Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You
Happy Holidays – Some Gifts for You
Angela, Becca and I hope you’re having an amazing holiday season full of family, friends, good food and special memories. We are so grateful for your visits, kind words of…
Read more…Stocking Stuffers for Writers: 4 Free Gifts
Stocking Stuffers for Writers: 4 Free Gifts
The first week of December is behind us, but these stocking stuffers are yours to enjoy, so if you haven’t collected all four, now’s your chance. Stocking Stuffer #1: A…
Read more…Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #4 Is Here!
Stocking Stuffers for Writers: Gift #4 Is Here!
It’s time for our last Stocking Stuffers for Writers post, meaning we’ve dropped one final early holiday gift in your stocking, and all you have to do is pick it…
Read more…Tips for Writing a Successful Story Climax
Tips for Writing a Successful Story Climax
Escalation is an important element of story structure. The opening pages are often quiet as key players are introduced, the setting is established, and readers are given a glimpse of…
Read more…Why “But” is a Powerful Writing Tool
Why “But” is a Powerful Writing Tool
Boredom is a common reason why a reader DNFs a book. Genre is irrelevant. If the reader isn’t engaged with the storyline, they will set aside your book for another…
Read more…Writing About Pain: Different Types to Explore
Writing About Pain: Different Types to Explore
“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” -The Dread Pirate Roberts Pain is an unfortunate part of life. As our characters go about their day—working, building relationships,…
Read more…Five Commonalities Between Heroes and Villains
Five Commonalities Between Heroes and Villains
In story terms, a villain is a person, entity, or force who is cruel, evil, or malicious enough to wish the protagonist harm. Rather than simply blocking a goal or…
Read more…After the First Draft: Revising Your Plot
After the First Draft: Revising Your Plot
Ok, writers. Raise your hand if you love revising. *crickets* Revision freaks a lot of people out because it can be overwhelming. When you start drafting, you’ve got this really…
Read more…Do Your Characters Have Agency?
Do Your Characters Have Agency?
Consider, if you will, a story about a woman who wants to gain esteem by winning an important legal case. Things are going along fine until she gets fired from…
Read more…Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.
Overwhelmed with Revisions? Use This Roadmap to Stay On Course.
Is there a better feeling in the world than finishing a manuscript? Typing The End, gazing lovingly at the overall word count, and recognizing you’ve accomplished something that not many…
Read more…We’ve Reached the One Million Books Milestone!
We’ve Reached the One Million Books Milestone!
Once upon a time… Two novice writers met in an online critique group called the Critique Circle and became fast friends. Angela (a Canadian) wrote about zombies and pirates and…
Read more…The Importance of a Great Opening in a Novel
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…
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