Joey D'Urso - Rough Writer

Magic is the hallmark of fantasy fiction, so if you’re a fantasy author planning your next novel, you’ll have to choose what kind of magic your characters will use. Here’s my breakdown of magical systems for fantasy authors.

Writing Magic: Tips for Fantasy Authors What would fantasy be without a little magic? If you’re a fantasy author, you’ve got a few options when choosing a magical system. Here’s my breakdown of the...

Went through my old art portfolio looking for a drawing pad and found this assignment from the first day of my Drawing 101 class (I was probably around 19 at the time). No idea what the questions were, but these are the answers I gave about myself. Well, younger me, you did finally get off your butt and write that novel. Also, your Arabic handwriting has drastically improved.

Happy (late) Fourth of July! The Founding Fathers weren’t shy about signing their names, so why would some authors be? Here’s why someone might use a pen name when publishing their novel.

Why Would Someone Use a Pen Name? — Joseph D'Urso Happy Fourth of July! The Founding Fathers weren’t shy about signing their names, so why would some authors be? Here’s why someone might use a pen name when publishing their novel.

What would fantasy be without a little magic? If you’re a fantasy author, you’ve got a few options when choosing a magical system. Here’s my breakdown of the types of magic you can use for your own fantasy novel.

Writing Magic: Tips for Fantasy Authors — Joseph D'Urso What would fantasy be without a little magic? If you’re a fantasy author, you’ve got a few options when choosing a magical system. Here’s my breakdown of the types of magic you can use for your own fantasy novel.

12th Annual NIEA® Awards Finalist! Read "Devils in Sunday Hats" today, a story of redemption, coming of age, and the death of the American dream - available now on Amazon: https://amazon.com/dp/B078RRC9RJ/

Subscribe to my YouTube channel or check out my Rough Writer blog - link in bio.

Sci-fi isn’t this monolithic thing. You’ve got a lot of subgenres to choose from when self-publishing through KDP, so here’s a rundown of how Amazon classifies a sci-fi novel.

What Kind of Sci-Fi Are You Writing? (A Rundown of Sci-Fi Subgenres) Sci-fi fans know the genre’s just as diverse as they are. There are many subgenres, so here’s a rundown of the ones you’ll see when self-publishing your nove...

Sci-fi fans know the genre’s just as diverse as they are. There are many subgenres, so here’s a breakdown of the ones you’ll see when self-publishing your novel through KDP. https://joey-durso.com/blog/sfg

What Kind of Sci-Fi Are You Writing? — Joseph D'Urso Sci-fi fans know the genre’s just as diverse as they are. There are many subgenres, so here’s a breakdown of the ones you’ll see when self-publishing your sci-fi novel through KDP.

Blogging is a good way to plug your book and build an audience. Here’s how you can start your own author’s blog after self-publishing.

How to Start an Author’s Blog (Blog Hosts, Post Scheduling and More) Even if you normally write novels, you might want to get into blogging. Blogs are a simple way to promote yourself as an author and build an audience. Here’s...

Even if you normally write novels, you might want to get into blogging. Blogs are a simple way to promote yourself as an author and build an audience. Here’s how you can start your own author’s blog and stick with it long term. https://joey-durso.com/blog/blog

How to Start an Author’s Blog — Joseph D'Urso Even if you normally write novels, you might want to get into blogging. Blogs are a simple and affordable way to promote yourself as an author and build an audience. Here’s how you can start your own author’s blog and stick with it long-term.

We learn all these writing "rules" in English classes, but like all rules, they're meant to be broken. Hear me out.

Why Writing "Rules" Are Made to Be Broken (Write Like Yourself, NOT Your Teachers!) In my last video, I explained why the suggestion “show, don’t tell” is mistakenly taken as a rule by first-time authors. This week, I’m going to go even furt...

In my last post, I explained why the suggestion “show, don’t tell” is mistakenly taken as a rule by first-time authors. This week, I’m going to go even further and say that most of these writing “rules” are made to be broken. Let me explain. https://joey-durso.com/blog/rule

Why Writing “Rules” Are Made to Be Broken — Joseph D'Urso In my last post, I explained why the suggestion “show, don’t tell” is mistakenly taken as a rule by first-time authors. This week, I’m going to go even further and say that most of these writing “rules” are made to be broken. Let me explain.

First-time authors shouldn’t get hung up on “show, don’t tell” – it’s a suggestion, not a rule, and ignoring it doesn’t make you a bad writer. Here’s why “show, don’t tell” isn’t the best writing advice.

Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Is Bad Writing Advice (STOP Worrying About Your Style!) First-time authors get preoccupied with the idea of “show, don’t tell.” They’re told that narration should be avoided at all costs, and what’s meant as a sty...

First-time authors get preoccupied with the idea of “show, don’t tell.” They’re told that narration should be avoided at all costs, and what’s meant as a stylistic suggestion gets taken as a rule. Here’s why “show, don’t tell” isn’t always the best advice.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/sdt

Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Is Bad Writing Advice — Joseph D'Urso First-time authors get preoccupied with the idea of “show, don’t tell.” They’re told that narration should be avoided at all costs, and what’s meant as a stylistic suggestion gets taken as a rule. Here’s why “show, don’t tell” isn’t always the best advice.

Many creative people have a mental illness, and I’m one of them. Writers are statistically more likely to suffer from some type of mood disorder, so if you’ve ever felt alienated in your personal life because of your diagnosis, you’re in good company among other writers. Here are a few things to think about when it comes to creativity and mental illness.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vH49OVUCVE4

Writing for Your Mental Health (My Experience with Creativity and Mental Illness) We’ve all seen the trope of the “tortured artist.” Creativity is often linked with mental illness, and many writers struggle with it themselves. I’m one of t...

We’ve all seen the trope of the “tortured artist.” Creativity is often linked with mental illness, and many writers struggle with it themselves. I’m one of those people. But even when you feel trapped by your pain, writing can help you through it. Here are a few things to think about if you’re a writer struggling with mental illness.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/mh

Writing for Your Mental Health: My Experience with Creativity and Mental Illness — Joseph D'Urso We’ve all seen the trope of the “tortured artist.” Creativity is often linked with mental illness, and many writers struggle with it themselves. I’m one of them. But even when you feel trapped by your pain, writing can help you through it. Here are a few things to think about if you’re a w...

If you don’t have time to network on social media to promote your self-published novel, there’s an alternative: running paid ads. Even a small budget can get your book out faster than posts and comments. Watch this week’s video to see how you can run Facebook and Twitter ads for your book.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eumymK8DIPE

How to Run Social Media Ads for Your Book (Boost Your Novel’s Visibility on Facebook & Twitter) Self-publishing authors often use social media to promote their books, but if you don’t have time for that kind of networking, you’ve got another option: run...

“Devils in Sunday Hats” is a tale of redemption, coming of age and the death of the American dream. It was the second novel I published, and it’s by far the one I’m most proud of. I wasn't in the mood to make a video about book ads this week, so here's the opening scene of "Devils in Sunday Hats." Clearly I'm not much of a voice actor, but you get the idea.

Story Time: "Devils in Sunday Hats" by Joseph D'Urso “Devils in Sunday Hats” is a tale of redemption, coming of age and the death of the American dream. It was the second novel I published, and it’s by far the ...

Self-publishing authors often use social media to promote their books, but if you don’t have time for that kind of networking, you’ve got another option: running paid ads. If you’ve never run a social media ad campaign before, here are some tips on how to get started.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/socad

How to Run Social Media Ads for Your Book — Joseph D'Urso Self-publishing authors often use social media to promote their books, but if you don’t have time for that kind of networking, you’ve got another option: running paid ads. If you’ve never run a social media ad campaign before, here are some tips on how to get started.

Most self-publishing authors start with an ebook, and Amazon’s KDP is the most popular way to do it. Their KDP Select program gives you promo opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. Here’s what you need to know before enrolling your ebook in KDP Select.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UEZLGkGPSgU

Should You Enroll Your Ebook in KDP Select? (What You Need to Know When Self-Publishing on Amazon) Ebooks are a good place to start when self-publishing. Not surprisingly, Amazon’s KDP is the go-to for ebook self-publishing. One feature they offer is the K...

Ebooks are a good place to start when self-publishing. Not surprisingly, Amazon’s KDP is the go-to for ebook self-publishing. One feature they offer is the KDP Select program, but is enrollment worth it? Here are 5 things to know before enrolling your ebook in KDP Select.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/kdps

Should You Enroll Your Ebook in KDP Select? — Joseph D'Urso Ebooks are a good place to start when self-publishing. Not surprisingly, Amazon’s KDP is the go-to for ebook self-publishing. One feature they offer is the KDP Select program, but is enrollment worth it? Here are 5 things to know before enrolling your ebook in KDP Select.

