Dirty Discourse
@dirtydiscourse.bsky.social
Dirty Discourse is a forum by authors, for authors. We've been here since 2014, and have members at every stage of their careers - from unpublished beginner to multi-million best-sellers. Find out more at https://dirtydiscourse.com/
By Rowlf Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to develop some deep personal relationships with some of the authors I work with. So, when one of them says ‘Do you fancy coming to an MM author/reader event with me…
The Ups And Downs Of Author Events
By Rowlf Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to develop some deep personal relationships with some of the authors I work with. So, when one of them says ‘Do you fancy coming to an MM author/reader event with me…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: How do you avoid the ‘muddy middle’, especially if you’re a pantser? As a pantser, my solution to every time I get stuck is…
Community Blog Post – How Do You Avoid The ‘Muddy Middle’, Especially If You’re A Pantser?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: How do you avoid the ‘muddy middle’, especially if you’re a pantser? As a pantser, my solution to every time I get stuck is…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD,So, Dear Aunt, I’ll cut to the chaise,I have published a stunning piece of erotica that hits all the right beats or that makes me beat myself off as I admire myself in the mirror over my deskbed.…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD,So, Dear Aunt, I’ll cut to the chaise,I have published a stunning piece of erotica that hits all the right beats or that makes me beat myself off as I admire myself in the mirror over my deskbed.…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Hermia There are a variety of options available for book formatting and ePub conversion. The least expensive option is probably Calibre, and I have successfully used it to format and convert books. However, I am not a particularly tech-savvy…
How I Format My Books And Convert Them To ePub
By Hermia There are a variety of options available for book formatting and ePub conversion. The least expensive option is probably Calibre, and I have successfully used it to format and convert books. However, I am not a particularly tech-savvy…
dirtydiscourse.com
By KimBoo York Let’s talk about the plot hole. Not just the classic kind (“wait, she drove to New York in chapter three but her car broke down in chapter two????”) but also the sneakier, more insidious variety: the moment…
How To Get Out Of A Plot Hole
By KimBoo York Let’s talk about the plot hole. Not just the classic kind (“wait, she drove to New York in chapter three but her car broke down in chapter two????”) but also the sneakier, more insidious variety: the moment…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: What are your favourite self-editing tips and tricks? For self-editing, I have a few oldies-but-goodies:Reading aloud: either read it yourself, or have your computer…
Community Blog Post – What Are Your Favourite Self-Editing Tips And Tricks?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: What are your favourite self-editing tips and tricks? For self-editing, I have a few oldies-but-goodies:Reading aloud: either read it yourself, or have your computer…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD, After my latest publicity stunt went sideways, my Board of Directors is threatening to sideline me. When I invented a phony rehab facility in the middle of nowheresville Montana, the address turned out to be a very…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD, After my latest publicity stunt went sideways, my Board of Directors is threatening to sideline me. When I invented a phony rehab facility in the middle of nowheresville Montana, the address turned out to be a very…
dirtydiscourse.com
By KimBoo York Here is a question I hear from newer writers all the time: “How do I come up with a good idea?” I don’t buy it. I think you already have. In fact, I know you have! Here…
You Already Have All The Ideas For Stories You’ll Ever Need
By KimBoo York Here is a question I hear from newer writers all the time: “How do I come up with a good idea?” I don’t buy it. I think you already have. In fact, I know you have! Here…
dirtydiscourse.com
By KimBoo York Pen names have been around forever. Think of Mark Twain, George Eliot, Carolyn Keene. The reasons authors use them haven’t changed much, either: you want to protect your real-world identity, or you want to carve out a…
Pen Names: To be, or not to be?
