Five Questions to Ask During Chapter One Revision
Once you’ve finished the first draft of your story, it’s time to tackle chapter one revision. Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether your first impression energizes the reader to demand the full story.
Daily Writing Practice: Five Tips For Writing More
Having a daily writing practice is one of the best ways to improve your writing. The more you write, the more you’re able to learn about your style and voice. So, here are five tips to make this dream a reality.
What’s After NaNoWriMo?
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is an intense time for writers who participate. I hope it was everything you were looking for. But the end is near. What’s next?
Query Smart
Query smart by making sure you’re targeting agents and editors who want what you’re writing.
Pop Culture References in Fiction
The question of whether to include pop culture references in fiction can be a sticky one, especially for YA authors, whose target audience is often hyper-aware of pop culture trends.
NaNoWriMo: Experimenting in Multiple Genres
It’s time for NaNoWriMo! How do those authors who publish in multiple genres do it? It’s challenging enough to craft a good story in one genre, especially for brand-new writers.
Picture Books That Sing: You Don’t Have to be a Poet to Write a Picture Book in Verse
Picture books are so fun to read aloud! Readers can play with the volume, pitch, and inflection of their voices to give the verses maximum effect.
How to Write a Ghost Story
Trick, treat, and keep the thrills and chills alive by learning how to write a ghost story. Here are some tips for crafting a spooky tale that’ll scare the socks off readers this Halloween season.
Choosing Character Names and Making Up Fantastic Words
Your character names and made-up words should add meaning to your story. Here are five tips for picking names and creating words that enhance your story world.
Episode 38: Katie Wolf, Editor and Writing Coach
Katie Wolf joins the pod for an inspiring conversation about getting started in publishing, work-life balance, and writing to market. She also discusses the importance of prioritizing mental health and why self-awareness is key in developing your writing craft.
Changing Literary Agents
One of the most difficult experiences for an author is changing literary agents. Sometimes, as much as many hate to admit it, seeking out new representation becomes necessary. If a relationship between an author and their agent isn’t productive, it can often be worse than having no agent at all.
There’s Always a Choice: Revision Techniques to Make Your Writing Stronger
If you've received vague revision instructions like “go deeper," we have some specific revision techniques that'll help you take your work to the next level.
Why is Strong Character Development Important?
Strong character development arcs make better stories. Here are some tips on writing characters that readers will connect with and root for.
Writing About High School in Young Adult Fiction
You’ve got the perfect idea for your YA novel, but don’t forget about the setting! Most young adults go to school for six-plus hours a day, five days a week, so it’s the perfect setting for teen angst, romance, coming of age, and humor. Here are some tips for writing about high school in young adult fiction.
Writing Believable Characters
We know a believable character when we see one. We know what they want, how they feel, and that they’ll be different at the end of the story than they were at the beginning. Here’s how to make sure they’re connecting with your reader.
The Difference Between Editing and Revising
There’s an important difference between editing and revising, although writers tend to use “editing” and “revising” as interchangeable terms to mean anything other than drafting. You’ll need to do both, so it’s helpful to understand the difference.
Chosen One Stories: Is Your Hero Worthy of the Journey?
The “chosen one” premise is the focus of many books. They're the only person who can save the town, world, or galaxy. But writing a "chosen one" story is harder than it seems. How do you successfully execute this premise?
How to Start a Memoir
Many people wonder how to start a memoir, and if it’s even worth doing. Yes, it is absolutely worth doing. But not every event from your life merits inclusion. You have to be selective. Here’s how …
Episode 37: Heather Dixon, Debut Fiction Author
Thriller vs. Suspense... what's the difference? Heather Dixon, whose debut novel Burlington hits shelves this week, chats with Mary Kole about getting published and the appeal of suspenseful women's fiction.
So, you got a query rejection.
Query rejection hurts. You’re putting your shiny new novel out into the world, just for people to say “no, thank you.” Here are some of the best ways to deal with a query rejection.