The Benefit of Writing Conferences
We Traveled! Why writing conferences are fun and awesome! Ezra and I attended the RWA National conference — the annual conference for the Romance Writer’s of America members — in San Antonio, Texas. (I...
Category: Writing Tips
Would You Go To Jail For Your Novel? by Carol Malone
We aren’t going to be able to do all our novel research on the internet. We have to get off our butts, climb out of our office chairs, pack a backpack, and leave the safety of our homes in order to get up-close-and-personal research for the sake of enriching our stories.
Planning Your Book by Kay Keppler
Novelists tend to fall into one of two camps: either they start their books knowing only one character, or a character’s name, and discover the plot and other characters as they write, or they do a 90-page outline with all the turning points and climaxes in place.
Using Fiction to Teach a Lesson by Connie Dunn
Actions often speak louder than words, especially when we are teaching about certain behaviors.
The Power of Compelling Characters in Your Novels
I’m currently teaching an online course on creating compelling characters for novelists via Outreach International, an RWA (Romance Writers of America) chapter. I’m really enjoying teaching this class and so am turning it into a...
Take a Break From Your Writing
I’m all for being focused on your writing, being disciplined, having a plan. And of course having goals. But sometimes you need to take a break. I don’t know about you, but I find...
Love to read fiction? We need you. Looking for Beta Readers for a WWII Novel
Beta Readers Requested I’m an author’s coach, helping novelists write, publish, and market their books. To that end, I’m looking for beta readers for one of my client’s novels. THE REQUEST: This is a...
Facing Up to Our Insecurities by Author Annmarie Miles
It’s time to take internet security into our own hands, and start to inbox a bit cleverer.
Perspective: Pointing the Way to Story by Kay Keppler
Part of craft is choosing from which perspective, or point of view, you tell your story. Your choices are first, second, or third person (limited or omniscient). Each has its strengths and drawbacks. Well, okay, second person has no strengths, only drawbacks, unless you’re writing how-to manuals. In that case, carry on. Fiction people, you have choices to make.
SHOW vs TELL – What the he … heck? by Author Carol Malone
When editors and critiquers first started reading through my precious manuscripts, I got a lot of “Show, don’t tell,” scrawled across my pages in blood-red ink. And of course, I thought, What the h@#l. What does “Show don’t tell” mean? No one explained it precisely, they all expected me to glean the meaning from the insufficient information they didn’t bother to offer me.
Writer Envy by Annmarie Miles
I cheer and whoop and holler for other writers’ success; and when I do, I mean it. I genuinely mean it. But I find myself constantly comparing myself to others and how they are doing. Social media doesn’t help with that. Knowing how many followers and likes and comments etc that others have can give me a false sense of triumph and needless disappointment.
Getting Started with my Novel is so Hard #amwriting
“Getting Started with my Novel is So Hard” As an author’s coach, I hear this all the time. I know how you feel. I’ll tell you a little secret. The secret to getting started...
Graduation 2014: Life-Long Learning for a Full Life by Margaret A. Nystrom, M.A.T.
The life-long journey of thinking, discovering, imagining, creating, evolving, and challenging yourself as a person and a writer, colors and enriches our experiences, and also our writing
How Can You Become An Author? Q&A with a College Student
Alex B. for his college Composition 1 class asked me these questions on how to become an author. Thanks Alex! Hope you get a good grade on your paper! 1. How can you become...
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