Buckle up, because this is going to be a big revision. If the first draft was you telling the story to yourself, the second is about figuring out how to tell it to other people. But here’s the truth: you’ve got this.
Read moreHow to Write a Book Synopsis for Your Novel
You’ve finished drafting your novel, been through a round or two of edits, sent it to beta readers for feedback, maybe even hired a professional editor to really make it sing, and now you’re getting ready to pitch it to contests, literary agents, and/or publishers. Well, friend, you’re going to need a synopsis.
Read moreWorld Building: The Dictionary of Imaginary Places
As a kid, I loved poring through the dictionary, revisiting worlds I’d been to and worlds I hadn’t. Today, I like to reference it when I’m helping authors develop their own magical places.
Read moreLost Your Train of Thought? Five Ways to Get Your Novel Back on Track
You race through the first forty or fifty or sixty pages like it’s nothing, and you just know you’ll have a finished first draft in no time. Then suddenly, you stop. This story and the characters that were so clear at first have vanished, the words have dried up, and you have no idea where to go next.
Read moreIt's All Fun and Games
The trick to getting over your fear of the blank page? Stop taking yourself so seriously.
Read moreBook Review: Don't Mess with Coleman Stoops
Don’t Mess With Coleman Stoops is the perfect middle-grade novel for anyone who needs a little boost as they head back to school this fall.
Read moreWriter's Block: Over, Around, and Through
Writer’s block is among the most frustrating obstacles writers face. Even more frustrating, however, is the advice we can find online to push through it. It’s all about taking walks, finding a new environment, getting some exercise, or calling old friends. Basically, distracting yourself and hoping lightning will strike when you least expect it.
Read moreOutlining Your Novel
While many writers love the structure of an outline to help them push through their novels in an organized, step-by-step manner, others get claustrophobic at the mere mention of the word.
Read moreGetting to Know Your Characters
How to get to know your characters better than you know yourself.
Read moreWhy Every Author Needs an Editor
When you've lived too long in the monkey house, it's hard to smell the poop.
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