2024: The year I published 3 books (and what I learned)
“If this is book one of a trilogy, why don’t we also pencil in publishing dates for book 2 and book 3?"
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julienavickasautho
Oct 284 min read
Build a social media strategy for your author brand
If you want to build a social media strategy for your author brand, here’s what you have to do...
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julienavickasautho
Sep 194 min read
Top 10 tips for self-editing
Every story needs an editor. Whether it’s a copy edit, line edit, or developmental edit, a story becomes stronger if a professional...
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julienavickasautho
Aug 124 min read
Ten tips to improve your beta reading effectiveness
I’ve compiled a list of things I’ve found along the way that can really help an author after a beta read.
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julienavickasautho
Jul 244 min read
Attending a multi-author book signing? Here are five tips for attending readers
On July 20, 2024, I attended the 9th annual Writers on the River multi-author event in Peoria, Illinois. I shared a table with my friend and
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julienavickasautho
Jun 213 min read
10 universal storylines: How they can help you write your next book
Universal storylines help us tell effective and engaging stories.
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julienavickasautho
May 234 min read
The power of place: 6 tips to craft a strong story setting
“But you don’t have to be a David Bowie fan to appreciate the power of the setting.” Last fall, I instructed a course at my local...
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julienavickasautho
Apr 103 min read
Building an author newsletter: 5 practical tips for success
“It takes time and skill, but the cornerstone of every author’s brand begins with a newsletter.” Prior to the launch of my first novel, I...
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julienavickasautho
Mar 155 min read
Writing a Successful Book Series: 10 Quick Tips
“The end of book one is the most crucial place in the entire series; it’s the catalyst for everything else to begin.” When I wrote my...
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julienavickasautho
Feb 93 min read
How meta: A blog about blogs
“Blogging teaches me something every month. It’s not just about the writing practice or the knowledge I choose to research and share,...
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julienavickasautho
Jan 114 min read
Level up your author brand: 5 tools you need for social media
“The bottom line is that posting on social media doesn’t have to be a shot in the dark.” I am a social media junkie. It’s embarrassing to...
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julienavickasautho
Dec 18, 20233 min read
Five Tips for Leaving a Strong Book Review
“Readers, take the time to leave a review. They mean more to an author than anything else.” It’s the season of giving! When I opened...
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julienavickasautho
Nov 21, 20236 min read
Ten tips to level up your writing
On November 8, 2023, Julie spoke to students in the School of Communication at Illinois State University about writing. I recently had...
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julienavickasautho
Oct 9, 20234 min read
The top 15 “must-have” items every author needs for a book signing
“Reflecting back on some of my first book signing events, I can recall how clueless and unprepared I felt.” About a week ago, I was...
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julienavickasautho
Sep 15, 20233 min read
Writing Characters: Six Quick Tips to Elevate Your Fictional Friends
“Master the craft of writing your fictional friends well and your story will jump from the page.” Which came first, the chicken or the...
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julienavickasautho
Aug 10, 20233 min read
Alpha Readers, Beta Readers and Critique Partners, OH MY! What’s the difference? (and why you should
“Every role is important. Every reader and early insight are critical to the release of a strong story.” The further I get into this...
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julienavickasautho
Jul 21, 20233 min read
5 Tips for Writing Better Scenes
“Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.” – William...
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julienavickasautho
Jun 22, 20234 min read
10 Tips to Maximize Your Author Presence on Instagram
“The algorithm changed. The platform grew. What used to work, no longer does. And as an author looking to connect with readers,...
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julienavickasautho
May 22, 20233 min read
5 books that will both shatter and stitch your heart
I’m an avid reader. Like most authors, it’s only natural to want to consume words, stories, plots, and characters written by others....
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julienavickasautho
Apr 26, 20233 min read
Optimize Your Amazon Sales: The Four Critical Components of a Book Description
“A book description on Amazon will make or break a sale, which means authors must do more than just simply copy and paste the back clover...
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