A lot of self-published authors think that running online ads is too expensive, so they stick to social media. But with Amazon ads, you can advertise your books to the right readers, even if you’re on a budget. Check out this week’s video to learn how to run an Amazon ads campaign after self-publishing.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CFpJqowh9wA

How to Run an Amazon Ad Campaign After Self-Publishing A lot of self-publishing authors dismiss paid ads as an option because they think they’re too expensive. However, digital advertising on Amazon can pitch you...

A lot of self-publishing authors dismiss paid ads as an option because they think they’re too expensive. However, digital advertising on Amazon can pitch your book to the right readers without breaking the bank. Here’s how to run an Amazon ad campaign after self-publishing.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/kdpad

How to Run an Amazon Ad Campaign After Self-Publishing — Joseph D'Urso A lot of self-publishing authors dismiss paid ads as an option because they think they’re too expensive. However, digital advertising on Amazon can pitch your book to the right readers without breaking the bank. Here’s how to run an Amazon ad campaign after self-publishing.

Even people in relationships find Valentine’s Day annoying. But you know what’s even more irritating as an author? All the bad tropes we’re bombarded with in the romance genre. Check out this week’s video at Rough Writer for 5 cringe tropes to avoid when writing romance.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/KCZTWqKcDUA

5 Cringe Tropes to Avoid When Writing Romance Oh, Valentine’s Day… love is in the air, and so is a lot of cynicism. But if there’s one thing more irritating than commercialized romance, it’s the overused...

Oh, Valentine’s Day... love is in the air, and so is a lot of cynicism. But if there’s one thing more irritating than commercialized romance, it’s the overused character types in the romance genre. Here are 5 cringe tropes to avoid when writing romance.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/r

5 Cringe Tropes to Avoid When Writing Romance — Joseph D'Urso It’s Valentine’s Day – love is in the air, and so is a lot of cynicism. But if there’s one thing more irritating than commercialized romance, it’s the overused character types in the romance genre. Here are 5 cringe tropes to avoid when writing romance.

If you’re self-publishing your book and can’t afford a graphic designer, you’ll have to make the cover yourself. Even if you don’t have an eye for design, you can make a good cover by keeping some basic details in mind. Check out this week’s video to find out what makes a book cover great.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4VPsf8HP9dk

What Makes a Book Cover Great? (Tips for Self-Publishing Authors) Getting a good book cover isn’t always easy for self-publishing authors. If hiring a graphic designer isn’t in your budget, you may have to make it yourself....

Getting a good book cover isn’t always easy for self-publishing authors. If hiring a graphic designer isn’t in your budget, you may have to make it yourself. If you’re new to graphic design and don’t know what to do, there are some basic details you can include to make your cover look professional. Here are the 5 elements of a great book cover.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/el

Elements of a Great Book Cover — Joseph D'Urso Getting a good book cover isn’t always easy for self-publishing authors. If hiring a graphic designer isn’t in your budget, you may have to make it yourself. If you’re new to graphic design and don’t know what to do, there are some basic details you can include to make your cover look profes...

When writing convincing characters, it’s usually a good idea to make them realistic – and real people have flaws. But sometimes, “perfect” characters can fit into a story just as well. Check out this week’s video to hear why you shouldn’t rule out writing unrealistic characters.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PqR1y_4tux8

The Case for Superheroes (Writing Unbeatable Characters) Readers can relate to characters with imperfections, but there’s a case to be made for writing “perfect” characters: those larger-than-life people who don’t ...

Readers can relate to characters with imperfections, but there’s a case to be made for writing “perfect” characters: those larger-than-life people who don’t have many weaknesses at all. Depending on your story, such unrealistically strong characters might be the right option. Here are 5 reasons why writing superheroes isn’t always a bad thing.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/sh

The Case for Writing Superheroes — Joseph D'Urso Readers can relate to characters with imperfections, but there’s a case to be made for writing “perfect” characters: those larger-than-life people who don’t have many weaknesses at all. Depending on your story, such unrealistically strong characters might be the right option. Here are 5 reas...

There’s nothing more frustrating than self-publishing your book and not seeing sales. Like anything else, there’s no way to guarantee success, but there are things you can do to increase your chances. Check out this week’s video for 6 reasons why your book’s not selling (and what you can do about it).

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OnZLcjUCp0Y

6 Reasons Why Your Book’s Not Selling (and What You Can Do About It) It’s a tragedy self-publishing authors know well: you’ve released your book, but no one’s buying it. While there’s no way to guarantee success in self-publis...

