May 13, 2024
by Mike Martin, @mike54martin It seems like I have been writing the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series forever. Well, it has been a long time. The Walker on the Cape came out in 2012 [...]
May 12, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
May 6, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig There’s something very satisfying about spring cleaning. I focus on looking at my house with a fresh eye, seeing the stuff that needs deep cleaning and that goes [...]
May 5, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
April 29, 2024
by Anna A Armstrong Everything in life and books comes down to character. There are few more enjoyable ways to while away a morning than spending time in a café with a really [...]
April 28, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
April 22, 2024
by Hank Quense, @hanque99 In the evolving landscape of the publishing industry, understanding the intricacies of the book business can be as complex as it is critical for authors, publishers, and marketers alike. A [...]
April 21, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
April 15, 2024
by Hugh Cook A cardinal principle of fiction writing is that effective characterization lies at the heart of all good fiction. This holds true whether you write thrillers, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, or literary [...]
April 14, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
April 8, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig It’s been a while since I started writing a new series. Late-2018 was the last time, actually. The reason I don’t start new series all the time is [...]
April 7, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
April 1, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Here’s a quick reminder for those of you who get book covers from your designers before working on the book. Make sure, before the paperback version goes live, [...]
March 31, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
March 25, 2024
by Wendy Adair, @WendyAdair14 I recently completed and published my second book, a mystery titled Deliver Us From Evil…and the Six O’Clock News. I came to self-publishing after trying in vain to get [...]
March 24, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
March 18, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig There’s an idiom that I often hear, that’s always bothered me a little bit. It’s about “taking the path of least resistance.” It’s usually thought of as being [...]
March 17, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
March 11, 2024
This post is for self-publishing writers (because traditionally published writers get free editing) and writers who might be on the fence about outlining. Here’s my usual caveat: if you’re not outlining, and that’s [...]
March 10, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
March 4, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig As any long-time reader of this blog will know, I love a routine. The more rote, the better. When I have these established routines, keeping up with my [...]
March 3, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
February 26, 2024
By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethspanncraig One of the big mysteries to me when I was starting out as a writer was where the drafting “sweet spot” was. Some writers seemed to have things [...]
February 25, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
February 18, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
February 12, 2024
by Sierra Cross, @SierraCrossBook Hi all! I’m Sierra Cross, author of the Blue Moon Bay Witches series, and I’ve been writing about magic since the early 2000s, when the dominant trope in urban [...]
February 11, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
February 5, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig The subject of success . . . mostly how to get it . . . is a popular one for writers. When I pulled the word up in [...]
February 4, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related [...]
January 29, 2024
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig No matter if you’re traditionally published or self-published, you’ll be dealing with lots of writing-related business. Having done both, though, I know you’ll have a bit more as [...]
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by Mike Martin, @mike54martin It seems like I have been writing the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series forever. Well, it has been a long time. The Walker on the Cape came out in 2012 and with the publication of Better Safe Than Sorry in 2024 there are now14 books in the series. Yes, that’s a lot of books and a lot of writing. But I have to admit that I still really enjoy writing these books and as long as readers want to buy or borrow them, I’ll keep writing. [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig There’s something very satisfying about spring cleaning. I focus on looking at my house with a fresh eye, seeing the stuff that needs deep cleaning and that goes unnoticed unless I’m really searching for it. I got a good deal of spiffing up done before I twisted oddly, pulled something in my back, and decided to move on to quieter pursuits for the next week. Aging is definitely not for sissies. Then I found some digital spring cleaning that needed to be done. I [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Anna A Armstrong Everything in life and books comes down to character. There are few more enjoyable ways to while away a morning than spending time in a café with a really good cup of coffee, getting to know who someone is. I love using different ‘character questionnaires’ which are all over the internet and interviewing my characters. I have exercise books fall of these character analyses. Once you know who a person really is and what motivates them, it is far easier to know how they will [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Hank Quense, @hanque99 In the evolving landscape of the publishing industry, understanding the intricacies of the book business can be as complex as it is critical for authors, publishers, and marketers