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Here you'll find a collection of tips, tricks, and advice from our writing community, just for you.

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How Dictation Increased My Productivity

By Kit Tunstall When I first started dictating in 2015, I wasn’t chasing efficiency. I just needed pain relief. My hands, worn from years of typing, couldn’t keep up with my brain anymore without a lot of pain, so I picked up an Olympus 821 recorder, bought Dragon 13 Premium,…
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Dear Auntie DD

Dear Auntie DD, I’ve just been sold to a mob boss. Until yesterday, I was in college, so I don’t have much time to put together my bridal registry. Any advice? Sincerely,Getting married in the morning Dear Getting Married In The Morning, A box of cornflakes doesn’t have to make…
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Tips To Improve Your Speed Without Losing The Heart Of Your Story – Part 1

By Ewrither This part is about the mechanics of writing – when you put pen to paper, finger to keyboard etc. It is not about the creative side of writing. That gets some attention in part 2. The best way to speed up your writing is probably either:– becoming a…
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Build An Author Productivity Tool Chest

By KimBoo York It’s not always easy to be productive, and when it comes to writing, the road is filled with hurdles, twists, and turns. Sometimes we need help staying focused or finding our groove. I’ve pulled together some recommendations for apps that might help: Focus apps: There are several…
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How A Writing Community Changed My Life And Fed My Children

By HJ Perry When I joined Dirty Discourse, I was in my 40s and had 3 young children. I needed to earn some money from work that fitted around looking after kids. I was confident I could write fiction. The stumbling block was how to turn my creative words into…
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Dear Auntie DD

Dear Auntie DD, What’s the appropriate waiting period before eloping with my older sister’s former crush? Sincerely,Not Lydia Dear Not Lydia, Loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful; and…
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Productivity Hacks For Writers

By KimBoo York There are plenty of productivity hacks out there which are great for writers. The pomodoro method is a fantastic tool for writing sprints, and a lot of online co-writing session leaders use it. The method is simple, just trading off timed sprints of productivity with timed rest…
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Ask An Author

Dear Author, My sister says my book is rubbish, should I bother carrying on? Answered by Hermia Ouch, I can feel that hurt all the way from the other side of your screen. I’m assuming that her criticism has left you feeling terribly demoralized and feeling like it might not…
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The Secret To Productivity

By Ruby Dixon Inevitably, the first thing an author who publishes several times a year is asked is how they do it. How do they manage to put out ‘so many books’? How are they so prolific? Are they three ghostwriters in a trench coat? Are they faking it with…
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How To Publish Your Book – Without Spending Any Money – Part 4

By Word Ninja Part 4: Marketing​ In this final article in the series, I offer some ideas for free book marketing. These are primarily short-term tactics until you can afford to pay for marketing and promo. Advance Reader Copies (ARCs)​ Use social media or Goodreads groups to build a relationship…

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