- How to Write a Novel in Just 3 Days
My name is Laura Roberts, and I wrote an entire novel in just three days. No, I'm not crazy. Yes, it was for a contest (the 3-Day Novel Contest, held annually by a bunch of crazy Canucks over Labor Day weekend). And yes, you can do it too.
- How to Write While Keeping Your "Author's Voice"
- How to Make Money As a Self-Publisher in 2014: 3 Insights From an Author of Over 50 Ebooks
I've been writing and selling ebooks online since 2002 - well over a decade now. And you know, there's always something to learn. It's what keeps self-publishing fun - and frustrating (at times).
- It's Not What to Write, But How To Write That Matters Most
When new authors decide to write the book that's been rattling around in their mind for a long time, they usually just start writing... filling up pages instead of taking their time researching and organizing their topic.
- Why All Writers Must Have A Blog
If you are a writer or an aspiring writer then it is essential that you get yourself a blog. If you already have a website, then that's great. However I would still advise you to get a blog too.
- Playing with Fire
One of the hottest situations a writer encounters is critiquing another writer's work. It's a common way to get burned. How can such an innocent act cause trouble?
- Great Riddlers: Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist who wrote all her popular novels in the early nineteenth century, and is famous for her critiques of the status of most women in society and their dependence on marriage.
- 5 Common Self Publishing Mistakes
Have you joined the ranks of aspiring authors ready to take the next step to self publishing in the digital age of publishing? If so, congratulations! But wait, before you rush off to press, there are some things you should do to prepare your book for successful self-publishing.
- Writing Short Stories - Fiction
Many of us discover we love to write fiction. Some might stumble into writing while others know from the time they first pick up a pencil. Our problems lie with finding the proper starting point in the writing world.
- Four Places to Find a Great Story
You've decided to write your first novel. Congratulations! It's a journey of some distance and you've taken the first step. What's next?
- 5 Secrets to Help You Write a Top-Selling Kindle eBook
While many Kindle authors don't make a cent, more writers than you'd think have turned their self-publishing efforts into roaring successes.
- Understanding the character's goals and motivations
While it is often easy to give a physical description to most characters in a novel, this often requires a second look. Johnny RayGood authors will often use this as a way of telling the reader so much more.
- The Wild and Wacky World of Typos, the Bane of an Author's Existence
When I'm working on a book I try hard to be accurate. Yet when I read what I have written I always find typos. In a recent Facebook post I said I must have slept funny because I had a stiff neck. Instead of the word "funny," however, I wrote "bunny."
- Spreading The Word
I have been freelancing for a couple of years now and I still get a tingle down my spine each time I see an article of mine in print.
- Nine Steps to Writing a Novel You Can Sell
Be a story teller. You would be amazed at the number of writers who do everything but. Often novels come as character portraits or memoirs written as fiction. Absent is any attempt at suspense, any motivation for the reader to turn those pages.
- How to Make Writing Your Book Easier
I'm no expert in human behavior, but as far as I can tell, we as a species thrive on routine. I know for a fact that both my sons behave better when they know what to expect.
- Mad Hatter: The Many Roles of Today's Writers
When I decided almost two years ago that I wanted to really take a shot at being a writer, I knew the reality of what I was getting into. Or I thought I knew.
- Short Story Writing - Ten Endings To Avoid
A logical, satisfying ending is always required in a short story, but how do you ensure that yours is fresh and new? One of the ways is to avoid the obvious. Here are some common endings seen by editors: use them at your peril.
- Creating Real Drama Through "the Premise"
All dramatic stories have one premise. In fiction, the premise is the conclusion of a fictive argument. That argument is posed and answered in the story.
- Feet in the Future, Books in the Past: Overcoming the Stigma of E-Publishing
I was recently asked how technology and e-publishing has changed how I write. After checking the mirror for crow's feet, I explained that I'm young enough that beyond my elementary school days of journaling in blue books, technology has always been a part of my writing.
- Working as a Freelance Writer: Why You Don't Need to Be Brave to Find Clients
I've learnt a lot about dealing with clients in the three years since I became a full-time freelance writer. But the truth is, I've never really been one for cold calling for new job leads, discussing projects over the phone or having meetings with clients.
- How to Make Money Writing for the Internet
Writing for the Internet can provide a good source of income if it is approached in the same professional manner as other writing projects.
The Internet is made up of millions of pages and someone has to write them. Why not you?
- EBooks: Friend or Foe?
Publishing is a $35 billion industry. Up until just a few years ago, that meant almost exclusively books, magazines, newspapers, and other small items such as brochures and business cards. The internet has changed all that in more ways than one. Enter the eBook, or downloadable electronic book.
