Writing Break

In this law and order episode of Writing Break, I’m dishing out two scoops of courtroom drama with a sprinkling of murder. So, let’s take a break from the summer heat and discuss antagonists, the characters we love to hate.

• More Writing Tips
• Greg Fazekas - Featured Author
• Iða Zimsen, Reykjavik, Iceland - Featured Bookstore
• 'Where the Crawdads Sing' Author Wanted for Questioning in Murder - The Atlantic
• Bloomberg - Stephen King Set to Testify in Book Publishing Antitrust Trial
• Justice Department Sues to Block Penguin Random House’s Acquisition of Rival Publisher Simon & Schuster | OPA | Department of Justice
• Alleged book thief Filippo Bernardini may avoid trial in the US | Books | The Guardian
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Spirit in the Sunrise” by Jon Presstone

“Warm Honey” by Jon Presstone

“Summer Funk Disco Madness” by MEDIA MUSIC Group

“Action Bravery Music” by Bobby Cole

In this episode, you'll learn 5 things all great protagonists have in common and what people really mean when they say, “Your book will never sell.”

• More Writing Tips
• Tuttle Provides Showcase for Filipino Graphic Novels and Prose - Featured Authors
• Mt Cloud Bookshop, Baguio, Philippines - Featured Bookstore
• 2022 National Book Festival
• Ada Limón Named New US Poet Laureate
• America's Next Great Author | Reality show for writers
• Publishing Gets the Reality Show Treatment with 'America’s Next Great Author'
• HarperCollins Union Sets July 20 Strike Date
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Gentle Swim” by Jon Presstone

“Give Me a Reason” by Gushito

“Sunny Mood” by Oleksii Abramovych

“Happy Tropical Pop for Summer Vibes” by LiQWYD

Today we’re discussing the difference between story, plot, and premise. We’re also talking about decreased print sales, Amazon’s ebook return policy, and vigilante justice. Plus, we visit the world’s oldest bookstore.

• More Writing Tips
• Carlo Matos - Featured Author
• Livraria Bertrand, Lisbon, Portugal - Featured Booktore
• The Vigilante Justice E-Book Market - Author and Publisher Guide
• Amazon's e-book return policy comes under criticism from authors : NPR
• Print Unit Sales Fell 9.4% in Late June
• Paper Shortage & Midterm Elections
• Better Homes & Gardens, People halt some print subscriptions
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Poolside in Paradise” by Humans Win

“Summer of 2022” by Himanshu Katara

“Danza Appassionata” by Humans Win

“Gentle Swim” by Jon Presstone

Welcome to Season 2 of Writing Break. We’re beginning our trek through a three-act novel today with five brainstorming tips. We visit a cinema-turned-bookstore and discuss conventions, awards, and ransomware.

• More Writing Tips
• S. A. Cosby - Featured Author
• Norli Eldorado, Oslo, Norway - Featured Bookstore
• Women's Prize for Fiction The Women’s Prize for Fiction 2022
• Book Deals: Week of July 4, 2022
• San Diego Comic-Con Is Back
• Publishing giant Macmillan still unable to process orders after ransomware attack - The Record by Recorded Future
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Summer" by Mikael Manvelyan

"Summertime Blues" by Humans Win

"Cozy Spring Dreams" by Tencher Music

This is a full episode of writing tips from America's Editor, a professional book editor. These tips are for new writers and published authors alike.

• More Writing Tips
• How to Get Microsoft to Read Text Aloud
• How to Get Your Mac Computer to Read Text Aloud
• How to Make Google Docs Read Your Documents Aloud to You
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Chill Out In The Coffee Shop (No Sax)" by Jon Presstone

It’s the season 1 finale of Writing Break, and we’re ending with two of America's Editor's favorite writing tips. We have a lot to cover in 15 minutes. As usual, we’re starting with the latest publishing news. Plus, America's Editor asks for your advice.

• More Writing Tips
• How to Get Microsoft to Read Text Aloud
• How to Get Your Mac Computer to Read Text Aloud
• How to Make Google Docs Read Your Documents Aloud to You
• National Audiobook Month 2022
• Life As a Book Publisher in Wartime Ukraine ‹ Literary Hub
• LGBTQ Fiction Sales Surge in the U.S.
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“¿Como Estan Mis Amigas?” by Tencher Music

“Unsaid” by Humans Wins

America's Editor has an important update for authors about ISBNs and a self-editing tip for writers that will save them time and money.

• More Writing Tips
• Donate to support Ukrainian children and literacy
• Grants to Ukrainian Publishers Announced
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Slow Coffee Lofi" by Simon Sharp

"Do You Believe In Magic" by Precarious Perch

Extract from Act 1 of Swan Lake

America's Editor tells you how to start your book or short story.

• More Writing Tips
• Hondred Percent – Official site for Poet Rapper Hondred Percent - Featured Author
• Vidya Bookstore, Accra, Ghana - Featured Bookstore
• Turkey Book Publishers Struggle to Survive Amid Economic Crisis
• Freedom to Read Advocates Sound Alarm as Obscenity Lawsuit Advances in Virginia
• Freelance Isn’t Free Act Passes in New York State
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Love you Africa" by Himanshu Katara

"Everything Under The Sun" by Humans Win 

"Afro Summer" by Sleeping Ghost

"Highest Peaks - Drums Only" by William Van De Crommert

America's Editor shares the average page count of today’s bestseller and talks about a group of readers who want books with characters their age. Plus, we’ll gossip about the author who murdered her husband.

• More Writing Tips
• Casey Martin - Featured Author
• Merlin Library, Sliema, Malta - Featured Bookstore
• George Orwell - 1984
• 1984 by George Orwell
• Mondo Politico: George Orwell - 1984 (full text, online, free)
• Full version of 1984 (1)
• Bestselling books have never been shorter [Study of 3,444 NYT bestselling titles] – WordsRated
• The Bookseller - Comment - Women over 45 love books – it's time the book trade loved them back
• Belarus has banned the sale of 1984. ‹ Literary Hub
• IPA, FEP, EIBF Flag Reports of Publishers in Belarus Being Detained
• Belarusian Publisher, Associate Arrested After Opening New Bookstore
• International Booker Prize
• ‘How to Murder Your Husband’ writer convicted of murdering her husband
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

"Slow Me Down" by LiQWYD

"I See You" by we20fifty

"Magic Found In Nature" by MEDIA MUSIC GROUP

"The Simple Things" by Judson Lee

"Waiting for Your Train" by Enzo Orefice

In this episode we’re discussing the future of publishing, an author who declined a literary award, and tips for selling books in person.

• More Writing Tips
• Todd Fahnestock Author Page, Fantasy Books
• Nguyen Thi Tinh Thy - Featured Author
• Nhà Sách Cá Chép, Ho Chi Minh City - Featured Bookstore
• WSJ Future of Everything Festival
• Amazon Adds New Adult Disability Fiction Category To Its Online Bookstore
• Amazon's Kindle will finally add ePub support | Engadget
• Greenburger Kids — Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
• The Book Case Podcast - ABC Audio
• Free Style Sheet Templates

Music licensed from Storyblocks:

“More Jam Please” by Raighes Factory

“Harmony” by Gushito

"Bay Area Bop" by Q-Rock

“Daredevil” by Amber Waldron

"The Revolution" by Nite Owl

"Person to Person 30" by Bruce Zimmerman