Pat Iyer’s Blog
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Why You Need a Book Proposal – Even if You Plan to Self-Publish
You may be thinking “Why do I need a book proposal? I don’t plan to submit it to a publishing company. I’m publishing it independently.” Book proposals serve a valuable purpose for authors, agents, and acquisitions editors at publishing houses. These documents include...
Book Marketing: 10 Ways to Sell More Copies
Here’s a big fear we all have when it comes to writing a book: What if no one buys it? Book marketing answers that fear. While having a small number of sales is always possible, with a little planning and advanced buzz, it’s highly unlikely. The key is to get others...
Using Free Writing to Get Your Thoughts Free Flowing
Are you trying to write something at home? Feel stuck? Are you frustrated from the stresses of the day? Try this fast and free method. Unless you work at home, the atmosphere and demands of work versus home are very different. It can be a challenge to make a smooth...
Create A Compelling First Line
You’ve written an engaging headline, and now your reader is intrigued – and willing to give a bit more time to reading your blog before leaving. After the headline, your compelling first line is your second chance to grab your readers' attention. If you pull them past...
Write a Book About Your Business
When you write a book about your business, it could be the best way you spend your advertising money. Twenty-odd years ago I stayed for the first time at a Marriot hotel. A book sat on the desk in the room, entitled The Spirit to Serve Marriott’s Way. The title...
Write for Magazines to Promote Your Book
You’ve written or you’re writing a book. When it comes to promoting your work, you feel lost. Did you know that when you write for magazines, you increase your visibility and may have greater book sales? And if you feel stalled about completing your book, sliding in...
How to Write Effective Emails
There is no way to avoid having to write effective emails. Are you using powerful language? Let me give you an example of what not to do. Whenever I edit the transcript of a podcast, I search for the phrase, “You know.” A search of a 30-minute podcast yielded 80...
When You Can’t Write to Keep Your Reader’s Attention
I’m sure you’ve had the experience of listening to someone give a speech or presentation and found yourself losing interest. The subject may interest you; it may be one you want to know more about, but you can’t keep your attention on the speaker. The same thing...
Writing Tips for “All About” Books
Are you looking for writing tips for a general “all about book? "The first thing you need to know is that it can’t be too general. Actually, the worst mistake you could make would be presenting a generic overview and leaving it at that. I have a colleague who...
Punctuation: It Makes a Difference
Good punctuation is essential for effective communication. Poorly punctuated sentences can be confusing, hard to understand and completely change the meaning of what is being said. This blog post will look at why punctuation is so important and how it can help you...
Recent Posts
The Art of Editing: Refining Your Written Work
As a writer, you’ve invested considerable time and effort in crafting your document, be it a report, speech, newsletter, or …Read More »
Make the Most of Your Writing Time
One of the most frequent complaints of my writing students and clients is “I don’t have enough time. How do …Read More »
Inner Critic or Inner Guide: Who is Talking
At any stage of my writing, I may hear an inner critic, a voice that says things like, “No, that …Read More »
What’s Your Type?
When I write about errors in manuscripts, I usually focus on punctuation, spelling, and grammar because those are my favorite …Read More »
Readers Make Better Writers
I always loved reading more than almost any other activity. It’s no coincidence that my siblings are also avid readers. …Read More »