How to Improve and Inspire Your Writing: 7 Books That Will Pave the Way
Of the many excellent books on the art and craft of writing, here are seven to inspire you.
How to Begin Your Novel — and Why Beginnings Are Important
The beginning of a story is crucial. It can make the difference in gaining the attention of a prospective agent, acquisitions editor, and ultimately the reader. So, how do you start? Here are some suggestions to help you find your beginning.
Fiction, Memoir, and the Machine of Story
If you’re finding that your narrative’s energy is flagging, try pinpointing your protagonist’s defining characteristic. Here’s how that can help your story.
Show, Don’t Tell: Writing 101 for Fiction and Memoir
What “Show, Don’t Tell” really means: how to write fiction or memoir that keeps your reader engaged.
The Power of Place in Story
If place wields such power, why do we sometimes relegate it to a secondary role when writing story?
TMI Is Not Your Friend
The devil is in the details: thoughts and pointers for keeping your writing TMI-free.
How Reading Improves Your Writing
If we want to hone our craft, we need to expose ourselves to the work of excellent writers.
Top 10 Signs of Bad Writing (Or How Not to Turn Off a Potential Agent or Publisher)
Whether you’re writing a snappy cover letter, traditional book proposal, or full-length manuscript to wow a literary agent or publisher, you need to steer clear of the biggest mistakes writers make in crafting their prose.
The Secret to Creating Truly Original Content
In the last decade, the Internet has exploded with content, making research much easier and faster for writers. I find myself online every day searching for information and fact checking. But all this access at our fingertips has its minefields, for it’s far too easy to cut and paste with good intentions during the crazy…
What Makes a Good Story?
Everyone loves a good story. We all know one when we read one. But what makes a good story?