More than just a fantastic holiday story, A Christmas Carol actually provides great examples for authors of some of the most common advice we hear about writing.
Read moreWhy I Created Austin Brown Dogs
AUSTIN BROWN DOGS: THE SHELTER DOGS WHO RESCUE US celebrates that incredible bond between Austinites and our rescue dogs. Through contributed essays from adopters (along with photos of their beloved adoptees), this book illuminates the intimate stories of all the ways the dogs we’ve saved have impacted our lives.
Read moreThe Emotion of Writing
It wasn’t easy, but I learned just how incredible it feels to finish a work you’re proud of, get it out into the world, and bring together your community to celebrate your accomplishment.
Read moreNew Perspectives: Stimulate Writing Through Travel
After all, as writers, we draw so much from our experiences, and the more we can drink in new ones, the better.
Read moreHow to Write a Novel, Ten Minutes at a Time
Think you don't have time to write? Think again!
Read morePracticing with Purpose
I think a prompt can be helpful in getting us warmed up or breaking us out of a rut. But I hadn’t looked at them from Smith’s perspective, and while I don’t agree entirely, I do think she has a point.
Read moreStarbucks in Westeros and Suspension of Disbelief
This is a world where nobody ever drinks anything besides wine and beer. Where the only dishes are metal and the only paper are the scrolls used to send messages via raven. There are no stores, no restaurants, no coffee meetings to discuss battle strategies. Caffeine, disposable dishware, to-go food and drink? Nonexistent.
Read moreWhy Hire a Writing Coach?
We think of writing as a solitary activity. Sure, there are writing groups and, once a book is finished, there are editors, but when you get down to brass tacks, the relationship is between the author and her word document. Sometimes it’s beautiful, and sometimes it’s a battle, but it’s always one-on-one. Well, here’s a secret: it doesn’t have to be that way.
Read moreIs Your Protagonist Wearing Too Much Plot Armor?
Whether you call it plot armor or deus ex machina or crazy random happenstance, the result is the same: a character is saved from a tough spot thanks to an inexplicable and all-too-convenient coincidence.
Read moreFilling Out Your Cast of Characters
Every member of your supporting cast brings a lifetime’s worth of experiences, values, quirks, and perspectives to the table, and the more you can honor that by fully developing every character, the richer your story will become.
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