by Kyle Massa Novels are cool, but they’re tough to write. I’ve been working on a manuscript about a rock and roll star who inexplicably rises from the dead. Think Mick Jagger meets Jesus Christ. I think the premise is interesting and I like the characters, but once I really got into it, I found… Read More Subconflict, and Lots of It
by Kelly D. Smith I have to admit, I’m a descriptive writer, and in turn, I love reading books that are very descriptive! I like to feel like I’m immersed in the book. And for both Rock Stars Are Fun and Summoning the Demon, I’ve been told that I “drew the reader into the book.” I have… Read More 2 Exercises To Work On “Show, Don’t Tell”
by Kelly D. Smith Recently I did something I never thought I would do. I queried an agent. See, there are so many options out there for authors that I never really thought it would be worth it for me (personally) to bother. So I just figured I’d always stick to just submitting… Read More How to Write a Query Letter to a Literary Agent
by Christopher Slater I would be completely shocked if I am alone in saying this, but I am way too busy! I mean completely, totally, don’t-know-how-I’ll-ever-get-caught-up busy. As a parent, a husband, a teacher, and a writer, I have found myself with far too many projects, requirements, requests, and desires to do all… Read More How to Set Your Writing Priorities
by Meg Dowell Have you ever tried something and failed miserably? It’s not fun. Sometimes you do whatever you can to avoid it, but it still hits you hard. And it hurts. A lot. Everyone fails, or will fail, or is afraid of failing. Myself included. To be completely honest, there are a… Read More This is What Failure Will Teach You
by Graciella MK Sometimes, we have a well-planned detailed character in mind, but with no plot/ story to incorporate it. This can be a frustrating process and an all too common one. If you are in a similar situation, try a few of these tips and see if it works for you.
by Rachael Hanel Whenever I give writing workshops or teach a writing class, I always end with “going from here.” Now that the students have learned something (hopefully!), what do they need to do to get their work published? I say, don’t even think about publishing until you’ve done the following:
by Christopher Slater I’m sure that anyone reading this is aware of the importance of characters in a story. A writer can come up with the most imaginative and mind-blowing storyline that the world has ever seen, but if you don’t have characters that the reader feels a connection to and shares an… Read More Should Your Characters Be Celebrities?
by Stephanie O’Brien If one of your characters is a time traveller, there are several factors you have to account for to make sure the story stays plausible and to avoid holes in your continuity or character motivation. Time travel also creates a variety of opportunities for character drama and an unusual set of… Read More How to Use Different Methods of Time Travel in Fiction
by Kate M. Colby Have you ever felt super-motivated to write, learn a new recipe, clean out your closet, etc. at the most inconvenient time, only to completely lose all motivation when you finally have a free moment? Yeah, me too. So, how do you reclaim that burst of inspiration when you have… Read More Five Ways to Hang Onto Motivation
