World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For May, 2022!
We've been savings these for a few weeks now so there are a LOT to entertain you! As always, I've saved the best for last!…
Angela’s Desk
COMPLAINTS and Comments about Archway Publishing
Archway Publishing is a division of Author Solutions. Often, authors contact many publishing services firms, not realizing that some of those are owned by the same company...…
And, Even MORE Complaints about Amazon KDP!
Considering using Amazon KDP to publish your book? You may want to read these numerous complaints first. From cancelled author accounts, to royalty issues, to printing/binding problems, to bad (or non-existent) customer service...and much, MUCH more!…
Any Writer Who Sends Me This Kind of Filth Will Be Reported to the Authorities
I opened a hand-written letter this week, unsolicited (of course!), that contained a graphic short story. The punctuation, spelling, and writing were extremely poor. When I got to page six, I almost vomited...…
Have You Been Denied a Writing Gig Because of Your THOUGHTS on Sexual Orientation?
"The editors wrote back, specifically asking about my sexual orientation. I replied that journalism is only about accuracy, presenting facts in an understandable manner, and leaving readers with lasting memories about the presentation...."…
LAST CHANCE! START-TIME IS THIS SATURDAY!! What Will the Spring, 2022 24-Hour Short Story Contest Topic Be?!?!
As with every Spring contest, you can expect some beautiful flowers, warm breezes, and a little bit of romance, or suspense, or action...or maybe not! Ha ha ha!! You'll soon find out!!!…
What’s a Book Marketing Cheat Sheet?
Online book promotion is not only simple but, if you have a step-by-step, day-to-day marketing plan (the book 90 DAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR BOOK ONLINE), it can also be a very artistic endeavor, which makes it fun for creative folks like you and me! Yes, online book promoting can be EASY and FUN! Let us show you how, from Day 1 through Day 90...and beyond! …
The Most Unprofessional Request I’ve Ever Received from an Author
This week's humdinger was from a new author who has not yet signed up at BookLocker.…
“WHY WON’T YOU PUBLISH MY BOOK FOR FREE?” – A Behind the Scenes Look at a Publisher’s Expenses
Offering free services is a sure-fire way to go out of business.…
ON MY SOAPBOX AGAIN! – Trigger Warnings ON BOOKS?!?!
Take it a step further. What if people start cancelling authors and publishers after they were triggered by something in a book? Think that's impossible? Take it further still. What if authors and publishers start getting sued for not publishing trigger warnings, or the right trigger warnings? Think that won't happen? Look around you!…
World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals For March, 2022!
Oh, yes! We know you’re excited!! Today, we’re going to share another installment of our popular column!…
A Snowstorm, a Coffee Shop, and a Mysterious Item Under a Coat… – Topic, Common Themes, and WINNERS of the WritersWeekly.com Winter, 2022 24-Hour Short Story Contest
Twinkle lights threaten to break the window in the wind, a blunt fingernail tapping a coffee cup, and a bell on a door that won't stop ringing...…
Did Your Lawyer Say, “You Can’t Be Sued?” BEWARE! – by Angela Hoy, WritersWeekly.com and BookLocker.com
"My lawyer says I can't be sued because everything in my book is true." I'm always shocked when I hear this... …
Complaints about SPS / Self Publishing School / Chandler Bolt
An author contacted me about Self Publishing School, a.k.a. SPS. Oh yeah, I'd heard of them...…
AN OPEN LETTER TO AMAZON: Please stop putting garbage books on the market!
Dear Amazon, It's been awhile since we last spoke. Remember when we sued you for anti-trust violations? Wasn't it fun meeting face-to-face in that courtroom? And then...…
I Believe Children Shouldn’t Be Exposed to Sexual Content and Now I’m a HOMOPHOBIC RACIST? HA HA HA!
I have several screenshots of drawings from the book that are so offensive that I can't post them here. If you want to see them, let me know and I'll send them to you via email. What you didn't get to see in the comments under my article were the supportive emails I received from people who were too afraid to post comments (because they were afraid of the cancel culture mob). I also received several emails that were very disturbing...…
Keeping Certain Books Out of the Hands of Children is NOT Censorship! – by Angela Hoy
When I was nine years old, I managed to get my hands on "Forever" by Judy Bloom. I devoured it. And, I came away a much more "knowing" 9-year-old girl. I won't go into details but, at my maturity level back then, I had no business reading graphic teenage sex scenes and part of me changed during and after reading that book...…
Should You Update Your Old Book, Or Write a New One?