alike. A Concept Map of the Book Business offers a visual and interconnected overview of the key components that drive the creation, distribution, and consumption of books. This article delves into the creation and utility of such a concept map, exploring how it serves as an invaluable tool for navigating the multifaceted world of publishing. What is a [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Hugh Cook A cardinal principle of fiction writing is that effective characterization lies at the heart of all good fiction. This holds true whether you write thrillers, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, or literary fiction. This principle is universally agreed upon by editors, literary agents, and writers themselves. Listen to what they say: Renowned New York editor and publisher Sol Stein says in his book On Writing, “During all the years in which I was an editor and a publisher, what did I hope for when I picked up a [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig It’s been a while since I started writing a new series. Late-2018 was the last time, actually. The reason I don’t start new series all the time is because it’s a heck of a lot more work than continuing already-established series. It’s also why I’ve only written one standalone novel. If you’re writing a series, most of the world-building work has been done early on, along with character development for the principle characters. It’s also so much easier to write about characters you’re very [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Here’s a quick reminder for those of you who get book covers from your designers before working on the book. Make sure, before the paperback version goes live, that the back cover copy is still accurate. Sometimes even the ebook cover might need adjusting. Why be in this situation to begin with? For me, I’ve got to get on my cover designer’s schedule early or else my releases won’t launch in time. I usually get books covered three months prior to even starting the [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Wendy Adair, @WendyAdair14 I recently completed and published my second book, a mystery titled Deliver Us From Evil…and the Six O’Clock News. I came to self-publishing after trying in vain to get an agent, but I have embraced the freedom, control, speed, and ownership that self-publishing grants me. A few decades ago my 120 agent rejections would have meant my first book would have never seen the light of day. In my head anyway, self-publishing bore the mark of “vanity press” and was not taken seriously by anyone. [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig There’s an idiom that I often hear, that’s always bothered me a little bit. It’s about “taking the path of least resistance.” It’s usually thought of as being a negative thing. Merriam-Webster defines the phrase as: to choose the easiest way to do something instead of trying to choose the best way.” I understand the negative connotations, but to me, taking the path of least resistance is something that often is the smartest approach leading to the best way. Here’s a non-writing example. I [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
This post is for self-publishing writers (because traditionally published writers get free editing) and writers who might be on the fence about outlining. Here’s my usual caveat: if you’re not outlining, and that’s working for you, you should definitely keep doing what’s working. I’ve written a lot about outlines. You can find those posts here. I’m the kind of writer who finds outlines a necessary evil. I started off as a pantser, but it ended up making me run into issues when I was trad-pubbed. I find outlining really [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig As any long-time reader of this blog will know, I love a routine. The more rote, the better. When I have these established routines, keeping up with my writing (and exercising and other tasks) is almost effortless. But the really long-time readers of this blog will remember that when I started writing this blog in 2008, I had a couple of young children in the house. I still loved a routine, but I realized that I wasn’t going to get much writing done if [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethspanncraig One of the big mysteries to me when I was starting out as a writer was where the drafting “sweet spot” was. Some writers seemed to have things down to a science, doing specific edits during specific drafts. Some seemed like their drafts were random tweaks during each read-through. There didn’t seem to be a formula for it, so I stumbled around for a while. I wasn’t even sure what qualified for a draft. Was it when I made a full pass through the [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Sierra Cross, @SierraCrossBook Hi all! I’m Sierra Cross, author of the Blue Moon Bay Witches series, and I’ve been writing about magic since the early 2000s, when the dominant trope in urban fantasy was “The Masquerade.” Back in those angst-ridden old days, supernaturals were forced to hide their differences from the world and operate in the shadows. Wow, we’ve come a long way since the first cans of Tru Blood hit the market. Let’s talk about what lights readers up in 2024! Tip 1: Don’t add supernatural elements [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig The subject of success . . . mostly how to get it . . . is a popular one for writers. When I pulled the word up in the WKB, it had close to 24,000 entries. I remember there was a book that came out a few years ago that delved into the idea that there were similarities, or coding, that distinguished bestselling books. Having a bestseller is definitely one marker of success. Making a living off of writing is another. But there are [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig No matter if you’re traditionally published or self-published, you’ll be dealing with lots of writing-related business. Having done both, though, I know you’ll have a bit more as a self-published author, especially if you’re going wide and publishing in lots of formats. Sometimes, family and friends are a little sketchy on what that entails. Sometimes, I