RSSCategory: How To and Tips

Who Am I? And Does It Matter?

Who Am I? And Does It Matter?

By Valerie Taylor At what point does a writer admit to themselves (and others) that they are, in fact, a living breathing author? Must certain events take place in order for that moniker to be valid?  Events such as completion of a book’s first draft; or when that manuscript is submitted for review to an […]

May 17, 2024 | By | 1 Reply More
Research Is Real for Fiction Writers

Research Is Real for Fiction Writers

by Nan Reinhardt I’m so excited to share this new series with you—The Walkers of River’s Edge. We met the Walkers in previous series—if you are a River’s Edge reader, you might remember that Jazz Weaver is now married to Elias Walker, who left his CEO chair to return to being a carpenter in the […]

May 13, 2024 | By | Reply More
Writing Burnout

Writing Burnout

By Tsara Shelton “I’m just not connecting to my writing in the same way,” I explained to my mom over the phone. Curled into an old rocking chair in my living room in Quebec, I was chatting with my mom – also a writer – who was likely feet up on the old couch in […]

May 12, 2024 | By | Reply More
Something Wonderful: The Ripple Effects of Publishing a Novel

Something Wonderful: The Ripple Effects of Publishing a Novel

Something Wonderful: The Ripple Effects of Publishing a Novel From the time I was a child, I’ve had a notebook in front of me and a pen in my hand. The first time I thought about publishing a novel was in high school when I wrote my first full-length story of about two-hundred pages. When […]

April 23, 2024 | By | Reply More
Writing Dialogue

Writing Dialogue

The best way to write realistic dialogue? Become a champion eavesdropper. Dialogue should flow from the page. Here are my three must dos. Listen to everybody, all the time and everywhere. Concentrate on voice and tone.  Take in the rhythm of real life conversation. Bestselling Irish author, Maeve Binchy freely admitted that she was a […]

April 18, 2024 | By | Reply More
If We Are Being Honest

If We Are Being Honest

“If We Are Being Honest” stands as more than a book; it’s a profound reflection of my journey towards breaking free from the suffocating grip of perfectionism and embracing authenticity. Through its pages, I share the raw, unfiltered truth of my experiences as a woman and mother navigating the complexities of modern life. From early […]

April 16, 2024 | By | Reply More
Laughing About it One Day By Courtney Deane

Laughing About it One Day By Courtney Deane

Laughing About it One Day  By Courtney Deane Ask most of today’s top comedians – Ricky Gervais, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock – and they’ll tell you no topic is off limits. That’s there’s no such thing as “you can’t say that” or “that’s not funny.” In fact, one could argue they’ve made entire careers (or […]

April 9, 2024 | By | Reply More
The journey from Self-Published to Traditionally Published author by AJ Campbell

The journey from Self-Published to Traditionally Published author by AJ Campbell

The journey from self-published to traditionally published author by AJ Campbell I often get asked why I decided to self-publish my books. It all started in the summer of 2019 when I attended the Winchester Writers’ Festival, submitting the first three chapters and a synopsis of my debut novel Leave Well Alone to four literary […]

April 8, 2024 | By | Reply More
Five Things Grief Taught me about Writing

Five Things Grief Taught me about Writing

Five Things Grief Taught me about Writing When grief hits you, it brings along with it a plethora of emotions. Someone, a well-intentioned person, said to me the other day, “Grief goes away in some time. You should write a book on happiness.” I smiled, “I am glad you have theoretical knowledge, not the practical […]

April 1, 2024 | By | Reply More
How To Approach Researching Historical Fiction

How To Approach Researching Historical Fiction

How To Approach Researching Historical Fiction “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” When I first embarked on my debut novel THE TOWER, I wasn’t thinking of L. P. Hartley’s famous opening line of The Go-Between. But when I reflected on my first early stages of research and writing, I realised […]

March 7, 2024 | By | Reply More