What Are Traditional, Hybrid, and Self-Publishing?
So, you want to get a book published. But how, exactly? Traditional publishing? Self-publishing? Or maybe through a press that allows you to pay to publish your book? Today’s post breaks down the three major kinds of publishing—both their advantages and drawbacks. Traditional Publishing A traditional publisher is a business that earns money from readers […]
Fiction 101: Point of View (POV)
Many excellent articles have been written on point of view (POV). This article won’t reinvent the wheel, but it will describe the wheel in 700 words or less. If you’re looking for a quick breakdown of the three main POVs in fiction (and the #1 most common POV error), keep reading! Every story is told […]
Unclear Plots: Five Ways Stories Start on the Wrong Foot
Every story makes a promise. That promise is called “the premise,” and it’s the central concept of your story. It’s a travel brochure for the reader’s imagination that declares, “This is what this story is about. If you want to experience a story like that, start reading!” Simple, right? Unfortunately, communicating a strong premise to your […]
What Are “Book Time” and “Reader Time”?
Is a novel that takes place in one day long, or short? Is a 200,000-word novel long, or short? What if you’re James Joyce, and Odysseus, your 265,000-word novel, takes place over one day? There are different kinds of time in fiction. I call them book time and reader time. First, there’s book time: the […]
Nonfiction 101: How to Preach Without Being Preachy
Nobody likes preachy writing. But what, exactly, makes writing preachy? Is it possible to inspire readers to change their minds and actions without being preachy?
Writing Outside the Block
This week’s post is a mess–but that’s kind of the point. Breaking your writer’s block doesn’t have to look pretty.
Should an Unpublished Author Start a Newsletter?
Why do publishers and agents expect unpublished authors to have a newsletter with hundreds of subscribers? What’s the point of a newsletter for an author who doesn’t have a contract yet?
How to Navigate Critique Group Challenges
What challenges can writing critique groups experience, and how should a member respond?
What to Look for in a Critique Group
Whether you’re joining a group or starting your own, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. Online? In person? A range of veterans to novices, or a group of peers? Once a week? Once a month?
In this article, we’ll ask the questions every critique group must ask—and give you the tools you need to answer them.
Critique Groups vs. Editors: Do You Need Both?
Why would you need an editor if you have a critique group? And why would you need a critique group if you have an editor?