By KimBoo York Pen names have been around forever. Think of Mark Twain, George Eliot, Carolyn Keene. The reasons authors use them haven’t changed much, either: you want to protect your real-world identity, or you want to carve out a…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: Do I have to write every day? No, you don’t have to write every day. If you can, great, but not everyone can. You…
Community Blog Post – Do I Have To Write Every Day?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: Do I have to write every day? No, you don’t have to write every day. If you can, great, but not everyone can. You…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD, I hope this message in a bottle finds you well. The scuba excursion that I’m on has been a blast – there are three really hot guys, all different in their own ways, and… well… I’ve been…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD, I hope this message in a bottle finds you well. The scuba excursion that I’m on has been a blast – there are three really hot guys, all different in their own ways, and… well… I’ve been…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Vesper Young Last time, we spoke about identifying agents to query. Now that you have the list, you’re going to want to send a query letter either via email or QueryManager. There are an abundance of resources on how…
How To Write A Query Letter As An Indie Author
By Vesper Young Last time, we spoke about identifying agents to query. Now that you have the list, you’re going to want to send a query letter either via email or QueryManager. There are an abundance of resources on how…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Vesper Young Some needs are the same for agents as traditionally published authors, while some are more nuanced, especially depending on what you want (someone to only represent new work, someone to shop backlist rights like translations, someone to…
Green Flags When Identifying Agents To Query As An Indie Author
By Vesper Young Some needs are the same for agents as traditionally published authors, while some are more nuanced, especially depending on what you want (someone to only represent new work, someone to shop backlist rights like translations, someone to…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: Where do you get your ideas from? Literally any and everywhere. But it’s not a “precious” everything is my “best idea ever” kind of…
Community Blog Post – Where Do You Get Your Ideas From?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: Where do you get your ideas from? Literally any and everywhere. But it’s not a “precious” everything is my “best idea ever” kind of…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD, My new boss is in her mid-40’s and is as cool as ice. We are complete opposites- I’m more of a sunshiny, laid-back type, and I’m only doing this because my Etsy shop isn’t bringing in enough…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD, My new boss is in her mid-40’s and is as cool as ice. We are complete opposites- I’m more of a sunshiny, laid-back type, and I’m only doing this because my Etsy shop isn’t bringing in enough…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: What writing tools can you not live without? I hate to be That Basic Bitch but: Scrivener.Part of it is learning curve, since I’ve…
Community Blog Post – What Writing Tools Can You Not Live Without?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: What writing tools can you not live without? I hate to be That Basic Bitch but: Scrivener.Part of it is learning curve, since I’ve…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Rowlf If you’ve commissioned an audiobook on a per finished hour basis and paid the union minimum of $250 per finished hour, then you’re a decent human being, and thank you for doing so. However, not a lot of…
Who Are Audiobook Editors – And Why Do They Matter So Much?
By Rowlf If you’ve commissioned an audiobook on a per finished hour basis and paid the union minimum of $250 per finished hour, then you’re a decent human being, and thank you for doing so. However, not a lot of…
dirtydiscourse.com
By AmberStarfire Continuing on from Part 1, here’s some more tips for establishing your author brand and designing your book covers. 7. Try to use a maximum of three fonts per cover and ensure those fonts work well together.…
Branding And Designing Your Book Covers – Part 2
By AmberStarfire Continuing on from Part 1, here’s some more tips for establishing your author brand and designing your book covers. 7. Try to use a maximum of three fonts per cover and ensure those fonts work well together.…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD I’ve had a huge crush on a woman for years, unbeknownst to her. Lately, she’s been acting as if she might like me back. Unfortunately, I don’t deserve her. Should I repel her with cruelty? SincerelyI’m Not…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD I’ve had a huge crush on a woman for years, unbeknownst to her. Lately, she’s been acting as if she might like me back. Unfortunately, I don’t deserve her. Should I repel her with cruelty? SincerelyI’m Not…
dirtydiscourse.com
By AmberStarfireThere are a number of guidelines you can follow that put you on the right course with creating your book covers. I’m approaching this topic with broad strokes, because there are similarities across genres. On a specific level, what…
Branding And Designing Your Book Covers – Part 1
By AmberStarfireThere are a number of guidelines you can follow that put you on the right course with creating your book covers. I’m approaching this topic with broad strokes, because there are similarities across genres. On a specific level, what…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: How do you pick a great title? Hermia – 1) Check to see if it’s a title already being used. Having the same or…
Community Blog Post – How Do You Pick A Great Title?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: How do you pick a great title? Hermia – 1) Check to see if it’s a title already being used. Having the same or…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Christopher Downing Burnout isn’t laziness.It isn’t a lack of discipline.It isn’t proof that you don’t “want it badly enough.”Buuut it sure feels like that, doesn’t it? Most of the time, burnout is what happens when two forces collide.1) Relentless…
When You’re Burned Out, There ARE Smart Choices You Can Make!
