
Marketing is often one of an author’s least favourite aspects of indie publishing (and, for many, traditional publishing too). As authors, most of us would prefer to be curled up in a cosy room, spending all our time writing stories and drinking tea. Alas, that is not an option for…

The combination of a blank page and empty mind is the dreaded scenario for a writer at any stage of their career. That feeling of blankness as you sit down to make the most of precious writing time you’ve managed to carve out of your busy schedule isn’t only frustrating,…

This month at Horseshoe Books, we’re focusing on plot and storyline. It’s easy to get these terms mixed up – so, let’s explore their differences, and discover how they work together to create a story… Please note: Although it is possible to write a story that doesn’t have a discernible…

There are infinite ways to create a compelling character, and there are plenty of resources out there to support you in doing just that! So, to add to those resources for you, let’s explore the Horseshoe Books guide to crafting memorable characters… Step 1 – Give them a plausible backstory…

Following our article on the importance of understanding your story’s genre, we’re exploring types of story structure that you can utilise as you create your first draft, edit your manuscript, and prepare to publish your novel… ** Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of story structures! ** Hero’s…

Before we explore the reasons it’s essential to know your book’s genre, let’s take a look at what genre actually is… In literature, books are classified under different genres to reflect aspects such as theme, structure, and writing style. Through classifying books under a specific genre, or mix of genres,…

Completing the first draft of your novel is an incredible feat in itself – so, please spend some time celebrating your amazing accomplishment! Congratulations, you are, officially, a writer. And to enhance that title, you’ve achieved something many are never brave enough to try – you have written an entire…

Now we’ve discovered the reasons book reviews are essential for both authors and readers, let’s explore how to structure a book review… However, before we dive in to our Horseshoe Books review structure, it’s worth noting that there are no hard and fast rules as to what needs to go…

In basic terms, a book review is an assessment of a novel that may include criticism on various aspects of plot, character, setting, and style. Essentially, a book review is an opportunity for a reader to share their thoughts on a novel they’ve read. We’re going to explore the reasons…

Since we offer both copywriting and content writing services here at Horseshoe Books, we want to support you to make the right choice when deciding which type of work you may require. So, we’re going to share a little about the differences between these writing types, along with a few…