Social Media and Marketing Archives - The Writer's Cookbook

Discover how to create your author website in this handy guide.

Like it or not, websites are an important part of life as a writer in the twenty-first century. Your website is the first place readers who find you in an interview, on a guest blog post, or through your books, will go to find out more information about you and the other things you’ve written. If you don’t have a website, you risk losing those potential readers and even future sales. / READ MORE /

25th May, 2019

Productivity, Social Media and Marketing

7 Jobs for Creative Writing Graduates

When I was coming up to graduating from my BA in Creative Writing, I received no guidance from the uni or anyone else about what to do next. Frankly, no one knew what to do with me. I was only cut out for sitting in a darkened room with a typewriter on my own with no money for the rest of my life...right?Wrong. / READ MORE /

2016 lesson 4: regular posting to social media makes a HUGE difference.

21st May, 2019

Social Media and Marketing

Social Media for Writers: Which Platforms You Need to be on, Based on What You Write

Having a web presence is essential for all writers in the twenty-first century.Whether you write fiction, poetry, scripts, nonfiction or all of the above, social media can help to boost your audience.Even if you haven't finished your work in progress yet, there's no excuse for not starting to build your profile now. The sooner you start, the bigger your audience will be by the time your work is ready. / READ MORE /

Designing a book cover for market: a guide for indie authors

16th April, 2019

Publishing, Social Media and Marketing

Designing a Book Cover for Market: a Guide for Indie Authors

Your book cover is the most important selling tool that your book has. It’s therefore imperative that your cover matches your audience’s expectations. It’s not about personal preference, even if you’re part of your target audience. You’re too close to your design to judge it objectively, which is why it’s important to know the market... / READ MORE /

Looking for some book marketing strategies? You've come to the right place

12th March, 2019

Social Media and Marketing

How to Sneak Marketing into Your Writing Schedule—and Keep Living Life While You Do!

OK, so we’re well into 2019. We made it! Yay! Pat on the back. Cheers. The whole bit. We’re awesome. And with a new year came new resolutions, right? Like, maybe, throw some more time on marketing vs writing? Or, alongside writing? Maybeee sticking to a schedule? This is all non-judgmental, trust me. I’m the... / READ MORE /

Thinking of starting your own copywriting business? Here's what NOT to do

26th February, 2019

Copy, Social Media and Marketing, Writing

How NOT to Start a Copywriting Business

In 2016 I started a copywriting business after leaving a toxic job. I spent months second guessing my work and struggled to make the improvements a perfectionist manager demanded of me. I was exhausted and verging on burn out when I left. There was no way I’d ever have a corporate job again. No, instead,... / READ MORE /

9th October, 2018

Social Media and Marketing

Authors Aren’t Mute: Public Speaking Tips for Authors

This is a guest post by Simon Raybould. First things first, authors aren’t silent—are they? Here’s the thing…I’m an author too. And in the past I’ve been a researcher at a university. (Quite a famous one too, in my field.) But like all cliches there’s some truth in the idea that people have a preference... / READ MORE /

What is voice and tone? Why does it even matter?

18th September, 2018

Social Media and Marketing, Writing

What is Voice and Tone? (And Why Should You Care)?

A few weeks ago, I put together some content about voice and tone for my day job. This included information on what it is, why it matters, and how to come up with our own.To most people this probably sounds pretty boring.But to me, as a student of writing, it was fascinating.It’s reinforced things I studied at university and helped me to learn how to explain the theory behind writing to people who are new to it.Make no mistake---your voice and tone does matter.And it influences everything.Ready to find out more? / READ MORE /

28th August, 2018

Social Media and Marketing

5 Things to Remember When Running Writing Workshops

Earlier this year, and as a representative of The Student Wordsmith, I was invited to deliver an introductory workshop to members of Nottingham Writers’ Studio. It was the first time that I had delivered one in a few months, since my days of teaching Creative Writing at Loughborough University, and (if I am being completely honest) I was a little nervous.Throughout the workshop, I adopted a very ‘human’ and friendly approach---being open, honest, and encouraging when you’re meeting new writers with varying levels of confidence is really important---and this struck a chord with Kristina here at The Writers’ Cookbook who has since commented on the warmth in my style as a workshop leader.While running a workshop is always going to be daunting (even if you are considered to be a seasoned pro!), this exchange reminded me that we’ve all been there. We’ve all felt nervous and like we’re about to scale an impossible mountain; whether that’s running a workshop for the first time in a while or reading in front of large group of people you know!So, to help you through if you’re planning on running your own workshops anytime soon, we put our heads together and have compiled our top 5 things to remember when running your writing workshops. / READ MORE /

24th July, 2018

Social Media and Marketing

Are You Blogging for the Wrong Reasons?

'I hate blogging. I did it regularly for six months and got nothing out of it.'Sound familiar?I’ve heard lots of writers say this. And when I say 'lots', I mean more than half of the ones I’ve spoken to about it.Because of their experience, they assume it's a waste of time for them. So they give up.But the reasons they struggle are always the same: they’re approaching it all wrong.Let’s break down how they’re approaching it wrong (and how you could be too), and how to fix it. / READ MORE /

Lessons in blogging from 4 years of blogging.

17th July, 2018

Social Media and Marketing

4 Lessons from 4 Years of Blogging

I still can’t believe I’ve been blogging for four years. I mean, four years ago I’d only just started my first day job. I was still writing my dissertation. I’d never seen Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries 😱And now...now I have a job as a content marketer. I’ve published three books (and an anthology). And I’m on my second watch of Miss Fisher in a year (some things require it).I don’t claim to be an expert in writing. When you start calling yourself an expert, you get cocky. You stop learning. And then...you stop being an expert.But I do know a fair bit about writing after all these years of studying and several million (yes, really) words written.So, to celebrate The Writer's Cookbook's fourth birthday, here are four lessons I've learnt from four years of blogging. / READ MORE /

Literary techniques to use in your copywriting

31st May, 2018

Copy, Social Media and Marketing, Writing

10 Literary Techniques to use in Your Copywriting

I believe that the key ingredients of all great writing are the same.However, many writers don't feel this way.Novelists often find copywriting soul-destroying and avoid it as much as possible.But if you want to reach more people---and compel those people to purchase your books---you need to work on your copywriting.If you don't, you won't create a connection with your audience and they'll be much less likely to purchase anything from you.The deeper the connection you create with your reader, the more likely you’ll be to compel them into action.Here are 9 literary techniques you can use in your copywriting that prove copywriting and fiction writing aren't so different after all. / READ MORE /

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