- Eight Best Creative Writing Exercises
Creative writing is all about imagination. Imagination begets inspiration, which itself is the child of emotional feelings. And the irony of twenty-first century is that we are too busy to feel.
- Think Proofreading Isn't Important? Think Again…
Proofreading. The word alone is enough to bore the socks off most writers. After going through the whole creative process and editing your work down to a work of art bordering on the sublime, you're presented with the wearisome process of taking a magnifying glass to your sentences and going on a hunt for misplaced commas.
- How to Write: Use Both Sides of Your Brain in Your Writing
Have you ever experienced a time when you were so involved in something, you lost track of time? Have you ever been in what they call the "zone?" Are there other times you were exceptionally logical and analytical about what you are doing?
- How to Create a Novel That Your Readers Won't Want to Put Down
There are five essential things you as an author must do if you want to create a novel that your reader won't want to put down: 1) create empathy with the main character and their quest; 2) captivate the reader with your tone of voice 3) engage the reader's...
- 7 Ways to Plot Your Novel
While you may feel like outlining or plotting your novel is to reduce an artistic creation to a parochial method of organization, you shouldn't. Plotting your ideas can help you brainstorm and prepare your novel before...
- Getting a Book Published - Four Reasons Why You Need to Finish Your Book
Are you getting a book published? Every year, there are thousands of books that never get published! Many authors will start writing a book, but then they never get around to finishing it.
- Writing the Modern Mystery
From private eye, police procedural, professional Amateur, John and Jane Q Public, Heists, Capers, Kidnapping, Romantic Suspense the genres and sub-genres are endless when it comes to what constitutes a mystery. Correction, a Modern Mystery.
- The Keys to Novel Writing Success
Most people, it seems, dream of trying their hand at novel writing. And for most people, unfortunately, that is as far as it goes.
- How to Write a Column
Good columnists are hard to find. Ask any editor. A column is a regularly appearing article in a magazine, newspaper or other publication. It is different from other forms of journalism in that it is a regular feature which, in time, becomes a personality-driven piece of narrative by the author with his or her distinct point of view.
- Nonfiction Book Blueprint: How to Construct Your Book One Layer at a Time
With a project as big and important as writing a book, working from a plan-or blueprint-will make everything easier and more fun. Following a blueprint allows aspiring authors to make their ideas work, just like construction crews use blueprints to build solid and strong buildings. It tells you what needs to go where and helps you compile all the essential pieces of a successful book in a practical and easy-to-follow way that readers will love.
- Why I Love Suite 101
The more I play on Suite 101, the more I'm hooked. I don't use 'play' in any trivial sense. Language and play are one, (I am entirely in accord with Derrida) and are relevant, pleasurable and serious. Playing with ideas is creative non-fiction writing at its best.
- Kindle & Nook E-Publishing
I tried to resist. I really did. For awhile I avoided the onslaught of fellow authors saying come on over and join us. Seeing their wares displayed online and hearing their sales accomplishments, tempted and lured me. Eventually, I bundled up award-winning books and stories and began the process.
- How To Write Non-Fiction That Sells
Nothing turns a reader off more quickly than a list of dry facts and figures. Good fiction writers always show rather than tell but it's worth remembering that the technique can work for non-fiction too. Follow this advice and your articles will make compulsive reading.
- How to Craft a Series of Bestselling Titles from a Single Topic
During the past ten years I have authored seventeen traditionally published niche non-fiction books, all of which (save one) have achieved bestselling status in their respective genres. Here’s the thing though; I have used only 2 topics to produce 16 bestsellers.
- Creative Writing Technique: Visualization
Visualization is one of the best techniques to use when plotting a story. It's like watching a movie in your mind, only the movie is your story. You can see all the scenes and events playing out, from beginning to end.
- First Aid for Resuscitating a Dead Plot
Plot is critical to the success of commercial fiction. But if your plot flat lines, your story will die a cruel and agonizing death. Fortunately there are three techniques that you can use to shock a dead plot back to life; these are characterization, suspense, and conflict. Consistently using these three techniques will breathe life back into any dead or dying plot.
- Writing Fiction That Sells
In Act One the protagonist meets all of the characters in the story. We also learn the main problem of the story. Everybody can usually plot Act One because we have to know the problem to have the idea. The trick in Act One is to keep it interesting. Don't just start rolling out story points. Start at the most interesting point, where there is conflict and excitement, and help the audience sort it out.
- Do You Procrastinate?
So you've taken the plunge and started writing a book? Congratulations on taking the first step. But now you have to find ways to keep yourself motivated to keep going...
- How to Master the Art of Writing Dialogue
Dialogue is probably one of the most important things to master in your writing. Dialogue creates action. It shows rather than tells. And it's a great way to define your characters without stopping the story to write description, which will slow down your pace.
