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 24
- 4 min
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 21
- 3 min
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 23
- 4 min
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 10
- 3 min
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 15
- 5 min
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 9
- 3 min
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 11
- 4 min
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, 2023
- 3 min
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, 2023
- 6 min
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, 2023
- 4 min
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, 2023
- 3 min
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, 2023
- 3 min
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, 2023
- 3 min
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, 2023
- 4 min
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, 2023
- 3 min
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, 2023
- 3 min
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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julienavickasautho
- Mar 20, 2023
- 4 min
Your fiction novel: Five things your first chapter simply must do
“Any element in the prologue that advances the story should be written in the story itself.” The most edited page of an entire manuscript...
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julienavickasautho
- Feb 27, 2023
- 5 min
Launch Your Book: 5 Cornerstone Strategies for a Successful Release Day
“You are your own brand. You are selling yourself as an author just as much as you are selling your novels or stories.” Launch days are...
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julienavickasautho
- Jan 25, 2023
- 4 min
When a blank page looks back: Six USEFUL tips for combatting writer’s block
“There are no other words for it. I was, quite simply, suffering from writer’s block.” I cannot pretend that there are not already a...
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