Staying organized as a writer can be a huge challenge. We all have other responsibilities, and the crazier life gets, the easier it is for stuff to fall between the cracks—important stuff we can’t afford to forget. Angela and I are constantly juggling a thousand things, so organization is kind of … [Read more...] about Need Organization Help? Try Trello
Blog
Introducing…The Character Type & Trope Thesaurus!
Character building is hard work, and when we see certain types of characters appear again, and again in fiction and film, we wonder if there's a way to start with a familiar character building block yet still create someone fresh. And with a little out-of-the-box thinking, we can. I'm talking … [Read more...] about Introducing…The Character Type & Trope Thesaurus!
Does Your Story Need a Hit of Organic Conflict? Look to Your Setting.
Every writer’s mission is to pen a story that draws readers in, offering familiarity when it comes to certain genre expectations while also delivering something fresh so to be distinctive and memorable. This is how to cultivate a loyal--and, fingers crossed, rabidly obsessed--reading … [Read more...] about Does Your Story Need a Hit of Organic Conflict? Look to Your Setting.
How to Uncover Your Character’s Deepest Fear
Fear is a disruptive force, even though its job is to keep us safe. When there's a perceived physical or psychological threat, our brain blasts us with a shot of adrenaline so we respond, fight, flight, or freeze, whichever helps us navigate the danger we're in. But fear is also insidious. It … [Read more...] about How to Uncover Your Character’s Deepest Fear
Creative Ways to Brainstorm Story Ideas
Inspiration is a fickle beast. She strikes at inopportune times (3 AM, anyone?) then disappears for months on end. She doesn't call, she doesn't write. Or maybe she treats you differently, pouring on so many ideas that you can't tell the golden nuggets from the stinky ones. Finding and … [Read more...] about Creative Ways to Brainstorm Story Ideas
How Much Time Do You Waste as a Writer?
It's a touchy topic, I know. On one hand, we may putter a bit as a way 'into' writing--getting supplies together, pouring a cup of coffee, and putting a few cookies on standby. Most of us have a pre-writing ritual. But, on the other hand, after we do those things, how many of us suddenly … [Read more...] about How Much Time Do You Waste as a Writer?
The Importance of a Great Opening in a Novel
How you start your story is super-important, which is why your novel's opening is crucial. In just a few sentences - yup, sentences, never mind pages! - you need to GRAB your reader's attention and pull them into your storyworld. But HOW do writers do this? Well, how long is a piece of string ... … [Read more...] about The Importance of a Great Opening in a Novel
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Taken Advantage Of
Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they're a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental health condition, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character's behaviors, habits, beliefs, and … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Being Taken Advantage Of
Phenomenal First Pages Contest
Hey, wonderful writerly people! It’s time for our monthly first-page critique contest 🙂 This contest is closed. Please try again next month. If you’d like to be notified when the next one goes live, consider subscribing to the blog (in the sidebar). If you’re working on a first page … [Read more...] about Phenomenal First Pages Contest
Character Arcs: Making a Long Story Short
A well-structured story uses events (also called story beats) to move the narrative forward — with compelling issues, rising stakes, and an organic sense of cause and effect — toward a surprising-yet-inevitable resolution. At the same time, our story’s plot events force our characters to react, … [Read more...] about Character Arcs: Making a Long Story Short
Fear Thesaurus Entry: Conditional Love
Debilitating fears are a problem for everyone, an unfortunate part of the human experience. Whether they're a result of learned behavior as a child, are related to a mental health condition, or stem from a past wounding event, these fears influence a character's behaviors, habits, beliefs, and … [Read more...] about Fear Thesaurus Entry: Conditional Love
How to Ask for Book Reviews (& Why You Should)
By Liz Alterman You’ve written a book. Congratulations! Now for the next hurdle—gathering those all-important ratings and reviews. When my novel, The Perfect Neighborhood, was released last July, I quickly learned how critical these are. Leading up to my launch, I reached out to a nearby … [Read more...] about How to Ask for Book Reviews (& Why You Should)