for writers

Freebies and a Vegas Book Signing… Happy November!

by Kristen James

I’m writing this on Halloween night so of course it’s pouring down rain outside – that’s how it always is for Halloween here in my part of Oregon. It just adds to the atmosphere. I call it writing weather!

And tonight I’m writing about my freebies…

First, I’m excited to announce an in-person book signing in Las Vegas on November 18. I’ll be attending with some 350 other authors across genres, so it’s an event for everyone who loves to read. (And loves to visit Vegas! I’m looking forward to some sunshine in Vegas to learn, network, and have fun. I made the week-long Indie conference my birthday trip this year.)

I’m taking a selection of my novels, some romance, some mystery, and a nonfiction for other writers. I’ll have my two newest novels: Sarah’s Song and The Billionaire Who Bought Me. It was hard to chose some and not all of my novels, and I ended up with a mix so hopefully that works to my advantage. I wanted to have something for different kinds of readers.

After the last few years, it feels amazing to have this event to look forward to. I miss interacting with other authors and readers.

Soooo…. My Kindle freebie is actually one of my new novels. I made it free through Smashwords and was surprised when Amazon price-matched quickly, so yay! Now I can offer it free to my readers across different platforms.

I have other freebie novels on Apple books and Barnes and Noble that haven’t shown up on Amazon. If you read on Kindle, you can always visit my Smashwords profile to get Kindle files. They provide instructions on how to transfer files, or you can read books online.

My Smashwords Profile – books, about me, and an exclusive author interview.

Well, on this dark and rainy night, I should probably get back to writing! I’m revising a Christmas novella because I realized it was a bit on the short side. It’s a story I really love about second chance love and Christmas. Some people advise to keep moving forward but I enjoy revisiting older stories and hanging out with my characters again. I’ll share more on that later in November.

Oh, one last thing before I go… I am working on a novel that’s in the very early stages. So there’ll be more on that later too.

Happy Halloween and Happy November!

10 Easy Steps to Write Your Novel

by Kristen James

My newest writing guide is out! This project began when I tried writing a blog post about how to write a novel, but I quickly realized just how much I had to say on the topic. It turned into a 100 page guide on the entire process. Take a look at the table of contents below!

(More info on all my books for authors under Authorpreneur Press)

10 Easy Steps to Write Your Novel: The Quick Start Guide to Novel Writing.

Print for only 7.99

10 easy steps novel

The “Quick Start Guide” to outlining and writing your novel!

Helpful exercises with each step.

Tips for beginnings and more advanced writers.

Have you ever wondered how to write a novel? Have you started and got frustrated? Or have you written a few novels but still want to streamline your process and learn more about structure, plot, characters, setting, and putting it all together? Do you struggle with outlining? 10 Easy Steps to Write Your Novel covers developing ideas, conflict, characters, setting, big plot points, outlining, the writing process, writing scenes, and editing and revising.

Table of Contents:

  • Step 1: Develop your Idea
  • What about a title?
  • Developing “Sparks”
  • Questions to Consider
  • A Solid Foundation
  • Developing Your Idea Exercises
  • Step 2: Develop Your Conflict
  • Conflict Exercises
  • Step 3: Add Your Characters
  • Play Around with Character
  • Character Exercises
  • Define Your Characters
  • More Character Exercises
  • Step 4: Define Your Setting
  • Using Setting to Shape Story
  • Setting Exercises
  • Step 5: Outline your Big Plot Points
  • My Novel Structure
  • Expanding the 7 Plot Points
  • Step 6: Plan Act I to the Door of No Return
  • Outlining
  • What about Prologues?
  • That Opening Line
  • Beginnings
  • Genre Beginnings
  • “The Beginning” Exercises
  • Complications
  • The Door of No Return
  • Step 7: Plan Act II to the Midpoint
  • Act II Exercise
  • Low and High Points
  • Midpoint
  • Step 8: Act III: Plan the Middle to the End
  • Taking Action
  • Dark Moment
  • Climax
  • Resolution
  • Ending Exercises
  • The Last Line
  • Step 9: Writing
  • Writing Scenes
  • Should you write every day?
  • Should you set a daily word count goal?
  • Should you write in order?
  • Should you edit and revise during the first draft?
  • Staying in the flow
  • Keeping up your momentum
  • Celebrate your progress
  • Step 10: Re-writing & Editing
  • When should you share your work?
  • Critique Groups?
  • Start with the big issues
  • Checking Smaller Elements
  • Should you have a theme?
  • When is your novel finished?