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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Advice for Beginning Writers
Writing, Community, Craft, Revision + Editing, Critique, Novel Draft, Novel Revision, Novel Idea, Memoir Idea, Memoir Draft, Memoir Revision Amy Wilson Writing, Community, Craft, Revision + Editing, Critique, Novel Draft, Novel Revision, Novel Idea, Memoir Idea, Memoir Draft, Memoir Revision Amy Wilson

Advice for Beginning Writers

Some writers have been scribbling stories for so many years, they can’t remember a time when they weren’t writing. Others—like me—specifically remember when they decided to attempt a novel and began typing their first paragraphs. I want to share some advice for beginning writers here who might be feeling overwhelmed, insufficient, or daunted by the road ahead.

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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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Episode 24: Mindy McGinnis, YA Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Revision, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 24: Mindy McGinnis, YA Author

Mindy McGinnis, mystery, suspense, thriller author and dog haver, joins the Good Story Podcast to talk about her upcoming work with James Patterson, shit-shoveling, book snobbery, and showing characters' humanity.

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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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How to Write a Novel Synopsis
Writing, Critique, Craft, Novel Submission, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea Guest User Writing, Critique, Craft, Novel Submission, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea Guest User

How to Write a Novel Synopsis

One of the most difficult parts of submitting a manuscript or query to an agent or publisher is figuring out how to write a novel synopsis. That task is different every time and for every book. Just like the task of writing each book is different and calls upon different skills, crafting a synopsis for each manuscript is different, as well.

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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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Episode 9: Kilby Blades, Romance Author
Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing Mary Kole Market, Novel Publishing, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Submission, Freelance Publishing Mary Kole

Episode 9: Kilby Blades, Romance Author

A conversation with Kilby Blades (author of romance novels such as The Gilded Love series) about self-publishing, writing diverse, feminist characters, and changes the traditional publishing industry needs to make in order to be an inclusive space for writers of color.

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Episode 31: Lisa Stringfellow, Middle-Grade Fantasy Author
Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Market, Audience, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, Novel Submission Mary Kole

Episode 31: Lisa Stringfellow, Middle-Grade Fantasy Author

Lisa Stringfellow discusses her debut novel set in the Caribbean, “A Comb of Wishes.” She talks through her long journey from draft to finished book—plus plans for Book 2—and shares craft and industry tips she’s learned along the way.

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Episode 32: J.C. Geiger, YA Author & Mixtape Creator
Marketing, Craft, Writing, Character, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Submission, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole Marketing, Craft, Writing, Character, Novel Draft, Novel Editing, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Editing, ER/CB Outline, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Submission, ER/CB Publishing, Nonfiction Draft, Nonfiction Editing, Nonfiction Idea, Nonfiction Outline, Nonfiction Publishing, Nonfiction Submission Mary Kole

Episode 32: J.C. Geiger, YA Author & Mixtape Creator

Tune in for a chat with Mary Kole's long-time friend in the children's publishing space, YA Author J.C. Geiger. He tells all about how he made an epic mixtape with music no one's heard before (and met his heroes in the process), and talks about writing young adult characters, the future of post-pandemic fiction, and—of course—the power of music.

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Magic, Mythology & Monsters with Lisa Stringfellow
Writing, Craft, Community, Critique, Market, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Outline Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Community, Critique, Market, Novel Idea, Novel Draft, Novel Publishing, Novel Editing, Novel Outline Mary Kole

Magic, Mythology & Monsters with Lisa Stringfellow

Lisa Stringfellow, award-winning author and middle school teacher, discusses her debut novel about mermaids and mythology set in the Caribbean, “A Comb of Wishes.” She talks through her long journey from draft to finished book—plus plans for Book 2—and shares craft and industry tips she’s learned along the way.

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The Writing Journey with Leslie C. Youngblood
Writing, Craft, Character, Freelance Publishing, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Mary Kole Writing, Craft, Character, Freelance Publishing, Novel Publishing, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea, ER/CB Draft, ER/CB Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Outline, Memoir Publishing, Nonfiction Publishing Mary Kole

The Writing Journey with Leslie C. Youngblood

Author and former assistant professor of creative writing Leslie C. Youngblood joins Mary Kole on the Good Story Podcast. She 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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Retelling (3 Reasons to Reimagine)
Writing, Market, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea Michal Leah Writing, Market, Novel Draft, Novel Idea, Novel Outline, Novel Publishing, ER/CB Idea, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Freelance Idea Michal Leah

Retelling (3 Reasons to Reimagine)

Is it just me, or does it seem like retellings and reimagined stories are everywhere you look? Whether I’m on the Kindle page or surfing Netflix, it seems like everyone’s telling familiar tales in different ways. Here’s more about this trend and why it matters.

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How to Write Diverse Characters (And, Also, Are You Qualified?)
Craft, Nonfiction Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Nonfiction Idea, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea Joiya Morrison-Efemini Craft, Nonfiction Draft, ER/CB Draft, Freelance Draft, Novel Draft, Picture Book Draft, Short Story Draft, Novel Idea, Picture Book Idea, Nonfiction Idea, ER/CB Idea, Freelance Idea Joiya Morrison-Efemini

How to Write Diverse Characters (And, Also, Are You Qualified?)

Wondering how to write diverse characters? Many writers aspire to create worlds that look like a true fusion of personalities and cultures, religious beliefs, and ethnicities. How do we create art that imitates the life we are striving for?

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