April

Dialogue should flow through your story like a river that has seamlessly carved its way through a forest. Like the river, it should be complex and varied, with more going on beneath its surface than your readers might realize. So how do you write complex yet realistic dialogue? You put a lot of time, thought … Read more

What sparked your love of writing? There’s a good chance that your desire to tell a story started in another person’s written words. This goes back to one of the most basic truths of writing: great writers start out as great readers. Reading is more than just your origin story as a writer. It is … Read more

One of the most difficult parts of drafting a book is creating full, three dimensional characters. It doesn’t matter how well-crafted your plot is or if the words flow off the page like magic— if you have flat characters, your readers will lose interest. Not sure how to start bringing your characters to life? Try … Read more

Being a writer is a time-intensive profession, which roughly translates to spending a lot of time with your butt planted in a chair. At face value, this might seem like a great situation. What better than taking a load off your feet with your laptop on your lap? The problem is that after a while … Read more

Finding just the right gift for everyone in your life takes a considerable amount of time, thought and effort. Buying gifts for friends or family members with whom you have shared hobbies and interests might not feel like much of a challenge though. On the other hand, buying presents for loved ones with unique hobbies … Read more

As a writer, there is no telling when inspiration will strike. So what should you do when a new story idea hits out of nowhere? Well, you really only have three options: Write it Shelve it Toss it You will need to consider a few different factors when deciding how to handle your latest story … Read more

When and where is inspiration most likely to hit? While that answer is different for everyone, chances are it rarely happens exactly when you are sitting down to write. Inspiration usually strikes when you are in the middle of an unrelated task, often one that does not require too much thought. This means that you … Read more

No matter how much time and effort you put into creating a great first draft, it will still be far from perfect. This is where edits come in. Editing is an essential part of the book writing process, and it should begin long before you ever decide to start submitting to agents or publishing companies. … Read more

Ask a room full of authors “What’s the best way to write a book?” and you’re sure to get dozens of different answers. Some may say to first create a detailed outline along with a full list of characters and descriptions, while others might encourage you to sit down and just start typing words. This is … Read more

Every writer needs a few useful things in their toolbox. A healthy dose of creativity, inspiration and a bit of talent all go a long way in a writing career. However, these skills might not amount to much if you are not making time to put them to good use. Creating—and sticking to—a writing routine … Read more