxx

If you’re after novel writing tips and you haven’t already got your hands on my 26-week writing and publishing course ‘The Write Your Book Now Masterclass’ then now’s the perfect moment to receive some super novel writing tips and make a success of your writing.

I designed this course with YOU in mind. It’s for anyone who is writing a book, but isn’t quite sure that the standard is good enough. Perhaps you’ve sent your manuscript off to some publishers and agents, wishing for some positive news, but to your dismay all you receive through the post is rejection letter after rejection letter. You need my killer novel writing tips now!

Maybe you’ve even began to let go of your dream, wondering whether perhaps the publishers are right when they say your book just isn’t good enough.

Well now’s the time to turn the tables! The truth is, unless you’ve ever taken a creative writing course, the chances are that you’re writing ISN’T really up to scratch, Publishers and agents tend to look for certain clues about what writing level you’re currently at and without the proper novel writing tips I’m sorry to say that you’re well and truly doomed.

I certainly learnt the hard way when it came to getting my first book published. My first three books were rejected over and over again. It wasn’t until one agent suggested that I look at ‘developing my writing’ and ‘learning some novel writing tips’ that I woke up to the fact that I was doing something wrong!

That’s when I began my long and tiresome journey of learning, researching and analysing what books were a success and why. Only after that four year’s of research did I finally get my first book published, a book that I had to rewrite three times before it gauged any interest.

So you see, as long as you’re not a quitter and so long as you understand that it’s necessary to expand your writing knowledge and skills in order to land a publishing deal, then you’ll make it in the end.

I’d like to invite you to sign up for my writing, publishing and book marketing course, The Write Your Book Now Masterclass. Think of it as an investment in yourself, to fulfil your life’s biggest dream of getting your book written and published.

But the learning doesn’t stop there. I also guide you through how to sell thousands of copies of your book, making you an excellent passive income. And once you’ve applied my blueprint to your first book you can rinse and repeat, and go on to sell even more thousands of copies the second time around. After that there really is no stopping you and finally you’ll be living life as a best-selling author like you always wanted, travelling to seminars, book signings, prestigious events and launch parties.

Is that worth a small price and one hour a week of your time, over a period of 26 weeks by learning some of the best novel writing tips in the business? I hope so. Remember, you deserve success…it’s your birthright.

Here’s what you get when you sign up to the Write Your Book Now Masterclass:

The Complete Writer’s Toolbox So You Can Write Your Book Right The First Time….Forget Time-Consuming Rewrites.

How To Edit Your Work – There’s A Certain Method That All The Best-Selling Authors Employ – Now You Can Too!

Publishing Or Self Publishing? Which Works Best For You? You Decide!

The Secrets Of Submitting Your Manuscript So That Agents And Publishers Will Be Fighting Over It
Tried And Tested Formulas To Market Your Book And Sell It By The Thousand…

Lessons Are Delivered To Your Email Inbox Every Week For 26 Weeks As PDF Files, Or Mini Ebooks.

After you take this course and apply all the novel writing tips which I share with you, you’ll have no more excuses NOT to become a best-selling author within just six short months…

Here’s that link again – http://www.writeyourbookmasterclass.com – once you’ve landed on the page just click on ‘Add to Cart’, make the payment and your first lesson will be delivered to your Inbox immediately!

Love & Light,

The Word Queen xx

I interviewed author, Pamela Abel-Smith, about her children’s book, Little Ed & The Rise of Grimehog, which is published by The Word Queen!

Why did you decide to write this book?
I decided to write the book to help our grandson Eddie enjoy reading.

How did you come up with the idea?
I came up with the idea simply because I wanted to encourage him to read. I thought that as I was his Grandmother, and writing it just for him, that he would enjoy it. The theme just popped into my head.

How long did it take for you to write the book?
Four months.

Can you describe the book in a couple of sentences?
The book is a story about three children who make friends with the gnomes in Gnomeland. The children help the gnomes, through magical stones by getting rid of a horrid goblin who is making their lives miserable.

What kind of people do you think will enjoy reading your book?
It was written for a child, but all ages from 6 to 80 have read and enjoyed it.

How did you know there was a market for your book before you wrote it?
I wasn’t thinking of publishing my books when I wrote them. It was only after several adults had read them and said I should get them published, that I went ahead.

What company published your book, or did you choose to self-publish?
I got in touch with The Word Queen and asked if she would be interested in publishing them.

What reader feedback have you had so far?
So far there I have received great comments about all three books from children and adults alike.

What steps will you take to let people know about your book, both offline and online?
We have already taken steps on Facebook and Twitter to let people know my book is published. My husband has got in touch with several old pupils from the last school we both taught at. Family and friends are telling their friends about it. I’m having an interview on Radio Thanet FM, and my cousin who started the Crediton Country Courier, is publishing an article about it in her paper.

What advice would you give other’s who want to write a book?
If you want to start writing then just sit down and do it. I didn’t have a set time to write; I just used to write during the adverts on TV. Other times I would have a sudden idea and sit and write for half an hour. I had no set plans of a plot, things just unfolded as I wrote.

Have you plans to write any more books?
I have already written two other books and I’m now on the fourth one. They are all about Little Ed and his friends.