7 Time Management Tips for Authors

7 Time Management Tips for Authors

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Time management is something I’ve been asked about multiple times. I get a lot done and pour a lot of time into my writing, so people assume I must have a handle on time management. Which is understandable, but to be totally honest… I mostly just don’t have a lot of things eating up my time, so I don’t have to manage my time as well as some people do in order to get a lot of writing stuff done. (I consider myself blessed.)

That said, in answering specific questions on this topic I have discovered some time management tools and patterns that I use, which do help me get things done and not waste all of the time I’ve been blessed with. And since time management is Continue reading “7 Time Management Tips for Authors” →

3 Tips for Making Helpful Book Recommendations

3 Tips for Making Helpful Book Recommendations

Posted on by R.M. Archer

While we’re on the topic of getting people to read books (after last week’s post about requesting reviews), let’s talk about making book recommendations. This is another thing I see a fair amount, especially being on Goodreads, and it’s something I quite enjoy—when it’s done right. So let’s talk about how to make helpful book recommendations and bring other readers into our favorite fandoms. ;)

Why to Make Careful Book Recommendations

First, why is it important to make helpful book recommendations?

1) For the sake of the reader.

You don’t want to offend a reader by recommending something they aren’t comfortable reading, and you do want to recommend books they’re likely to enjoy. After all, we read Continue reading “3 Tips for Making Helpful Book Recommendations” →

5 Steps to Requesting a Book Review

5 Steps to Requesting a Book Review

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Today we’re going to be discussing something that I’ve seen a fair amount as a fairly experienced writer/blogger: requesting book reviews. So we’re talking about when you have a book and you’re reaching out to bloggers, asking if they’ll review it for you. I’ve been on both sides of this exchange, and there are some steps I’ve seen missed (or missed myself) that I’ve found are a key part of the review requesting process. So today I’m going to walk you through Continue reading “5 Steps to Requesting a Book Review” →

Family Roles in Fantasy Cultures

Family Roles in Fantasy Cultures

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Last week we talked about courtship and marriage customs, and this week we’re carrying on the family thread by discussing family roles as a whole. What role do families play in the culture of your world, or in the lives of your characters? And are they such that you can get away with not killing your teen protagonist’s parents? Well, let’s find out.

Is Family Important to This Culture?

The first thing to ask is whether or not family is appreciated in your culture. If your culture values Continue reading “Family Roles in Fantasy Cultures” →