How to Create Characters
Craft, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea Kristen Overman Craft, Writing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea Kristen Overman

How to Create Characters

So often, story ideas begin with characters. Writers have a picture in their mind of a character they’ve never met, and from there a new story is born. How do we create characters that resonate with readers, though? What needs to go into the mix?

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Writing Quotes To Motivate and Inspire
Writing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Memoir Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Novel Outline, Picture Book Outline, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea Amy Holland Writing, Novel Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, ER/CB Outline, Freelance Outline, Memoir Outline, Nonfiction Outline, Novel Outline, Picture Book Outline, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea Amy Holland

Writing Quotes To Motivate and Inspire

Pithy writing quotes can motivate and inspire with just a few words. We’ve put together some of our favorites to keep you motivated when the going gets tough.

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Premise Vs Plot
Craft, Writing, Revision + Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Editing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Editing, Novel Draft Amy Wilson Craft, Writing, Revision + Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Editing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Editing, Novel Draft Amy Wilson

Premise Vs Plot

The concept of premise vs. plot is a common stumbling block for many writers. They’ll think they have a killer idea for a manuscript lined up, but when they sit down to write, the energy fizzles out partway through. Why isn’t a great idea enough?

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Episode 36: Rob Kent, The Middle Grade Ninja
Novel Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission, Craft, Community Mary Kole Novel Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission, Craft, Community Mary Kole

Episode 36: Rob Kent, The Middle Grade Ninja

Rob Kent, author and host of the Middle Grade Ninja podcast, joins Mary Kole to talk about his illustrious publishing career and provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring writers. He discusses the importance of managing expectations for success in your writing career, as well as writing for your own personal happiness.

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Writing Under a Pseudonym
Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User Community, Writing, Marketing, Audience, Novel Idea, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Short Story Publishing Guest User

Writing Under a Pseudonym

Many authors write under a pseudonym, also known as a pen name. If you think writing under an alias is in your future, here are some criteria to help you decide. I’ve also got some tips on how best to come up with one.

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Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Publishing, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 11: Erin Entrada Kelly, Middle Grade Author

An interview with middle grade author and Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, where we discuss writing outside your lived experience.

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Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, Picture Book Publishing, Memoir Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Freelance Publishing, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Short Story Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Novel Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Short Story Draft, Picture Book Draft Mary Kole

Marketing Your Book With Emily Enger

Book Marketer and PR Coach Emily Enger joins Mary to talk about some of the aspects of the writing process that might leave a yucky taste in our mouths. Tune in for actionable tips and insights into a publicist and marketer's side of the publishing world.

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Writing Shy Characters
Writing, Craft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Outline, Novel Outline, ER/CB Idea, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline Amy Holland Writing, Craft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Memoir Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Novel Idea, ER/CB Outline, Novel Outline, ER/CB Idea, Picture Book Idea, Picture Book Outline Amy Holland

Writing Shy Characters

How do you write shy characters? Shy people often have rich inner worlds that are teeming with life; they’re just selective about who they let inside. Here are a few ways to help you show your shy character’s true nature.

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Tips for Writing Theme
Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Idea, Memoir Draft, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea Amy Holland Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Picture Book Draft, Picture Book Idea, Memoir Draft, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea Amy Holland

Tips for Writing Theme

The act of writing theme is an important ingredient in storytelling, but it doesn’t have to resound with Meaning-with-a-capital-M. In fact, theme works best when it’s subtle and even open to interpretation. Here are three tips that’ll help you incorporate theme into your story.

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40 GOOD IDEAS FOR BOOKS to Get You Inspired
Writing, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Short Story Idea Rhiannon Richardson Writing, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Short Story Idea Rhiannon Richardson

40 GOOD IDEAS FOR BOOKS to Get You Inspired

Uncap those pens, pop open those PCs, and crack your knuckles. It’s time to dive into good ideas for books, and how to brainstorm. Good Story Company is here to help you stay inspired with our quirky list of good ideas for books.

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Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Publishing, Freelance Publishing, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline Mary Kole

Episode 25: Leslie C. Youngblood, Author

Leslie C. Youngblood shares her journey through her MFA program, gives tips on crafting interesting character relationships, and weighs in on one of the hottest questions for authors today: traditional or self-publishing?

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Moralizing in Books
Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Memoir Draft, Freelance Draft, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Short Story Idea, Picture Book Idea Mary Kole Craft, Writing, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, ER/CB Draft, Nonfiction Draft, Memoir Draft, Freelance Draft, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Memoir Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Novel Idea, Short Story Idea, Picture Book Idea Mary Kole

Moralizing in Books

Think twice before you moralize in your book. Ditch "sharing is caring!" and go for a more nuanced message. Here's how.

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Who Is My Target Audience?
Audience, Market, Writing, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Memoir Idea, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Short Story Idea Amy Wilson Audience, Market, Writing, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Memoir Idea, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea, Nonfiction Idea, Short Story Idea Amy Wilson

Who Is My Target Audience?

Thinking about a “target audience” can sound cold and impersonal, especially for writers who are pouring their hearts into a manuscript. After all, it’s not like we’re lining readers up, eyeing the red circles painted on their torsos, and lobbing our books at them. Or are we?

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Episode 23: Jonathan Auxier, Writer of Strange Stories for Strange Kids
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Submission Mary Kole

Episode 23: Jonathan Auxier, Writer of Strange Stories for Strange Kids

NYT Bestselling young adult and middle-grade author Jonathan Auxier joins Mary Kole to discuss visual writing, worldbuilding, and how different media use dialogue to create action.

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