Tag: writing
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F*ck and Other Buzzwords: Shock Value Disguised as Edginess
Is it okay to throw around a few F-bombs in your writing to spice it up? At what point does it start looking desperate for attention? It’s something most writers have to ask themselves at some point. As an open-door romance writer, a few F-bombs and penis references come with the territory. A steamy sex…
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Why Indie Publishing is My Vibe
Many readers assume that indie authors choose self-publishing because they were not good enough to secure a traditional publishing deal. That assumption could not be further from the truth. For many of us, self-publishing is not a fallback plan. It is a strategic, informed decision. For me, it was a choice I made intentionally and…
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New Writers Deserve Support, Not Shame
The hardest part of becoming an author is publishing that first novel. You are putting a piece of yourself into the world, fully aware that it will be judged. The risk of being picked apart by reviewers alone can be daunting. When that criticism comes from other authors, especially those who position themselves as gatekeepers,…
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Could Cartoon Avatars Be Hurting Your Romance Author Brand?
As the old saying goes, first impressions are everything. That can be said about how an author’s profile reflects on your work, especially in romance. In a writing group on Facebook today, I came across a post asking about the use of a chibi or anime-style avatar for an author’s profile image. The author mentioned…
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Book Beats: What Authors Need to Know About Spotify Playlists
Right along with BookTok vibes, book playlists are trending. Authors everywhere are adding playlists to their novels to spice up those sizzle scenes and set the perfect mood. But should we? I’m not a fan of the trend, though I’ll admit that I do pull inspiration from all sorts of music. I’ve often gotten inspriation…
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I was not ready: The jump from Serial Platforms to Self Publishing
Most authors who take the leap from serial reading platforms to self-publishing won’t admit the huge mistakes that come with it. Why? Because it’s a time we’d often rather forget. From the hard breakup with sketchy pay-to-read apps, to unpolished manuscripts, off-market covers, and just flat-out not knowing what we were doing—it was a slap…
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Are Authors’ Drafts in Google Docs Feeding AI?
We’ve all been hearing the rumors about AI and if Google is using our writing to train their systems. The conspiracy theories run rampant on social media groups where the pitch forks and fire torches come out from the mob of any mention of it. “Oh no! The evil AI monster that is stealing artist…
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Writing in Disguise: The Legacy of Women Authors
Today I came across a controversial Tiktok talking about how J.K. Rowling used a male pen name for her writing. You’d have to be living under a rock to not know her stance on transgender issues, so why would she use a male pen name? Now, I won’t debate on the controversy, so I will…
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Reading Apps and Serial Writers: The Toxic Breakup
Sorry… It’s you not me. Get ready for a long ride into the world of serial writers and the behind the scenes toxic relationships we have with pay-to-read apps. As a serial app reader, you’ve probably seen numerous situations where some of your favorite authors walked away from reading apps. It may seem that many…
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Writing Rules
I was in a discussion in a writing group today where an author asked if they could do certain things in their book that may be a little too ambitious for most. From what I gathered, they were a new writer, probably just beginning their journey. People chimed in with advice, but one response didn’t…
Loretta Kendall 