Win Feedback on Your First 1500 Words
Win Feedback on Your First 1500 Words
Want to win editorial feedback and take your storyfrom good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you’re in luck! It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw,…
Read more…Increase Visibility for Your Book with These Stories-Within-A-Story
Increase Visibility for Your Book with These Stories-Within-A-Story
In my “day job life,” I work with business owners who face some of the same visibility problems that authors encounter with their books. They’re good at what they do,…
Read more…7 Techniques for Drawing Out Tension in Fear-Driven Scenes
7 Techniques for Drawing Out Tension in Fear-Driven Scenes
Fear is a strong emotion that creates tension in a scene, and that makes it a strong storytelling tool. When characters feel threatened—physically, emotionally, or psychologically—the stakes rise, survival instincts…
Read more…Adding Theme to Your Story (Without Being Preachy)
Adding Theme to Your Story (Without Being Preachy)
Theme is an important element that quietly works in the background of strong stories. Pulled deliberately or subconsciously from the author’s individual worldview, it acts as an anchoring thread that…
Read more…Meet Our Amazing New Blog Coordinator: Julie Glover
Meet Our Amazing New Blog Coordinator: Julie Glover
If there’s one thing authors know, it’s the value of help. We all wear hats–so many hats!–to match the roles of this job: writer, researcher, marketer, strategist, business manager, accountant,…
Read more…Should Writers Pay To Have Their Work Edited?
Should Writers Pay To Have Their Work Edited?
Writers pay me to edit their work. You might assume that I will therefore attempt to talk you into all the reasons why you need to hire me. Actually, the…
Read more…Using Character Tropes the Right Way
Using Character Tropes the Right Way
Character tropes get a bad rap. These familiar character types show up in stories everywhere, making them very recognizable. This makes some writers worry that using them will create clichés…
Read more…Why Flexibility Matters for Pantsers AND Plotters
Why Flexibility Matters for Pantsers AND Plotters
Most writers who consider themselves as either pantsers or plotters tend to believe they can only be one thing: This is just how I’m wired. Once a pantser, always a…
Read more…Win Feedback on Your First Five Pages!
Win Feedback on Your First Five Pages!
Want to win editorial feedback and take your storyfrom good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you’re in luck! It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw,…
Read more…Celebrating 11 Years at One Stop for Writers!
Celebrating 11 Years at One Stop for Writers!
Happy Birthday, One Stop for Writers! Eleven years ago, Becca and I launched One Stop for Writers® on a mission: to make the process of writing a book easier. We…
Read more…How to Return to a Manuscript After Taking a Break
How to Return to a Manuscript After Taking a Break
Every writer hits a point where they have to take a break from their manuscript. Whether your day job ramped up, the kids needed more attention, or someone’s health went…
Read more…Meet Our 2026-2027 Resident Writing Coaches!
Meet Our 2026-2027 Resident Writing Coaches!
It’s time for another season of our Resident Writing Coach Program, where we invite wicked-smart writing experts to share their wisdom and experience, helping you to grow your story skills,…
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