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 [...]
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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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig “I only write when I’m inspired, so I see to it that I’m inspired every morning at nine o’clock.” by Peter De Vries I’ve always said much the [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig It’s recently struck me how much I’ve had to say about outlines lately. I’ve gone from being a pantser, to being a reluctant outliner, to having a grudging [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Although I started out with a pretty antagonistic relationship with outlining, I’ve learned to both make my peace with it and to find ways to make it [...]
Hi everyone! Today I’m guest blogging over at The IWSG. The topic today is on series: why they’re great, tips for writing them, and how to promote them. Hope you’ll hop over and [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig One thing that always gets me out of any writing-related issue is temporarily writing longhand. There’s something about getting out a notebook and pen or pencil that helps [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Twitterific writing links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine (developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 68,000 free articles on writing [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig Every two-three months, I get a series of critiques and feedback from beta readers, ARC readers, and my freelance editors. I always open those emails in a hurry [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig I’ve mentioned before here that I love writing series. Not only are they easier to write (the recurring characters and story world are already developed), but readers seem [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig First drafts are meant to be messy. It’s the time when we hammer out our story, taking it from a concept to something that, at least vaguely, resembles [...]
by C.S. Lakin, @LiveWriteThrive Setting is largely ignored by writers, and that’s a shame. Setting is not only important in fiction to transport your readers into your story, it’s one of the most [...]
by Angela Ackerman, @onestop4writers Some characters are so dynamic on the page it’s easy to imagine them as real people. Everything they say, do, and think is consistent with who they are, they have [...]
By Joanna Campbell Slan @joannaslan A curious thing happened in the midst of banging out the words. I found a new way to learn more about my characters and to make them more [...]
by Angela Ackerman, @onestop4writers Conflict is a powerful tool for storytellers, allowing us to place roadblocks, challenges, adversaries and more in a character’s way so the road to their goal is much [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig As hard as it is for me to believe it, tomorrow marks 14 years since I started blogging. It really doesn’t seem that long when I think [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig From time to time, everyone hits a speed bump in their manuscript. You might have been sailing through, easy as anything. Then, suddenly, you’ve come to a screeching [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig I promise I’m not trying to drag any writers over to the dark side with me. :) I was quite anti-outline myself at the start of my writing [...]
by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig I’ve mentioned before (in 2019) that it’s very helpful for outliners to hold onto their outlines instead of trashing them. I find them very helpful cheat-sheets when I’m [...]
By Alice Gaines, @AliceGaines Let me say first off that I’m a romance writer, so all of my examples will sound as if they came from romance novels. It’s my conviction that the [...]
by Joylene Butler, @cluculzwriter Today, we have a collection of helpful tips for writers from thriller writer Joylene Butler: 3 tips for successful self-publishing Write a compelling story, then rely on professional editing [...]
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