- Keep Your Sentences Focused and to the Point
Studies show most readers can easily and quickly assimilate sentences of between twelve and eighteen words in length. GOOGLE ADSENSE Sentences of more than eighteen words or about two lines either slow them down and require rereading, or get misunderstood.
- 3 Ways to Make Your Mystery Stand Out in the Crowd
The mystery novel has never been more popular than it is today. People love reading them . . . and writers love writing them.
- Hidden Gems in the Grammar Checker
Some of the grammar checker's comments are quite annoying. For example, what use is it to know that you have used the passive, if there is no explanation of what the passive is and why you should not use it?
- Bring It To A Point – A Closure Technique
Some people have a problem with starting a story. I don’t. I have a problem with finishing them. I know where I want to go, but getting there can be a problem.
- The Power of Your Novel's First Sentence
Here's what happens (and I bet you do this too): a book jumps out at you at the bookstore. It might be the colors, an image on the spine, an author's name, or the title, but something draws your attention...
- Stephen King and the Road to Hell for Writers
If you look for advice on your writing, surf the Internet and you will find advice galore. One writing site tells you that one reason we plunk down money for writers like Stephen King is because they use adverbs to make their writing interesting.
- How to Breathe Life into Your Characters
A clever plot will draw readers to your book but if they don't care about your characters you will soon lose them. The most exciting stories, the ones you remember long after the book is closed are those...
- Will Print On Demand Help Me Get an Agent?
Have you contemplated taking your writing to 'print on demand' or 'POD' status? If so, you aren’t alone. Many entrepreneurial writers who have had difficulty finding a literary agent (or who have been hesitant or unwilling to send out dozens of queries)...
- What Will Your Character Do When Disaster Strikes?
Most people have seen the character worksheets that encourage writers to identify everything from shoe size and favorite food to sexual turn ons and turn offs. And while knowing your character's most treasured possession might come in handy...
- Capturing Ideas
Non-writers often ask, "Where do you get your ideas?" The answer is everywhere. A word or phrase can fire a writer's imagination. Overhearing a conversation in a café, or the way a person...
- Tips on Creating an Interesting Title
When it comes to creating titles, I know of no other writer who does it so well as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did. Even Agatha Christie, the Queen of Mystery, never produced a title as intriguing as those of Doyle.
- Writing Again After Life Upheaval
Storms of life can leave you battered and shipwrecked from your writing. Whatever the crisis, the resulting chaos can dam up your ability to create. It’s difficult, sometimes nearly impossible, to be creative...
- Scriptwriting - The Five Key Points of Story Structure
One thing is true of all stories. They all have a beginning, middle and end. Film scripts typically run from 100 to 120 pages with each page representing about a minute of screen time...
- Writing For Children and Teens - Should You Outline Your Story Before Writing?
Writing For Children and Teens. Part of the writing process is experimenting. Writers differ on their opinions about outlining--some love it, some hate it, and some are mixed.
- How To Be More Focussed
How focused is your creative writing? How consistently do you write? How far do you get with the creative writing projects most important to you before losing momentum?
- How To Write A Mystery - The Right Beginning
You want to write a mystery novel, you have a terrific idea, you know who kills whom and why. You have a great detective and think the killer is ...killer. Where do you start?
- Does Your Theme Contain Character, Conflict, Resolution?
For a theme to work and the story, which will revolve around the theme, it has to contain three things: Character, Conflict and Resolution
- 5 Ideas to Confidently Unleash Your Creative Writing Skills
Most people are under the impression that only a select number of people are able to write creatively and confidently. They have a gift or have gone to school to learn the secrets to confidently write creative articles, blogs, and books...
- Ten Writing Tips For Budding Authors
For me the most important tip is to write, write every day, 365 days a year. Remember practice makes perfect.
- Creative Writing Ideas
There is a technique called 'concept combination' which is to create new products to sell. Use it to create new stories, and it is usually good for a few laughs and a few ideas as well...
- First Step in Publishing Short Stories - Reading
When I took composition classes in college, I often became frustrated with all the reading I had to do, story after story after story, many times thousands of pages per assignment...
- Become a Freelance Travel Writer
What's not so easy about becoming a travel writer? You travel, write down everything you see and hear, sprinkle in your incredibly funny personal experiences, and send an article off to a dozen editors...
- Six Simple Steps to Sensible Editing
O.K., so you've finished your story or article, you've breathed a sigh of relief and are just about to reach for the envelope and stamps when the Good Writers' Fairy raps you smartly on the head and whispers...
- Other Writing Articles
Other writing articles for your delectation
