Spiritual Writing
At the Crossroads of Faith, Law, and Writing
Bestselling author Robert Whitlow talks about how he combines writing what he knows with writing what he’s passion about—faith and law—and how his characters get to that crossroad.
Writing Inspirational Novels With Flawed Characters
Novelist Vanessa Miller shares why her brand of Christian fiction catches some readers off guard and how writing inspirational novels should start with flawed characters.
The One Rule of (Writing) Witchcraft
When writing about witches and witchcraft, explaining too much may take away from the magic. Writer Fire Lyte discusses how to write about witchcraft.
Fire Lyte: On the Magic in the Writing Process
Fire Lyte discusses how he wrote his spiritual book, The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft, and the magic that comes from the writing process.
How to Resurrect a Stalled Manuscript
Is your manuscript stuck? Take a break from completing your fiction project and diagnose it. Here's how to take your manuscript into its next phase: completion.
3 Tips for Consistent Tone
If you find yourself having a difficult time sustaining one tone over a long work, try these three tricks.
How to Be an Online Critique Geek
Can a virtual critique group really be as good as meeting face to face? If you make the most of the format, it could be even better. Here’s how.
3 Ways to Know When to End Your Chapters
At some point in writing your novel, you have to start thinking about “chaptering,” the process of deciding exactly when and where your chapter breaks will go. Here are three simple, essential techniques that can help you make effective chapter pauses.
Twist Ending Tips From Harlan Coben
Award-winning and best-selling mystery and thriller author Harlan Coben shares his twist ending tips and more in this interview with Jessica Strawser.
How to Craft Compelling Characters
To make characters seem real, you need to tap into what drives them. Use this foolproof method to bring the emotion of your story to life and craft compelling characters.
3 Secrets to Great Storytelling
Learn how to tell a story worth hearing with author Steven James' three secrets to great storytelling (more than just creating believable characters and throwing together a plot). Here’s the real stuff the best stories are made of.
How to Balance Action, Narrative, and Dialogue in Your Novel
Most of the time, we want to balance our scenes using dialogue, action, and narrative to engage readers at an emotional level and keep them hooked. Here's how to do that.
Novel in 30 Days Worksheet Index
To help you successfully complete your book in 30 days, here are nine worksheets to help you keep track of plot, scenes, characters and revisions. All of these worksheets originally appeared in Book in a Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt and were also featured in the special issue Write Your Novel in 30 Days.
10-Minute Fixes to 10 Common Plot Problems
Structural problems can sink a novel. Elizabeth Sims looks at 10 common plot problems and how to quickly fix them.
How to "Up the Stakes" for Your Main Character
Don’t be afraid to make things hard on your characters. You should always come up with several different problems to choose from. Here are 3 ways to do that. by Victoria Lynn Schmidt
9 Must-Follow Manuscript Rules
Here’s editor Anica Mrose Rissi’s list of what you can do to increase your book’s chances of making it out of the slush pile and into the spotlight. by Anica Mrose Rissi
How to Write Intriguing Male and Female Characters
Understanding gender differences can improve your writing in any genre. Here’s how. by Leigh Anne Jasheway
Quick Tip: How to Develop Your Characters
Here are 4 quick exercises to make sure your characters speak to readers (and agents).
The 4 Story Structures that Dominate Novels
All stories contain four elements that can determine structure: milieu, idea, character, and event. Orson Scott Card takes a look at each one and explains how each will affect your novel.
5 Steps to a Great Female Protagonist
According to bestselling authors JT Ellison, Alex Kava and Erica Spindler, there are 5 key ways to make your heroine shine. Here they are. by Jessica Strawser, reporting from ThrillerFest 2010 (New York City)
Motivate Your Characters Like a Pro
In his session “The Psychology of Character Motivation,” Edgar-nominated author D.P. Lyle, MD, shared this invaluable exercise for developing your characters’ motivations as your story unfolds. by Jessica Strawser, reporting from ThrillerFest 2010 (New York City)
How to Give Your Character the Perfect Name
What you call your characters could influence your readers’ perceptions of them. Here are some factors to consider in finding the perfect match. by Devyani Borade