Category: How To and Tips
Writing Research: How I’m Using My Love of History to Write My YA Novel
Writing fantasy fiction allows me to bend the rules, make stuff up, and be as creative as I want to be. I’ve invented realms, worlds, and races for my Guardian Series, and I’ve turned little red riding hood into a kick-ass werewolf hunter and run with a werewolf pack through Sherwood Forest in Hood Academy. […]
On Writing Sex Scenes
Like every author I’ve weathered rejection, criticism, and tactful notes from copy editors asking if a character is meant to combat shivering by ‘crapping herself in a blanket.’ But, last month, true disaster struck. My mother discovered that I’m an author. She arrived at my door with an uncertain glare, saying, “Aunt L said she’s […]
A Hook, Not A Gimmick By April Dávila, author of “142 Ostriches”
A week before I began querying agents for the first time, I was having coffee with a writer friend. I shared with her how nervous and excited I was about those first steps and she asked me what title I’d landed on, as I’d called the book many things over the years. I told her […]
Tips for Writing Multi-POV Novels with Distinct Voices
Kathleen Barber’s debut novel Truth Be Told (originally published as Are You Sleeping) is the inspiration for the Apple TV+ series of the same name, which is produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and stars Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul. Originally from Galesburg, Illinois, Kathleen is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern […]
Options to Make Your Book Marketing More Effective
As a writer and author, Bridgitte is known for in-depth interviews with leading New Thought luminaries such as: Eckhart Tolle, Iyanla Vanzant, Deepak Chopra, Radhanath Swami, Elizabeth Gilbert, Penney Peirce, and Elizabeth Lesser. She was the lead writer to launch Oprah Winfrey Network’s Super Soul Sunday website, the 21-Day Become What You Believe Meditation and […]
10 Ways to Self-Edit and Improve Your Writing
10 Ways to Self-Edit and Improve Your Writing Every editor has their own pet-peeves after working in the business a certain number of years. Different writers have their own common mistakes and commonalities, but there are certain things you can do to improve your writing skills. These are particularly helpful for people who write copy […]
Witchcraft And Writing: Using Method Writing To Create Authentic Historical Characters
Sunwise is the sequel to Widdershins, which was inspired by the witch trials that took place in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England in 1650. Sixteen people were hanged on a single day on charges of witchcraft. Despite being the biggest execution of witches on a single day in England, the trials are not very well known about, so […]
My Publishing Journey, Heather Chavez
When I was a child, my first book was about a family of rabbits celebrating Christmas. Told in rhyme of course. On the back, I scribbled one word: Hallmark. Even back then, I wanted a publisher. My first paycheck came from a poem I wrote for a local newspaper in Kansas. It was about socks. […]
The Path Stays Rocky: Looking Back From Book Five
Any other job would get easier over time, but not writing books. With the February release of The Lucky One, my fifth novel, I’m coming clean on a question I get often. The question goes: Isn’t it easier now that you’ve done it a couple of times? It is. And it’s not. For the first […]
Second Chances
By Anju Gattani They say cats have nine lives but life doesn’t offer a second chance, at least not in the world of publishing. One book gets one release date, your baby’s out in the world and there’s no turning back. Now, what if I told you that’s not true. Would you believe me? What […]
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