writing

Get A Life!

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Writers, over the years I have found my “writing” life taking on a existence of its own. I often feel like I live in two different worlds—mostly in the world of fiction I create for myself and my readers.

Last night, we had some neighbors over. I had a really good time visiting with them and I realized that many of my book ideas have come from little snippets of “real life”.

If you are someone who loves to write, I would caution you not to take your writing so seriously that you forget to connect with friends and family and enjoy life to its fullest.  

Boosting Sales On Social Media

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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I enjoy sharing what I learn each week.

Sometimes I do a little research; often it’s something a friend or colleague has shared with me and I merely pass it along.

Today, I am sharing information about what people pay attention to most on social media.

The answer?    EVERYTHING.

Sound. Color. Movement, Size.

Odd/new concepts. The ridiculous. The outrageous. Things that look/sound real, but aren’t.

Some things draw attention more than others. For instance, something in print is looked at more if it shimmers or shakes or pulses.

Add audio and it boosts sales. 

Add something strange, like a talking cow and it gets even more attention.

The more senses involved—all at the same time—the more memorable.

Just as the folks in charge of productions at The Sphere in Las Vegas realize this all too well. They don’t stop with just sight and sound. In many performances at The Sphere, seats shake and scents fill the air.

Authors can’t use many of these ideas in their books, but in advertising they will make you stand out in the crowded market!

This is Absolutely FREE!

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Adding A+ Content is a FREE feature on Amazon’s Author Central.

That’s right. Absolutely FREE.

A+ content allows sellers to enhance their product listings with images, text, and comparison charts to engage customers more effectively and provide them with additional detailed information.

The goal?  Boosting sales and improving the customer’s experience. 

A+ Content offers enhanced listings, the ability to share your brand’s story, and increased conversion rates.

How do you find the opportunity to use FREE A+ content?

Go to your Author Central page.

Click on one of your books.

Click on Book Promotions Page.

Scroll past Run a Price Promotion until you get to the place in the middle that says NEW: A+ Content in blue letters. Underneath, it will give guidelines and examples.

You DO have to create this “content” but it is FREE to add it to your book’s page on Amazon.

Pretty COOL, huh?

Answer These 10 Questions

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Please give your opinion on current books vying for your consumer dollar.

Do you look for books which have:

1- A story spanning a number  of years -or- a story that is more of a “snapshot” of an incident or brief period of time?

2- A mystery, suspense, emotion-packed, roller-coaster of a book -or a lazy, slow-moving, descriptive, “feel good” experience?

3- A book that has a moral or truth to be discovered and applied to the reader’s life?

4- A historical book, whether fiction or non-fiction?

5- A shocking read, the product of a writer’s imagination that will “blow your mind”? A funny, light-hearted read?

6- Non-fiction or fiction?

7- Having a satisfying ending -or- a conclusion that is left “up in the air”– to the interpretation of the reader?

8. Is about 250 pages -or- more than 250 pages?

9. Even though the story might be fiction, it contains real information about a topic you might be interested in. For example, you may want to read ROMANCE, but are intrigued to learn about the life of Olympic skaters (who are the main characters in the love story), the way they train, the role of coaches, the process of being “discovered”, and so on.

10. Inspirational, changing your thinking or the direction of your life . . . having emotional impact?

**Thank you for taking the time to respond. Your answers will help guide writers in their quest to give you the best possible choices in contemporary literature!

Writer Beware

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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Here’s a new twist on an all too-familiar scam.

For months now, authors have been receiving emails from scammers pretending to be people interested in helping a “select group” of up and coming authors. They claim to have read their latest book and are puzzled at why the author hasn’t sold more books. Their writing is “that good.”

They offer to help—for a fee.

Now, there’s a new twist to the scam. I know because it happened to me.

The writer of the email claimed to be a literary agent—one with ties to a great PR marketer. She asked if I’d like her to introduce me to this person. Maybe she could help me sell more books.

The so-called agent would monitor things and if everything went well with the marketer, the agent would be interested in talking with me about representation.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

I googled the literary agent and the company she represents. There is a real agent by that name. Also, a real company.

However . . .

Come to find out, the scammer is impersonating the real agent and company. 

A new twist on an old theme.

Writer beware.

Watch Out!

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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What a time it is for writers!!!

Although advances in technology have made our lives easier, it has also made us vulnerable to the deceptive practices of scammers. There isn’t a day that goes by that don’t I hear of some new way they have devised to take advantage of us. 

Many times, they represent themselves as as marketers, publishers, or agents when, in fact they are not. 

As much as we may want to hear that we have been “discovered” and are destined for stardom, we need to be careful to research many different sources in order to verify whether or not individuals are trustworthy.

I recently heard about a woman who was duped by someone impersonating a Hollywood producer. Even though she should have been skeptical, she signed a “contract” with him. She found out later that his “act” was a scam. Fortunately, not too much money had changed hands.

Do your homework and pass along warnings to your friends. We need to watch out for each other.

Tips for Writing Tiny Stories

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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My last blog was about micro-fiction.

Today I go a step further, with tips for writing your own tiny story.

As with all writing, begin with a hook—an attention grabber.

Then, focus on a single event or moment in time.

Use vivid imagery to stir the reader’s emotions.

Limit the number of characters.

Limit the number of words—somewhere around 500.

End your story with a statement that will leave a lasting impression.

The Tiny Story

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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I recently came across a term I hadn’t heard before. 

Micro-fiction. Also known as Flash Fiction.

A few minutes of research later revealed the following:

Micro-fiction is  a VERY short story, often 500 words. 

Featuring strong imagery and emotional impact, this type of writing is often found in magazines and online platforms.

This type of writing forces writers to convey character, emotion, and plot in only a smattering of sentences.

It’s Been a Dream of Mine

Posted on by Brenda Poulos
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“Writing a book has been a dream of mine for years,” Sam told me. “But I don’t know what to write about.”

“You said it has been a dream. How about starting there—with a dream that was particularly memorable? It may have been just a short snippet, but use your imagination and take it from there,” I told him.

That’s what I did, in fact.

A recurring dream was the springboard for my first book, Runaways: The Long Journey Home.

In the dream, a boy leaves a remote cabin in the middle of the night. No coat. No shoes.

He shivers in the cold. I see his breath in the air as he looks back toward the cabin. I pray he has the strength to keep going.

I had this dream countless times. When I retired from my job as school counselor and did what I just encouraged Sam to do.

I followed my dream (of being a writer) and wrote a novel based on my dream about Jake.

Being my first book, it is not perfect. But you will feel my passion and the emotional connection I had with my characters. 

That’s why it is still my bestseller to date.

Where did he get that coat on the cover, you ask? You’ll have to read it to find out!

Coming Soon

Posted on by Brenda Poulos

It’s important for authors to know the optimal time to schedule the release of each book in a series.

If books are lengthy, publishing them farther apart gives readers enough time to read them before the next book comes out. If an author waits too long, their audience may lose interest.

So what do experts consider “optimal”?

Experts seem to agree that somewhere around six months allows readers time to get excited about the next book without making them wait so long that they lose interest.  

Taking their advice has been difficult for me. 

The first book in my new series, Sunset Pointe: The Baby Between Us has been “ready” for publishing since December of 2025. (I even announced that it was Coming Soon!) However, I am just now nearing the halfway point in writing the second book in the series. That puts me out of its six month “window”.

And I must consider the timing of the third book, too.

While you’re waiting, consider reading my Simon Says series of four books: Simon Says, Truth or Dare, Tug of War, and Cat’s Cradle. (All available on Amazon, of course!) While you’re there, please browse through my other titles, as well!