practice

Should You Call Yourself a Writer?

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There are plenty of titles that have to be officially given to you. Doctor. Police officer. 👑King of England. “Writer” is not one of those titles.  Yet so many aspiring authors are hesitant to claim the identity and call themselves a writer. Maybe as a kid, you didn’t get good grades in English class. For … Read more

What Are 3 Things That Good Writers Do?

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Just like playing the banjo, knitting, and competing in hot dog-eating competitions, writing is a skill that you can always get better at! Some people may seem like they have natural writing talent. However, research shows that practice leads to better results than talent alone.  With decades of experience in the publishing industry, we like … Read more

Journaling Ideas That Will Make You a Better Writer

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I was scrolling through my feed on Instagram when I came across a picture of a pile of journals by bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert. In the caption she wrote: “The journals of 2019. My companions, my teachers. Each book is a handprint in time that says: ‘I was here. And I took notes.’ I had … Read more

How to Nail Your Book Cover Design (With Five Examples of What Not to Do)

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If you’re planning to self-publish your book, we need to sit down and have a heart to heart. It’s about your book cover. I know, you probably don’t have a book cover yet. But that’s actually perfect. Now is the time for you to hear what I have to tell you. The tough-love truth goes … Read more

What It’s Like to Record An Audiobook (My Personal Story)

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This has been a big year for me and KN Literary arts. Lots of growth and change on all fronts. (More on that as the year winds down!) But when I look back on some of my favorite moments, one stands out in particular: Recording the audiobook of The Book You Were Born to Write! … Read more

The Ultimate Author’s Guide to Creating an Audiobook: An Interview with Steve Morris

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Steve Morris is the Senior Audio Engineer at Hay House. He helps create top-quality audiobooks for some of the best self-help authors in the industry. Not long ago I was lucky enough to get to work with him on my own audiobook for The Book You Were Born to Write! I learned so much in … Read more

Three Unexpected Ways That You Can Make Money Off of Your Book

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It may sound counterintuitive, but making money from your “paper book” is the last thing I want an aspiring author to be thinking about. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with daydreaming about books flying off shelves—and money flying into your pocket. But I’ve been in the book business long enough to know that … Read more

Children’s Books FAQ

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In conversations with thousands of authors, we’ve found that many have at least this in common: They loved reading, even before they could read. Most of us can look back to our own childhood and find the seeds of who we would become between the worn covers of our most beloved picture books. And it’s … Read more

Five Steps to Build Your Editing Skills

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What if I told you that to become an author, you have to become an editor as well? An editor?! Isn’t that what you hire someone else to do for you? Well, yes. But the art of editing is something every author should dip a toe into. Self-editing is a critical mid-step as you prepare to bring the … Read more