April

There’s a fine balance in writing where an author draws a reader in but doesn’t overwhelm him or her with too much of anything at once. Careful development of a scene holds a reader’s interest, but it can also allow “breathing room,” so the story moves at a comfortable pace. If you stick with one … Read more

Particularly for fiction writers, it’s not uncommon for there to be mentions of colors in a story. Whether you’re describing a setting, a person’s clothing, the sky or any number of other objects, you might incorporate a color to “drive the point home.” We often talk about keeping your writing concise, clear and simple here … Read more

Before submitting a manuscript in the hopes of getting it published, it’s important to make sure that you, as the writer, have helped it achieve its full potential. It’s always best to carefully proofread and edit the material, preferably several times. In fact, it’s helpful to take advantage of a professional pre-submission review or developmental … Read more

Whether you’re a fiction writer, non-fiction, sci-fi, suspense or romance novelist, it’s unlikely that you’ll remain inspired if you only ever write within one specific genre. In fact, trying your hand at all sorts of writing, even if you’re not planning to have the work published, is the best way to boost creativity and find inspiration … Read more

Perhaps you’ve wanted to become a successful writer for as long as you can remember. Then again, maybe the idea of being a writer is a more recent development in your life. Either way, being a professional writer or published author can be a rewarding yet challenging experience.  Some writers seem to soar straight to … Read more

Descriptive language is an integral component of fiction novels. As a fiction writer, one of your primary goals should always be to make your readers feel as though they have stepped into another world – the world inside your story. Writing descriptive settings can be challenging. It can also make the difference between people wanting … Read more

To write a sequel or not write a sequel, that is the question. In the world of fiction-writing, a sequel is a work that continues a story or further develops a theme that began in a previous novel. If you write more than one sequel for the same story, it becomes a “series.” As an … Read more

Working toward a goal of becoming a published author can be rewarding, yet challenging and sometimes stressful as well. Even if you’ve already had a book or two published in the past, each new venture is unique and may include setbacks or complications that weren’t present in a prior publishing experience.  There are several valuable … Read more

When you have set a particular goal in life, there are typically numerous components to achieving it. For instance, if your goal is to improve your physical health, you might create a plan that involves multiple steps, such as making healthier food choices, getting more physical exercise and taking time for rest and recreation. You … Read more

Most writers are avid readers. Because of this, it’s logical to assume that people who do not read often or don’t know how to read likely do not have good writing skills. Unfortunately, only 17% or so of children ages nine to 11 have stories read to them on a regular basis. Some estimates state … Read more