How to Create a Protagonist Who is Very Different From You
How does a writer create a character unlike themselves and give it a living, breathing personality? I’ll walk through these six steps that worked for me--and perhaps they’ll work for you.
Five Books Every Writer Should Read — What Are Your Top 5?
I want to build a list of books here that all writers can bookmark and thumb through at any time. So I officially challenge you to post 5 books that you think every writer should read on this post.
6 Ways to Stay Creative as a Writer (When You’re a Parent)
Here are 6 ways to keep your baby brain from turning to mush when you are sleep deprived and elbow-deep in poopy diapers.
Submitting Your Short Fiction and Poetry: 5 FAQs from a Magazine Editor
For writers of short form literature, submitting your work can mean a variety of positive things. Here are important questions (and answers) you need to know about the process.
5 Excellent Tips on Writing Women’s Fiction
If you're a writer and you know Women’s Fiction is for you, here are five tips for crafting a good story that any fan of women's fiction will enjoy.
Top 5 Reasons Cruising is the Perfect Writing Vacation
Here are some reasons why cruising is a great way to spend a vacation that can lead to some excellent writing results.
How to Add Humor to Your Novel During Revision
Revision is your chance to add humor and entertainment value—in any genre. Here’s how to do it.
A New Career as a Writer at Age 72
When I retired as a professor of clinical psychology in 2006, I knew I wanted to follow a new passion. Who knew I could write a book in my retirement years.
How to Find Content That Yields Drama
There are three primary sources for content: the author’s knowledge, interviews with others to seek information and insight, and research. Here's how to drive drama using the latter.
10 Things Extroverts Need to Do in Order to Write Well
"Help! I’m A Writer Trapped In An Extrovert’s body!" you might find yourself yelling. If so don't worry, we've got you covered with these tips.
Writing a Scene with Good Dialogue and Narration
Here's how to explore the functions of dialogue and narration in a scene, so that you can find the mix that’s right for your novel.
Staying Positive While Writing About Death and Tragedy
Here are 10 tips to keep your spirits up when writing about deeply emotional content.
Why Point of View is So Important for Novel Writers
The following is a brief rundown of the three most common POVs and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
It’s Never Too Late: On Becoming a Writer at 50
The year I turned 20 I sat down and made out my bucket list, jotting down the decade birthdays—30th, 40th, 50th, and so on—and beneath each entry what I hoped to have accomplished by that date. Longevity not being a strong family trait, I figured I had maybe five decades to...
How Being an Editor Helped Me Be a Better Writer (and Vice Versa)
As a debut novelist who’s also a full-time nonfiction editor, I’ve tried hard to keep my editor and author hats separate. However, I’ve found that the two roles have intertwined more than I expected, and in ways that are surprisingly beneficial.
How to Add Another Level to Your Novel with Footnotes
Footnotes seem to be a rather polarizing topic among the literary community, so let's talk about them—and what benefits exist.
When Does Black Women’s Fiction Become Just Women’s Fiction?
When does black women’s fiction become just women’s fiction? To answer that question, we’d first have to establish the difference between the two. Some might argue that it’s the characters, others might say themes or cultural perspective. After reflecting on this for years, I concluded that the biggest thing that separates...
6 Keys to Writing a Compelling Historical Novel
Writing the historical novel brings several unique challenges. Tailoring these techniques to your historical novel will help you capture and hold your readers’ attention.
Why Is the Word “Girl” In So Many Modern Book Titles?
In the last few years, girls in titles have infiltrated bookstores and subsequently movie theaters. Why are they so popular? Why should (or shouldn’t) you give your novel one of those coveted Girl titles? Here's what you need to know.
From Writing Books to TV Shows – Making the Adjustment
I had written three books by the time I entered a TV writers’ room. I thought of myself as a seasoned writer who was, essentially, starting over. It was a new medium with new rules and I was ready to start at the basics. Turns out the basics aren’t that hard. I easily...
Tips on Writing a Sequel (When You Didn’t Plan to Write a Sequel)
Here are tips on how to revisit a world you've written about before and grow it into additional novels.
A Writers Conference Survival Guide
Here are a few tips that will help you make the most of any conference, whether it’s a cosplay-loaded comic book convention, a business-centric event like BEA or a mystery con that’s geared to fans and authors.
Advice to My Unpublished Self
Here are 10 encouraging pieces of advice all unpublished writers need to tell themselves from time to time.
My (New) Life As a (New) Writer
Here are my top 10 take-a-ways from my past year as a writer. All start with “Be” because writing is not only a state of mind, it’s an action. You are either doing it or not.