By Christopher Downing Burnout isn’t laziness.It isn’t a lack of discipline.It isn’t proof that you don’t “want it badly enough.”Buuut it sure feels like that, doesn’t it? Most of the time, burnout is what happens when two forces collide.1) Relentless…
dirtydiscourse.com
By KimBoo York It’s such a loaded question: “how did you learn to self-publish?” People want easy answers to that question, something like, “Well, Jan, I pushed a button, my book appeared, and then I raked in money!” That was…
How I Learned to Self Publish (A Cautionary Tale)
By KimBoo York It’s such a loaded question: “how did you learn to self-publish?” People want easy answers to that question, something like, “Well, Jan, I pushed a button, my book appeared, and then I raked in money!” That was…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD, I’m in the Caribbean for two weeks celebrating my sister’s destination wedding. Since my family is always pressuring me to get married, and I’m incapable of setting boundaries, I brought my best friend along to pretend to…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD, I’m in the Caribbean for two weeks celebrating my sister’s destination wedding. Since my family is always pressuring me to get married, and I’m incapable of setting boundaries, I brought my best friend along to pretend to…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: How do you handle writer’s block? Comment below with any writing related questions you’d like to ask our fabulous Dirty Discourse community!
Community Blog Post – How Do You Handle Writer’s Block?
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month it’s: How do you handle writer’s block? Comment below with any writing related questions you’d like to ask our fabulous Dirty Discourse community!
dirtydiscourse.com
By KimBoo York It is a tale as old as the internet: a writer finishes a manuscript (or just starts one!) and immediately panics about building “The Author Website.” Next thing you know, you’ve spent three weeks researching plugins, color…
Step Away From The Website Builder (Until You Answer This One Question)
By KimBoo York It is a tale as old as the internet: a writer finishes a manuscript (or just starts one!) and immediately panics about building “The Author Website.” Next thing you know, you’ve spent three weeks researching plugins, color…
dirtydiscourse.com
Dear Auntie DD I moved back to my hometown after my job and relationship blew up. My high school crush is renovating my parents’ house, and he actually asked me out on a date! The problem is, he doesn’t know…
Dear Auntie DD
Dear Auntie DD I moved back to my hometown after my job and relationship blew up. My high school crush is renovating my parents’ house, and he actually asked me out on a date! The problem is, he doesn’t know…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Rowlf At the time of writing this, the world is about to change in the most fundamental way. Again. World leaders continue to make decisions over which we have no control but affect us all deeply. As artists and…
Just Keep Writing…
By Rowlf At the time of writing this, the world is about to change in the most fundamental way. Again. World leaders continue to make decisions over which we have no control but affect us all deeply. As artists and…
dirtydiscourse.com
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month: What is the one piece of writing advice that you live by? Comment below with any writing related questions you’d like to ask our fabulous…
Community Blog Post – Writing Advice To Live By
We’ve been asking the amazing Dirty Discourse community all your pressing writing questions! This month: What is the one piece of writing advice that you live by? Comment below with any writing related questions you’d like to ask our fabulous…
dirtydiscourse.com
By Christopher Downing Somewhere along the way, a sneaky little lie made its way into our creative lives. Like, almost everyone’s.It whispers,“If I can’t write a lot, there’s no point in writing at all.” It plays out like this. You…
Reject The All-Or-Nothing Fallacy
By Christopher Downing Somewhere along the way, a sneaky little lie made its way into our creative lives. Like, almost everyone’s.It whispers,“If I can’t write a lot, there’s no point in writing at all.” It plays out like this. You…
dirtydiscourse.com