By Joe Peters Decades ago, when prolific writers like Charles Dickens and Shakespeare were sitting down to pen their best-selling creations, many of the distractions we have today didn’t exist. There was no need to worry about being pulled from a moment of inspiration by a buzz or notification on your phone. Social media wasn’t an issue, and the authors knew that they … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Lessons On Productivity From Successful Writers
Writing
Guest Post: Stop Killing Your Characters’ Parents!
By Mariah When was the last time you read a book or watched a movie where 1) at least one of the main character’s parents is dead, 2) dies suddenly, or 3) is slowly dying over the course of the movie. Chances are, that was pretty recently — painfully recently. When they want to give their character hardship or a tragic origin story, too many writers will knock off a parent … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Stop Killing Your Characters’ Parents!
Guest Post: How to Write a Realistic Car Crash Sequence
By Mariah T. Writing a scene involving a car crash can be a little tricky. It's a dramatic event, and as such, if done poorly, it can look like a writer's attempt to lure the reader into having emotions through unresearched, unskilled and lazy methods. But you can write car-crash scenes to great effect if you understand your genre and do the work. The Setup The way that … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How to Write a Realistic Car Crash Sequence
Guest Post: The 4 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make When Entering a Writing Contest
By Emmanuel Nataf We all dream about getting published one day. But the road to seeing our names in print? That depends on how you choose to go about it. Some plunge in and start churning out a novel, while others may find themselves wandering down the e-zine alley. Still others might give up entirely and decide to work their way up in the publishing world a different … [Read more...] about Guest Post: The 4 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make When Entering a Writing Contest
Guest Post: 5 Steps to Finding Profitable Book Topics on Amazon
By Alexandria Evensen As an independent author you must fill two distinct roles—that of the creative, and that of the entrepreneur. If you’re reading this it’s probably safe to assume you’re not just writing for fun. You’re likely trying to shape a brand, create a passive income, or use your writing skills to promote an online business. Your writing topics should align … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Steps to Finding Profitable Book Topics on Amazon
Starting and Growing Your Blog
When it comes to blogging, there's a lot to know. Here are some resources to help you, whether you're starting out or looking to grow your blog. Blog Posts "12 Steps to a Great Blog Post" on Australian Christian Writers "13 Blog Post Blunders You Should Avoid (And What to Do Instead)" on Your Writer Platform "9 Grammatical Errors (and How to Avoid Them)" on Self … [Read more...] about Starting and Growing Your Blog
Using a Pen Name
I don't use pen names, but I can understand why an author may want to use one. Writers Write recently published a post on why writers would want to use a pen name. They mention a lot of reasons, including keeping your identity secret, using a shorter name that's easier to remember, writing in multiple genres and targeting different audiences, and to use a different name from an … [Read more...] about Using a Pen Name
Guest Post: 10 Tips and Tricks to Get Writing Inspiration Anywhere and Anytime
By Lucia Tang Writers aren’t prophets. No matter how hard we wish, we can’t just take dictation from some divine voice in our ears — we’re supposed to find our own inspiration. But when you’re on the run from a deadline, in a fight with a chapter, or just sick of wishing the book in your head would magically appear on your laptop, finding inspiration can feel like a DIY root … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 10 Tips and Tricks to Get Writing Inspiration Anywhere and Anytime
Becoming A Writer (And Improving Your Writing)
Writing comes in all shapes and sizes. Here is a list of links to help you get started writing and also make your writing better. Getting Started Writing "How to establish a writing routine for 2019" on Publication Coach: Advice includes making time, committing, and developing rituals. "Authors, Are You Applying What You Learned Last Year To Your Current Writing?" on … [Read more...] about Becoming A Writer (And Improving Your Writing)
21+ Magazines To Write For
Writing for magazines is a great way to build your portfolio (quick self-promotion: you can see my new portfolio here). Here are some magazines and presses that accept submissions, in a variety of genres. Some pay for work, some do not. Please read the submission guidelines! Vestal Review: Flash fiction. All-Story: Short fiction. Sleet Magazine: Poems, flash fiction, … [Read more...] about 21+ Magazines To Write For
Guest Post: 4 Pro Tips on Writing Injuries
By Mariah If done well, writing about long-term injuries can add an important element to a work of fiction. The character's psychological development from the initial shock to adapting to the consequences of his injury provides an emotional and uplifting story that can inspire readers. Injuries of all kinds will affect people in different ways, and those responses can lead … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 4 Pro Tips on Writing Injuries
Guest Post: How to Name a Character
By Emmanuel Nataf It’s the new year and you’re ready to actually carry out your resolution of writing a book. You’re excited and sitting down to put down the first word when you stop short — because you’ve realized that you’re missing one of the most basic ingredients of all: a name for your character. Though it might seem like a given, a name is actually one of the most … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How to Name a Character
Starting the New Year Strong: Writing Advice and Resources
Yes, I know it's now February, but it's still early in the year! Also, congrats if one of your resolutions for the year was to write more, and you've made it this far. There are many writing resources and articles out there. Here are a few that may help you with your next novel, broken down by theme. Conflict and Tension "5 Ways to Create Strong Internal Conflict" on … [Read more...] about Starting the New Year Strong: Writing Advice and Resources
Tips for Writing a Series
I've had a series in the works for a while now (spoiler, it's about dinosaurs). I've been really slow in writing it, but I have been reading up lately on tips for how other authors write their series. Elizabeth Spann Craig has a post about evaluating a series, and deciding how long a series should be. Some things to consider are whether you as the author have fresh ideas, if … [Read more...] about Tips for Writing a Series
Indie Authors: Organization and Writing Tips
As an indie author treating writing as a business, it's important to stay on top of deadlines and to always work on improving your craft. Organizing Your Time To that end, Duolit has provided a helpful free monthly planner for authors. The idea is that to-do lists can be too daunting, and if you schedule activities in your calendar you will actually get more done. The planner … [Read more...] about Indie Authors: Organization and Writing Tips
