Writing Advice From A YA Author Powered By Chocolate And Green Tea
Writing is one of those activities where, no matter if you do it full time or crammed into lunch breaks, there's a never-ending to-do list attached. You've got to fill in plot holes, plan character arcs, script whole conversations, research how to poison people without drawing the attention of authorities, and then find the time …
Continue reading A Non-Overwhelming Writing Routine To Gain Control Of Your Endless To-Do List
Not content with writing just one book, some writers tackle a series. I did this for the first manuscript I decided to write seriously (either bravely or stupidly, I still haven't decided), and one thing I learned was that it pays to have a series bible. A series bible is a document made up of …
Continue reading Series Bible: What To Include And Why Writers Should Have One
Another year has passed, and as was the tradition of last year, my final blog for 2018 will roundup of some of your favorite posts, my favorite posts, and other writerly things I discovered throughout the year. Your Favorite Blog Posts Based on the stats in WordPress, these were the top five posts based on …
As the year comes to a close and December flies by faster than Santa’s sleigh, most of us do one of two things; rush to cram in everything before taking a break, or, do nothing because it’s easier to relax into a candy cane coma than finish plotting chapter twelve. There’s nothing wrong with slowing …
There’s a reason it’s a good idea to not show anyone early drafts, and that’s because it’s usually full of writing that should be cut. And these cuts aren’t darlings—writing that’s good but doesn’t fit with the story—they’re the parts of your MS that will make it stronger once you’ve removed them. They are the weak …
Continue reading 8 Early Draft Cuts For A Stronger Manuscript
As mentioned in last week’s blog post, I’ve spent most of this year in editing hell, working through an MS that has been through re-writes, new beta readers, and a total show, don’t tell overhaul. As my edits for that MS wound down, I returned to the next MS in the series (book two), which …
There’s a lot of elements that go into writing a book, and each one has their own set of must-haves. Take character descriptions, for example. Obviously, the easiest way to create a picture in someone’s mind is to list the physical characteristics. Often it’ll be something like; "She was tall, with long black hair and …
As much as we want to think everything we write is gold, it isn’t. In fact, when you’re first starting out, it’s not even silver or bronze. Anyone who has dipped their toe into the feedback pool knows how scary it is to send your beloved draft to someone else. You know how it feels …
Continue reading The Dos And Don’ts Of Handling Bad Feedback
If you’re a writer who has typed “The End” on a manuscript, you know it’s just the beginning. There’s still the second draft. Endless edits. Incorporating beta feedback. Re-writing whole sections. Adding or dropping characters. At least five (or more) other drafts—and that’s before you look for agents, tackle the dreaded synopsis, or prepare to …
Continue reading Signs You’re Ready To Move Onto A New Manuscript