Without consistent promotion, updating a book will be a complete waste of time.…
The Biggest Marketing Mistake New Authors Make!
What if you had a book that provided step-by-step instructions on not only what to do, but when to do it, from Day 1 through Day 90 and beyond? And, what if that book also included a schedule of day-by-day promotional tasks for ongoing sales? …
LAST CHANCE! START-TIME IS THIS SATURDAY!! What Will the Winter, 2022 24-Hour Short Story Contest Topic Be?!?!
Is it cold there? It's downright frigid here! In fact, we've had 9 inches of snow in NW Georgia in the past 2 weeks! What better way to stay warm than by entertaining US with a fantastic story on this cozy weekend?!…
12 Ways to Avoid Getting Sued When Writing Your Memoirs – by Angela Hoy, WritersWeekly.com and BookLocker.com
A book you'll be publishing for the masses is NOT the place to settle a score, even if you think you're doing it anonymously...…
If You Can’t Get Writing Work Right Now, You Have Only Yourself to Blame
In our 20+ year history, we have never seen so many freelance opportunities ripe for the picking. If you're having a hard time finding writing work, here's what you're doing wrong...…
Publishing Other People’s Non-fiction Stories Can Get You Sued!
Unfortunately, she can't publish the book as-is because it comes with a great deal of legal liability. Here was my response to her...…
RANT! You Better Darned Well THINK Before You DEMAND I Work for YOU for FREE!
A Karen gets a smackdown after demanding I CALL her IMMEDIATELY to give her free advice. …
2021 BEST OF WRITERSWEEKLY! Our most-read articles of the year!!
This week, I’m sharing our 30 “most clicked on” articles for 2021. Some of these were published before 2021 but they remain popular, and two aren't related to writing at all, but show that posting personal items can attract more people to your publication. Enjoy!…
COMPLAINTS About Stratton Press and Their Pathetic Sales Tactics
IS SHE SERIOUS?! "I'm actually excited to work with you and it hurts me so much. Your decision made me sad right now"…
When An Author Dies, The Vultures Will Rise!
She didn't yet know who to leave her intellectual property to but that she knew who NOT to leave it to. …
Why Your Publisher Doesn’t Care if YOU Get Sued
It's pretty pathetic when a company is happy to take hundreds or thousands of dollars from you, knowing all the while that YOU might get sued some day for something you included in your book...…
Why You Should NOT Hire Just Any Old Tahm, Dikk, or Herry to Edit Your Book
While hiring someone on the cheap might be tempting, don't do it.…
BookLocker’s Half-Price Black Friday thru Cyber Monday Publishing Package Sale IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!
Our full-service book publishing packages will only be $437.50!!…
Author Wants to Keep a “Low Profile” Because HE STOLE IMAGES!
You're gonna be sickened by this one! Here's a snippet from an email I received last week... …
If You’re Not Going to Promote Your Book, Why Did You Even WRITE It?
I am always stunned when authors flat refuse to promote their books. When I first hear this from an author (and, I do hear it a lot) I'm not sure if it's ego, laziness, or apathy...…
Need Your Book Published By Christmas? You Only Have ONE Option Now…
There are only 51 days until Christmas. That's 36 business days. Most full-service print on demand/publishing services firms take around 4-6 months to get a book to market. Some offer rush services but NONE of them offers a 2-week publishing program...except BookLocker...…
Don’t You DARE Trick or Treat THERE! – Topic, Common Themes, and WINNERS of the WritersWeekly.com Fall, 2021 24-Hour Short Story Contest
Flying leaves and candy wrappers, an aging mansion, a magician, and a very worried town! Do NOT miss the top three winning stories!!…
Diva Debbie Stops By for an Insult -or- NARCISSISTS NEED NOT APPLY!
My email was (horrors!) insulting and the dastardly diva sure showed me! She wrote back, saying she was...…
SON OF SAM LAWS: Is Nike Jordan Chairman Larry Miller Using Story of Murder He Committed to Sell His New Book?
A few years ago, a felon contacted us. He wanted to publish a book about how…