Go beyond the landscape when setting the scene with these three essential considerations for starting your novel.

If you've been wondering how to format interrupted dialogue in your manuscript, here's a quick answer.

Stories are like people. They have a body, and a soul. The body is the plot, the actions that happen. And the soul is the character, the protagonist, the key person (or persons) bound by the circumstances of the plot and forced into decisions.

Here's an energizing pep talk on how to write, including the ingredients you need to get started and keep going.

Getting distracted from writing has always been a challenge for writers. But it’s more acute these days, as lockdowns and quarantines interfere with the habits we once built. Here are the top four ways we tend to get distracted from writing, with troubleshooting solutions for each.

Thinking about finding another literary agent? Here are some tips to help smooth the transition.

Here's a video follow-up to our blog post on the old writing adage "write what you know." A closer look at what this expression really means and how you can make it work in your writing.

Even though narratives tend to focus on the life of one character – sometimes a few in multiple POV – the people in that character’s life are equally important. Giving them personalities, sometimes backstories and arcs of their own, are what make the narrative as a whole more realistic.

These descriptive writing tips will help you create impactful imagery that supports your story.

The Good Story Grant aims to help two writers reach the next step in their creative journeys. This grant is open to writers of all skill levels, and working in all genres and categories. The award is $1,500 US, used however you’d like … as long as it has to do with writing and helps you tell your story.

Essential advice for illustrators on building an online home for your art to prepare for querying art reps or literary agents.

Violet prose—an ominous and sometimes confusing term. What is it, and how do we avoid it in our writing? Or … is it really that bad?

You have an offer of representation from a literary agent--now what? Here are some crucial questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line.

Among popular bits of advice—create empathetic characters, avoid rhetorical questions, try starting with an outline—“trust your reader” is often overlooked. Here’s how to trust your reader to understand what you’re trying to show.

Here's what you need for a strong novel submission package that'll stand out to agents and publishers.

Writing a novel series? Here are some valuable tips on planning and executing your series, as well as how to pitch it to publishers.

Writing productivity is especially relevant this time of year, when we’re thinking about how to squeeze the very most out of our days. For many writers, the festive season is when we’re juggling day jobs, family, holiday preparations, and—oh, yeah—writing.

Will agents and editors consider a revision of a manuscript they've already rejected? Check out this week's video for tips on resubmitting a revision to an agent.

Do you have an idea for a nonfiction project? Ask yourself these questions before deciding if your idea is book-worthy, or if it makes more sense as an article.

Just like us, our characters all have pasts. Our histories are what make us who we are, and the events of our lives carry us to the present moment. Know when and how much to share about your character’s backstory so that your readers understand them and it doesn’t take away from the story.