Since Christmas has exploded in every store, I thought this might be a good time to give out some gift ideas for the writers in our circle of friends and families. I’m using links to Amazon but am not affiliated with it at this time. I just like to buy there, since I’m lazy and…
When it comes to writing, dialogue can be a powerful tool for bringing your characters to life. By carefully crafting what your characters say and how they say it, you can give your readers a deeper understanding of who your characters are and what makes them unique. Dialogue Shows Personality One of the key ways…
Every career has a set of jargon that all involved understand, and authors are no exception. So there are certain terms that writers should know. There is an intimidating amount of publishing slang out there, but here are the 16 that I found the most useful when I first started down the publication road. Term…
There are a lot of myths out there about formatting a manuscript. People seem to think that it’s this difficult and complicated process that requires special software and years of experience. But that’s not true! Formatting your manuscript is actually quite easy, as long as you know what you’re doing. In this blog post, I’ll…
Beta Readers are a novelist’s secret weapon. They help you improve your book by providing feedback, pointing out plot holes and inconsistencies, and helping to make sure the tone and style of your novel are consistent. But what is it about beta readers that seems to bring out such extreme reactions from novelists? Some brag…
As a writer, it’s important to have a clear sense of direction and purpose in your work. Goal-setting establishes a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound target for you as a writer. It can help you stay focused, motivated, and accountable, and can provide a sense of direction and purpose. You’ll be able to track…
There are many different ways to plot a novel. Some writers prefer to plan out every detail before they start writing, while others prefer to let the story “take control” and write as it comes to them. Which method is right for you? That depends on your individual writing style and preferences. In this post,…
We’ve all read some novels that lack the creativity and effort that it takes to build a fictional world. It can be frustrating when you read about imaginary places with tidbits of information sprinkled with little connection. It’s confusing and can cause a reader to lose interest. If your story takes place in a version…
Hey there, word-slingers! You’ve done it. You’ve put your heart and soul into crafting your masterpiece, laboring over every dialogue and description. But wait, the journey isn’t over just yet. Now, it’s time to condense your labor of love into a succinct, gripping synopsis. Daunting, isn’t it? Fear not! As an author doubling as a…
