by AnnSheybani | Jul 6, 2024 | Reading, Writing, writing lessons
Given my profession, I’m often asked about my favorite books on writing. Before I answer, I tend to want to know WHY someone wants this information, mostly because I’ve noticed the tendency to read extensively on the topic, as opposed to doing the...
by AnnSheybani | Jul 1, 2024 | Writing, writing lessons
Our job as writers, particularly prescriptive nonfiction writers, is to take our readers on a journey. A very specific, personal journey that takes us from Pain Island to Pleasure Island, as Vrinda Norman puts it. Pain island represents failure, pain, and frustration....
by AnnSheybani | Jun 16, 2024 | Writing, writing lessons
Remember when I said that your book title has two jobs and two jobs only: 1. To sell your book 2. To help your book get discovered through search engines Well, it’s time to talk about those search engines for a hot minute. You have hundreds and thousands of books to...
by AnnSheybani | Jun 10, 2024 | Writing
Our titling saga continues… The title is what readers remember well enough to repeat to friends and search for on Amazon; the subtitle, less so. The most memorable titles are short, three words or less being ideal. Now, there are exceptions to this rule, of...
by AnnSheybani | Jun 2, 2024 | Writing
Yah, I bet that subject line grabbed your attention, made you want to learn more. And yet…you want to be careful of attention ploys when it comes to book titles. I know how easy it is to fall in love with a clever title that would be the perfect match for an...
by AnnSheybani | May 27, 2024 | Writing
You’ve probably read plenty of prescriptive nonfiction books, particularly if you’re writing one or just finishing it up. Look at your bookshelves, or head to Amazon and browse around. Pay attention to the language of the titles and subtitles in that...
