Unless you are like Harper Lee, who had only one highly successful novel published until a few months before her death, authors need a number of publications before people begin to notice their work. This is what is known as building your backlist. Your backlist doesn’t necessarily have to be…
When we’re talking about style guides, there are some clear, global rules that all writers know (or should know) and adhere to. For example: Submissions are sent with a cover page. Documents are formatted to be 1-inch margins, 12-point size, Times New Roman font, double-spaced. Synopses should only introduce main characters,…
We have been getting writing prompts since we were small children. Schools start us early, with fill-in-the-blank stories, and gradually step us up from there. The next steps include writing our own stories with blanks for others to fill in, or prompts meant to inspire creativity with no word limit…
This article is the first of a two-part series on the importance of using a professional editor. I’ll post the second part in late September. Self-editing, beta readers, and critique partners or groups are all an important aspect of the writing process. Each step has its own benefits. Some writers…
Blanche, Muffy, Winchester, Bruiser, Tiny. Each name and nickname evoke something in us. They imply something. Each time you choose a name for a character in your work, that name determines how you want your reader to react to the character—the image you want the character to portray.A simple name…
All good stories have conflict. Something to keep you interested. What provides conflict? A well written villain. Someone who makes you root for the hero. As you write your novel, if you simply concentrate on your hero/heroine, you are leaving out what makes your story great. Conflict. Something or someone…
Critique groups. Critique partners. For many writers, the idea of joining such a group or linking with another writer is scary. New writers, in particular, may be hesitant about sharing their work. Some might be afraid of what other members will say or think. Still, others may feel inferior to…
Last week we discussed a few tips to help you create a good manuscript. This week we have more tips to keep you going. Keep it Simple Long words, complicated sentences, and off the cuff tags only distract the reader. Don’t force your audience to stop to look up words…
