#WritingCommunity
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Why Is Current Words Publishing on TikTok?

When most people think of TikTok, they think of dance videos, recipes, or adorable pets. But over the past few years, it has also become one of the world’s largest communities of readers. That’s why we’re there. Our TikTok channel is another way to introduce readers to the wonderful books our authors have written. You’ll…
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Have a Writing Question? Bring It to the Chat.

One of the reasons we created the Current Words Publishing Subscriber Chat is simple: writers have questions, and those questions don’t always need to wait for the next blog post. Maybe you’re wondering whether you should self-publish or pursue traditional publishing. Perhaps you’re trying to figure out Amazon keywords, book reviews, editing, cover design, ISBNs,…
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What’s New On Substack?

The final installment of our Can I Do That? copyright series is now available. In Part Four, we look at a question every author should understand: How do you protect your own copyright? We’ll cover when copyright begins, why registration matters, when it makes sense to register, and why understanding your rights is an important part of…
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Your Work Has Value Before It’s Published

Protect Your Own Copyright, Too Most writers spend a lot of time worrying about accidentally infringing someone else’s copyright. Far fewer spend time understanding their own. The final installment of our “Can I Do That?” series turns the conversation around. We’ll look at when copyright begins, why your first draft already matters, what registration does (and doesn’t)…
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Please Stop Quoting….

Every writer has experienced it. You’re working on a scene when the perfect song lyric pops into your head. It says exactly what your character is feeling, and suddenly you’re wondering whether you can borrow just a line or two. Unfortunately, copyright law isn’t quite that simple. In Part Three of our “Can I Do That?”…
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Happy Independence Day from Current Words Publishing

When I was a kid, the Fourth of July meant decorating my bicycle for the neighborhood parade, watching the Phillies play baseball, and proudly wearing a pair of red, white, and blue low-top sneakers that I thought were the coolest shoes on earth. I also remember six-year-old Jacque McGough, wildly rebellious and tiny, sneaking sips…
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Copyright Is Every Author’s Business

Most writers don’t become authors because they enjoy reading legal Copyright Is Every Author’s Business Most writers don’t become authors because they enjoy reading legal documents. But sooner or later, nearly every writer asks questions like these: Can I quote song lyrics? Can I use that photograph I found online? If I give credit, is…
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Join Our New Subscriber Chat

Today we’re announcing a brand new addition to our Current Words Publishing Substack publication: CWP subscriber chat. This is a conversation space exclusively for subscribers—kind of like a group chat or live hangout. Dave and I will post questions and updates that come our way, and you can jump into the discussion. Join chat How…
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This Looks Like Fun….

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Missing…. Office Dog & Office Cat

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Don’t Miss Today’s Free Live Event!

A reminder for readers, writers, and the creatively curious: Today at 7 PM Eastern, Current Words Publishing presents our next Reader Series event featuring Susan Burgess-Lent, author of When All the Girls Stopped Singing. This free live Zoom event offers much more than a traditional author talk. You’ll hear Susan discuss the hidden histories that inspired…
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It’s a Beastie Boys World: I Just Live In It. Free Guide!

Oh man, you found the perfect song for your novel. Only thing is, it’s not your song. What’s an author to do? What Can You Safely Use: Song Titles Book Titles TV Show Titles Titles typically cannot be copyrighted. What Can You Not Use Without Checking Copyright First: Song lyrics Quotations from people (famous or…
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Am I the Only One Rick Riordan Is Writing to?

CURRENT WORDS PUBLISHING VENDOR VETTING CHECKLIST FOR AUTHORS ARE YOU AT RISK OF BEING TRICKED BY SPAM? Does everything in the emails sound like a dream come true, such as “We think your book would make a great movie”? Do you have someone helping you decide whether these offers are legitimate? Do you prefer to stay…
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Poetry and Mentorship from Old Scratch Press

Did you know that we also run Old Scratch Press (OSP)? OSP is a group that loves writing and reading short form writing like poetry, flash fiction, and flash memoir. The group formed from the writers who had been published in Instant Noodles Lit Mag. Several times each month writers in the group post articles…
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When Amazon Puts Your Book On Sale: What Authors Need to Know

Every now and then, authors publishing on KDP get a small but meaningful surprise. Their book appears on Amazon below the retail price (i.e., Amazon lowers the list price). A deal badge appears. Readers start noticing it more than they had before. And the first instinct is usually to ask what it means. Is it…
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We’re Having a Contest and You’re Invited

In anticipation of the upcoming Old Scratch Press poetry collection HOWLING INTO THE VOID by R. David Fulcher, we invite you to take part in a cover reveal guessing contest. Three cover designs are shown on the contest page. One of them has already been selected as the final, official cover. Your task is to…
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A New Year “Hello!” from a Very Real Publishing Team

Hi Everyone~Before the year wraps up, we wanted to say hello, and introduce ourselves properly. Yes, that is our dog, Oliver. Yes, that is our Christmas tree behind him. And yes, we are very real people who genuinely care about writers and books. We know the internet can feel crowded with promises, shortcuts, and programs…
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Muting, and How to Prevent it From Happening to You on Facebook—Tips for Authors

Introduction This post is about muting or, rather, how to avoid being muted, by your Facebook audience. Let’s dig in…Every author has seen it—the desperate “Like my page!” posts, the relentless book plugs, the awkward event invites that aren’t really events. Although often well intended, these requests are among the fastest ways to get muted…
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Principles Authors Should Live By on Facebook

Introduction “Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.”— Franklin D. Roosevelt Facebook sometimes (or often) feels like shouting into the void, you’re not alone. Many authors struggle with what to post, how often to post, and whether their efforts even matter. The truth is, there’s no single formula. But there are guiding principles that separate…
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Facebook Author Strategy: Pages, Profiles, and What Actually Works

Introduction Few subjects stir more confusion among authors than the topic of their Facebook author strategy and answering the question: Should I create a separate author page, or just use my personal profile? On the surface, a fan page feels more “official.” But profiles often feel more authentic, and in today’s Facebook ecosystem, authenticity tends…