It’s a tragedy self-publishing authors know well: you’ve released your book, but no one’s buying it. While there’s no way to guarantee success in self-publishing, there are ways you can reduce the risk of failure. Here are 6 reasons why your book’s not selling – and what you can do about it.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/ns

6 Reasons Why Your Book’s Not Selling — Joseph D'Urso It’s a tragedy self-publishing authors know well: you’ve released your book, but no one’s buying it. While there’s no way to guarantee success in self-publishing, there are ways you can reduce the risk of failure. Here are 6 reasons why your book’s not selling – and what you can do about...

Sci-fi/fantasy authors have a ton of worldbuilding notes to sift through. Once you start writing, you might end up wasting time just searching for one piece of background information. You don’t want to cut into your writing and ruin your focus – it’s hard enough to find time to write. Check out this week’s video for tips on saving time while writing sci-fi/fantasy.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RJNfdcrrc34

How to Save Time Writing Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Making Life Easier After Worldbuilding) So, you’ve put a ton of work into worldbuilding for your sci-fi/fantasy novel, and now it’s time to sit down and write. You’ll be referencing a lot of backgr...

So, you’ve put a ton of work into worldbuilding for your sci-fi/fantasy novel, and now it’s time to sit down and write. You’ll be referencing a lot of background notes, and it’s easy to get sidetracked if you can’t find what you’re looking for. Here are some simple steps you can take to save time writing sci-fi/fantasy.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/st

How to Save Time Writing Sci-Fi/Fantasy — Joseph D'Urso So, you’ve put a ton of work into worldbuilding for your sci-fi/fantasy novel, and now it’s time to sit down and write. You’ll be referencing a lot of background notes, and it’s easy to get sidetracked if you can’t find what you’re looking for. Here are some simple steps you can take to ...

Writers everywhere should be worried about what’s happening to J.K. Rowling. It doesn’t matter if you agree with her or not – it’s all about free speech, and no author should have to live in fear of their own fans. Head over to Rough Writer to hear my author’s take on the J.K. Rowling controversy.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/a2uIK6ixrHw

In Defense of J.K. Rowling (An Author’s Take on Cancel Culture) J.K. Rowling’s got her fan base in a frenzy for her controversial views. Whether you agree with her or not, the vitriol she’s receiving should trouble any wr...

J.K. Rowling’s got her fan base in a frenzy for her controversial views. Whether you agree with her or not, the vitriol she’s receiving should trouble any writer. Free speech is under fire, and if they came for her first, they might come for you next. Here’s my defense of J.K Rowling.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/jk

In Defense of J.K. Rowling: An Author's Perspective — Joseph D'Urso J.K. Rowling’s got her fan base in a frenzy for her controversial views. Whether you agree with her or not, the vitriol she’s receiving should trouble any writer. Free speech is under fire, and if they came for her first, they might come for you next. Here’s my defense of J.K. Rowling.

2023 is off to a good start!

A lot of authors feel weird about writing s*x scenes. It’s always going to be uncomfortable when your family reads it, but there are some simple things you can do to make it easier on yourself. Check out this week’s video over at Rough Writer to learn how you can write less awkward s*x scenes for your next novel.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AV7lQ7R26PM

How to Write Less Awkward S*x Scenes (Advice for Uncomfortable Writers) S*x scenes aren’t always the easiest to write. They can be uncomfortable for both authors and readers, especially if they’re not used to erotic fiction. But ...

S*x scenes aren’t always the easiest to write. They can be uncomfortable for both authors and readers, especially if they’re not used to erotic fiction. But there are times when a s*x scene is just what your novel needs, and that’s when you’ll have to work through your discomfort. Here are 5 ways to write a (less awkward) s*x scene.

Read more at the Rough Writer Blog: https://joey-durso.com/blog/sx

How to Write a (Less Awkward) S*x Scene — Joseph D'Urso S*x scenes aren’t always the easiest to write. They can be uncomfortable for both authors and readers, especially if they’re not used to erotic fiction. But there are times when a s*x scene is just what your novel needs, and that’s when you’ll have to work through your discomfort. Here are f...

If you’re an indie author suffering from impostor syndrome, you might doubt yourself as a writer and hesitate to promote your book. It can make self-publishing way more difficult, but there are ways to deal with it without seeing a therapist. Check out this week’s video for some tips on beating impostor syndrome.

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z_sEloEoAL0

How to Beat Impostor Syndrome (Advice for New and Experienced Writers) A lot of self-publishing authors experience impostor syndrome at some point in their career. They start questioning if they’re a “real” writer, and it can ke...