Blog
How to Write When You Don’t Have the Time
One of the biggest frustrations I hear from new writers is that they can’t find the time to write. Let’s face it: Writing and editing are the hard parts; the imagining is where the fun is. For several months, life was tough. It was stressful, and it felt like I was...
Writing A Successful Novel Takes More Than Talent
Mary Laura Philpott suggests that if we have a talent for something, we enjoy doing it. She also wonders if we get good at it because we enjoy it and if “talent” is really a thing. But what does it mean to have a talent for something? For our purposes, it means a...
First Sentences Don’t Hook Readers: Here’s How to Start Your Book
“I want to hook my readers from the first sentence.” That’s something I hear A LOT, especially from new writers. It makes sense: readers want something to draw them into the story, and you want to deliver. But let me ask you this…what is the first line of the book...
Tackle Your Editor’s Feedback: How To Approach An Edit
So you got your manuscript back from your editor. Now what? The most important thing to remember is the issues in your story are not a reflection of who you are as a writer or a person. They don’t make you bad. Every author from Stephen King to Nora Roberts needs an...
Preparing for an Edit is Key to a Strong Revision
NaNoWriMo is finally over, yay! Did you finish? Did you get to 50K…or more? Even if you didn’t but you still started a writing habit, congrats! That’s a big deal. Now that the highs and lows of a writing marathon are over, what’s next? My favorite part…editing! But...
How to Prevent Creative Exhaustion and Keep Moving Forward
You’re twelve days into NaNoWriMo. How are you feeling? The beginning of a project can be so much fun. There’s the novelty of it, the excitement to start something new, the drive to finish. Like most endeavors, that excitement, drive, and energy tend to wane about...