Creating the Perfect Book Dedication
Should your book’s dedication be personal, professional, or commercial?
New authors often think dedicating a book is easy, and for that first book it usually is. You dedicate it to “My loving wife” or “My devoted husband.” After all, you want to keep peace in the house. No reason to start a fight over a few poorly chosen words, right?
Of course, you might also dedicate your book to your children, particularly if it’s a children’s book, or a dear parent or grandparent. Perhaps a mentor, teacher, professor. Perhaps a fellow author, or your editor. Maybe your inspiration for the book. Maybe even a celebrity.
Suddenly, your list of possibilities gets very long, particularly if you’re working on a series, or this is your tenth book and you’ve run out of spouses, children, and close family members who should get that big thank you.
So, how you decide who gets your cherished book dedication?
Official Cover Reveal for My Next Children’s Book
Want to know what goes into making a good cover? Then check out the final cover for my new kids’ book because I think the marketing and artistic teams at Sterling Children’s Books nailed it. To find out why, keep reading.
A RECOMMENDATION FOR FREELANCERS
Need help freelancing? It’s rare that I recommend a book that I edit, even when I know it’s good. The last thing I want is to foist a copy on … Continue reading
Finding Your Book in a Foreign Language
It’s always fun to find your book translated into a language you don’t speak, even a little bit. Leaping Lemmings has been translated into German (my great-grandparents were fluent) and … Continue reading
How to Keep Your Story Moving
Would you like to keep your story from getting bogged down?
Famed linguist and literary critic Kenneth Burke once wrote that “Action equals motivation plus momentum.”
It’s as simple and accurate quote about plotting a story as you’ll ever see. And the good news is that it doesn’t just apply to action stories and thrillers, but all fiction writing, no matter what the genre.
Hilarious Picture Book Lands on Several Best of the Year and Holiday Lists
ALBANY, N.Y. – Dec. 19, 2016 – PRLog — Several notable media outlets have awarded Leaping Lemmings!, written by John Briggs and illustrated by Nicola Slater, spots on their “Best … Continue reading
Comedy Sayings That Can Improve Any Author’s Writing
Want to know what stand-up comedy can teach you about writing? There are about as many types of comedy as there are genres of literature. Prop comedy. Political comedy. Observations. … Continue reading
Does Your Book Need a Sequel?
Should your book be part of a series or a stand-alone? Creating sequels to books is big business these days. It’s the popular thing and profitable thing to do, spurred … Continue reading
What to Read Wednesday: God Made Us Monsters
Looking for good books for yourself or others? Join me every Wednesday for solid recommendations. God Made Us Monsters by Bill Neary is a seamless blend of historical and religious … Continue reading
The Most Misunderstood Writing Advice: Write What You Know
Write what you know is good advice, if you do it correctly. We’ve all heard it a thousand times: “Write what you know, write what you know…” It’s practically a … Continue reading
