Secrets are a big part of story tension, both for internal and external conflict. One might argue that stories themselves are secrets that unravel as we read them, but that idea is probably a blog post all by itself. On a smaller level, secrets are the things that keep us reading and wanting to know … Continue reading The Secrets Stories Keep: Maintaining Story Tension with Some Help from Power Rangers
Guest Post: Create a Discussion Guide for Your Book by Joy E. Held
A little-known fact about me (mostly because I don’t overly publicize it) is that when I’m not writing or editing, I write study guides for fiction novels. And so when Joy approached me about helping to promote her upcoming course on creating a discussion guide for your book, I jumped on the idea. The study … Continue reading Guest Post: Create a Discussion Guide for Your Book by Joy E. Held
The One-Step Process for Finding Story Inspiration
Story inspiration can be tough to come across. Whether you’re new to creating or a seasoned author, story inspiration is the bread and butter of staying relevant and active in publishing. There’s lots of advice out there for getting the creative mind going, but actually finding story inspiration boils down to one thing—asking a question … Continue reading The One-Step Process for Finding Story Inspiration
5 Tips to Get More Reviews from Book Bloggers
If you’re publishing books, indie or otherwise, in today’s market, you’re probably aware that the days of putting a book up for sale and going to lunch while sales roll in are a thing of the past. (If you aren’t, spoiler?) Creating is a rewarding experience, and if you’re anything like me, you love the … Continue reading 5 Tips to Get More Reviews from Book Bloggers
Writing Can Be Dark and Scary, But It Doesn’t Have to Be
What are you afraid of? There’s no right or wrong answer to this, and you don’t have to tell me. I just want to get thinking about fear for a moment. Public speaking is often touted as one of humanity’s greatest fears. I can understand this. Getting up in front of a room and talking … Continue reading Writing Can Be Dark and Scary, But It Doesn’t Have to Be
What I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Almost Gave Up Writing
A physical and spiritual journey to putting my work out there. Image credit to Matt Howard on Unsplash In 2018, I moved in with my boyfriend, and we jointly moved across several states for him to take a new job. While he was off at work, I was home at work, writing Grimmfay (the new … Continue reading What I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Almost Gave Up Writing
Buying Refurbished Computers: Three Steps for Outfitting Your Writing Tech without Breaking the Bank
“You must spend money to earn money.” And it’s no different for authors. Buying refurbished can save you money, and these three steps will also help you avoid the headache of purchasing bad products.
Content Warnings: What They Are and Deciding Whether to Use Them
If you’ve ever looked up a movie online before going to the theater (you know, back in the day), you probably saw a rating: G for “General,” “PG13 for “Parental guidance suggested for kids under 13,” and so on. Those ratings may also be accompanied by a word or two telling you why the movie is rated that way (for example, rated R for violence). The rating is a quick way to say “hey, this movie is best for [age range] and contains [this element] which may not be appealing to all viewers.”
4 Tips for Writing a Fiction Sequel…With Some Help from Jumanji
Series are popular (books, TV, movies, video games—the list goes on). We like returning to familiar places, seeing characters we’ve started thinking of as friends again, watching our heroes save their home from the next big thing. It’s exciting. At least, it is if done right.
TyrannoThesaurus Rex: The Monster That Ate Your Manuscript
The thesaurus is a fantastic tool, but like a happy hammer pounding an abused nail, it can break your book's meaning.