get so wound up in it myself that I can’t even relate all the things I might do in a day. Some of my writing-related business relates to [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Rose Atkinson-Carter, @Reedsy Like many writers out there, I have my favorite strategies when it comes to my craft, from setting realistic goals to carrying a notebook with me everywhere I go. But whenever I feel stuck in a rut, I try to do something new — shaking things up, after all, is the best way for me to approach my writing from a new perspective. In this post, I’m going to share four writing tips that I consider strange but also always reliable. If you’re struggling with [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Here’s something writers can get behind as a goal for 2024: reading more. With all the work we do on the writing and promo ends of things, sometimes refilling our well with books can get lost in the shuffle.But reading is important for writers for lots of reasons . . . books help nourish our creativity, inspire us, and help teach us story structure and other skills. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of reading in 2024. Tips for reading [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Hugh Cook A quick look at our everyday language indicates that metaphor is an essential part of our casual conversations. Metaphors roll off our tongues as easily as, well, falling off a log. Consider the following: Negotiations between the company and the union are now on thin ice. That salesman’s promises seem hollow. After her accident my sister feels a bit fragile. I haven’t golfed for a while and my game’s really rusty. Metaphor pervades our everyday speech without our even consciously thinking about it. Think of the [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig I’ve talked about using planners regularly here on the blog. Although I also use a digital calendar, there’s something about seeing something physically on a page and then striking it off that’s particularly satisfying. Also, seeing a list on paper seems to not only cement it in my brain better, but to make it seem more manageable and less overwhelming. For a while I was using a composition notebook as a planner. I divided each page with seven vertical lines for each day of [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig I’m much more a fan of a good list than I am a resolution. And I’m even more of a fan of a list when it’s something I can put down on my calendar in bits and pieces, making it all bite-sized and manageable. Seeing things on paper helps make the ephemeral goals more solid, real. More like deadlines. Of course we all have personal things we need to get on our 2024 calendar. They might be family trips that should be reserved. Dental [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Hugh Cook A writer once observed that someone’s first seven years provide enough to keep that person writing for the rest of their life. An interesting observation, and true for many, I suppose, but it wasn’t true for me. I was born in the Netherlands, and I remember surprisingly little about my first seven years there. My parents decided to immigrate to Canada when I was seven, and that’s when my memories really begin. Shortly after we arrived in Canada and settled in Burnaby, B.C., my parents bought [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Shannon Symonds ,@shannonsymonds7 As writers, we talk a lot about the hook, the first sentence, the first page, the thing that sucks you into a book and won’t let you go. You might think the hook is what is happening. I think the hook is who the action is happening to and why we care about them. Readers stay up all night or become emotionally invested in cozy mysteries when they care about what happens to the main character and the people in their world. When I read [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
by Mike Martin, @mike54martin What’s different about writing for children than for adults? I hadn’t thought about that until recently when after 13 books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series I ended up with two children’s Christmas books. How did that happen anyway? Maybe I’ll start with what’s the same about writing, no matter what the age. To my mind at least, it is always about the story. Characters and theme and plot and story arc are important, but ultimately it is about telling stories. Stories that have enough [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig LitLinks are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! Sign up for the Hiveword newsletter here. Follow the WKB [...]
By Hugh Cook I’ve decided to use the format of a self-interview for this blog. So, here we go. Hugh, you’re a fiction writer, but you also do freelance editing. How did you get into editing? A number of years ago a writer friend mentioned to me that besides writing novels she also does freelance editing of fiction manuscripts. That started me thinking. I’d earned an MFA in fiction writing from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, had taught Creative Writing to college students for 30-some years, [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Lit Links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 70,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers. While you’re there, check out the Writer’s Digest award-winning Hiveword novel organizer. Have you visited the WKB lately? Check out the new redesign where you can browse by category, and sign up for free writing articles, on topics you choose, delivered to your email inbox! S Follow the WKB on Facebook here. Business / Miscellaneous [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig It’s that scary time of the year again! But what do writers find scary? It turns out there are plenty of things in a writer’s life to give you stress, scares, or anxiety. Here are just a few of them. Promo. Whether it’s advertising or newsletters, promo is one of the most dreaded activities for writers. Ads can be complex, time-consuming, and costly. Newsletters are time sucks, too, and it can be tough to come up with solid content. Public speaking. This is a [...]