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Book Writing & Publishing Tips from a Creativity Alchemist
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Next year… Nanowrimo in a castle (free giveaway for authors!)

Next year… Nanowrimo in a castle (free giveaway for authors!)

Update – I’m almost done with my first month living in a castle for Nanowrimo. I’ll post a wrap-up soon with what I’ve learned… and I set up a giveaway to get started for next year. >>Sign up here.<<   By 2016 I’ll be a full-time author, which means I can finally do Nanowrimo properly, The...

September 22, 2015 Derek Murphy coworking, nanowrimo, writer retreat 90

11 reasons you need a life and business coach NOW

I can always tell when I’m speaking to a life coach. They ask a lot of questions. They are very focused on what I’m actually saying, and what’s behind what I’m saying. They are looking for negative thought patterns, unrealistic expectations, too much energy or worry being focused on the wrong projects… so that they...

September 22, 2015 Derek Murphy life and business coaches, mentor, personal growth 135
How I started a six-figure editing company in 48 hours for $350.

How I started a six-figure editing company in 48 hours for $350.

The first website I made was for my art. It was awful. But I learned. When I was doing my MA in literature, I started an editing company. I saw those websites that fixed student papers and tried to copy the style, then build traffic. I was so excited when I got my first $300 The 3 secrets to book marketing, and a haunted castle tour. Totally...

September 20, 2015 Derek Murphy editorial services, proofreading jobs 909
Whine or shine (how much of your struggle should you share?)

Whine or shine (how much of your struggle should you share?)

I just read a blog post from a self-styled “international marketing expert” that rubbed me the wrong way. It was basically a rant against helping other people for free, when she had courses for that, and they should pay her, dammit! I understand that people want to be protective of their content… but I often The 3 secrets...

September 20, 2015 Derek Murphy inspiration, motivation 74
Is creativity an innate talent or a skill? (Genius and your star sign).

Is creativity an innate talent or a skill? (Genius and your star sign).

Most creativity experts today agree that creativity is not something you’re born with; it’s something you do. Anybody can be creative. This is a pleasant, inspiring, modern and democratic view – but it flies in the face of nearly 3000 years of scholarly study of creativity, psychology and human nature. In this post I’m...

September 20, 2015 Derek Murphy creativity, genius 119

Why writing “better books” will not lead to more sales

I hear this from authors and clients all the time: That author is making tons of money, with terrible books. My book is way better, so I should be able to make at least that much. There are several things wrong with that logic, but the one that irks me the most is this: It’s condescending The 3 secrets to book marketing, and a haunted...

September 19, 2015 Derek Murphy quality fiction, writing tips 85

What to do when book marketing doesn’t work for you

My book, Book Marketing is Dead, has been out for almost two years. In that time, it’s sold around 10,000 copies and has 140 reviews. But the two reviews most people found helpful are critical. I understand why the normal advice is to ignore negative reviews and not respond, but I think these issues need The 3 secrets to book...

September 19, 2015 Derek Murphy 132
When should you give up on your writing?

When should you give up on your writing?

I’ve been thinking about writing this post for awhile, but just saw this letter on NYMag’s Dear Polly section from a middle aged author struggling with her declining career, and the response is basically the world’s worst advice to writers. Even worse, it’s exactly what all authors and writers keep repeating and telling...

September 18, 2015 Derek Murphy writing advice 653

21 Days of Self-Publishing Q/A chats in October! (Oops, nevermind…)

Edit: Shit, October came quickly. It’s Oct. First and I’m heading up to the Resort and Mt. Hood for Pioneer Nation… after that we’ll go down to Lake Tahoe, up to Vancouver, and end up back in Portland again in November. So my scheduling for these events is pretty crazy – I’m going to postpone The 3 secrets...

September 17, 2015 Derek Murphy 39

How to use Blab to explode your traffic and online platform

Last week a friend in Armenia invited me on “Blab” to talk about book cover design. I’d never heard of it before. Turns out it’s like Periscope meet Google Hangouts (kind of). It’s not just a one person broadcast, up to four different people can share the screen. And the cool thing is, other people can The 3...

September 17, 2015 Derek Murphy google hangouts, live streaming, more traffic, periscope 57
Own your ugly: why I have bad teeth and how I’m overcoming my insecurity

Own your ugly: why I have bad teeth and how I’m overcoming my insecurity

Recently I’ve been making a lot of video, doing some webinars, and preparing to launch my first online courses. One thing that’s always bothered me (maybe the reason it took me a year to even feel comfortable enough on camera to begin) is that I have ugly teeth. Most of my teeth needed root canals, The 3 secrets to book...

September 15, 2015 Derek Murphy insecurity, self-doubt 540
Where did all this mania come from? (Fall 2015 Update)

Where did all this mania come from? (Fall 2015 Update)

A few months ago I shut off all my sites to client work. Although I still have lots of unfinished projects, there are two big differences in my life now. 1) I have time.  And it’s amazing. I still work all day, but I’m working on projects that excite me, which keeps me energized; and the The 3 secrets to book marketing, and a...

September 15, 2015 Derek Murphy video courses 94
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Book Writing & Publishing Tips from a Creativity Alchemist
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Free social media templates for reviews, excerpts or book marketing
Free social media templates for reviews, excerpts or book marketing
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110 haikus about life, love, inspiration, passion and creativity
110 haikus about life, love, inspiration, passion and creativity
December 14, 202272
Love poems (poetry examples that will make her swoon)
Love poems (poetry examples that will make her swoon)
December 14, 202269
How to make a children's book in a weekend with AI... (and why you probably shouldn't)
December 12, 202292
Is Quillbots the best paraphrase tool? (AI writing & editing software)
Is Quillbots the best paraphrase tool? (AI writing & editing software)
December 7, 202295

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Free fiction writing template to help you outline your novel (Word, Scrivener, G-Docs, Plottr)
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300+ Fool-Proof Fonts to use for your Book Cover Design (an epic list of best fonts per genre)
300+ Fool-Proof Fonts to use for your Book Cover Design (an epic list of best fonts per genre)
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