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This month, Steven H. Wilson discusses some of the elements that comprise a gripping novel while Joe Bunting schools us on the use of rising action in storytelling.

Secrets are revealed over at Career Authors as Tiffany Yates Martin explains the four habits of successful authors, Tracy Clark shares five tips on pacing, and Sharon Short offers strategies for writing from first person POV.

Speaking of POV, third-person omniscient is still alive and well and  that sagacious “mythcreant” Chris Winkle shows us how to use it effectively.  She also shows us ways in which exposition can be used to evoke emotion.

All that and a little more. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

What Makes a Good Story? by Steven H. Wilson

What Third-Person Omniscient POV is and How to Master It by Chris Winkle

What is Didactic Literature? Have we Outgrown it? by Robert Harrell

4 Survival Skills of Highly Successful Authors by Tiffany Yates Martin

Wait for it! Five Secrets to Perfect Pacing by Tracy Clark via Hank Phillippi Ryan

Six Secrets to Writing from the First Person Point of View by Sharon Short

Nine Things to Consider Before Giving Up on Your Book by Penny C. Sansevieri

Rising Action: Definition and Examples of This Dramatic Structure Element by Joe Bunting

What If You’re Writing Novellas? Now What? by Tara Deal via Jane Friedman

How to Use Exposition to Evoke Emotion by Chris Winkle

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, we begin with author marketing and branding with Good Story Company’s Michal Leah. From there, Anne R. Allen weighs in on the value of blogging vs Substack (and newsletters in general).

These days, of course, we can’t avoid the digital elephant in the room known as AI, especially as related to copyright infringement. Check out the latest on that from The Authors Guild and Sidebar Saturdays.

We conclude our lineup with a variety of fantastic articles covering such topics as crafting effective dialogue and unforgettable opening scenes to exploring your character’s taboos and writing compelling inner conflict. Enjoy!

DIY Author Marketing 101 by Michal Leah

Substack Newsletters vs. Blogging: Should Authors Quit Blogging and Join Substack by Anne R. Allen

No One Buys Books by Ellie Griffin

Authors Guild Supports Groundbreaking Bill to Create AI Transparency Between Creators and Companies 

Big Tech’s Disregard for Authors: AG Responds to Tech Companies Harvesting Books 

Artificial Intelligence Generated Work – Copyright Protection and Infringement by Matt Knight

Why Should I Bother with an Outline? by Kristen Overman

Dig Into Your Character’s Taboos by Kathryn Craft

Labeling Your Dialogue by Chris Winkle

Shaping the Sound of Your Dialogue by Chris Winkle

Pacing Your Dialogue by Chris Winkle

Avoid, Persevere, Endure, Fight: 4 Goals for Unforgettable Opening Scenes by Ayesha Ali via Jane Friedman

Upmarket Fiction: Everything You Need to Know by Louise Tondeur

Why Trains Make the Perfect Thriller and Mystery Setting by Debbie Babbit

How to Write Compelling Inner Conflict by Angela Ackerman via Jane Friedman

Articles, Blog, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, book consultant and developmental editor Mary Kole encourages writers to diversify their skills in the age of AI. Now that self-publishing is no longer a “new thing,” Anne R. Allen advises indie writers on how to keep expectations grounded.

Kristen Lamb reviews the Johari Window and how it can be used as a tool for character and story development. Over at the Write Practice, Joe Bunting gives us a detailed lesson on first and third person points of view.

Fantasy writer Philip Athans defends the adverb—with some caveats—and, along with PJ Parrish, provides guidance on the skillful use of description in narrative.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

The Irrelevance of the Modern Writer by Mary Kole & Good Story Company

The Über Skill for Writers by Tiffany Yates Martin

How to Write the Beginning of a Novel by Rhiannon Richardson

How to Tighten Your Midpoint Twist by Ley Taylor Johnson

Is an Unpublishable Book Worth Writing? by Lory Widmer Hess

Is Self-Publishing a Good Choice for Authors in 2024? by Anne R. Allen

Adverbs Are Fine! by Philip Athans

Describe Characters as You Go Along by Philip Athans

How Much Description Does Your Book Need? by PJ Parrish

The Johari Window & Character Blind Spots by Kristen Lamb

How to Get Your Plot Arcs Working Together by Chris Winkle

Ninety-Nine Words to Seek and Destroy by Chris Winkle

Fresh Perspective Sells by Kathryn Craft

Types of Point of View: The Ultimate Guide to First Person & Third Person POV by Joe Bunting

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This month, Philip Athans explores the concept of originality in fiction while Chris Winkle shows us how we can effectively suspend disbelief in our readers.

Kristen Lamb explains the benefits of book reviews to an author’s career (seriously, I could always use more!) while Garry Rogers illustrates how the Feynman Learning Technique can help us with plotting.

At Writer Unboxed, the inimitable Kathryn Craft delves into vulnerability while Desmond Hall discusses suspense at the story and sentence level.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

How to Write a Ghost Story by Amy Holland

Desmond Drops: Suspense from the Beginning, Suspense in the Middle, and Suspense at the Sentence Level by Desmond Hall

How to Plan a Successful Book Launch in 10 Steps by Geri Mileva

The Importance of Tone in Writing by Anne R. Allen

On “On Originality” by Haruki Murakami by Philip Athans

7 Ways to Access Vulnerability by Kathryn Craft

“Can’t Put the Book Down” by Dale Ivan Smith

Plot Your Story Using the Feynman Learning Technique by Garry Rodgers

Book Reviews: Why They Matter So Much by Kristen Lamb

Audiences Don’t Suspend Disbelief – We Do it for Them by Chris Winkle

Print-on-Demand Publishing? KDF vs IngramSpark: One Author’s Experience by Paul Benjamin

NEA Finds Worrying Drop in Reading Participation by Jim Milliot

How Has Big Publishing Changed American Fiction? by Kevin Lozano

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, take some lessons in suspense from the master himself, Alfred Hitchcock.

Speaking of lessons, Amy Wilson and Anne R. Allen offer advice about writing effective dialogue while Maggie Smith teaches us several ways to make our secondary characters stand out. Over at Mythcreants, Chris Winkle discusses passive voice and how to create a story outline.

The nice folks at Good Story Company show us how to build a better author website and at BookBub, it’s all about promotion and crafting a captivating book description.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Using Dialogue Tags Effectively by Amy Wilson

Electrify Your Thriller with These Tips from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock by Dana Isaacson

Writing Under a Pseudonym by Good Story Company

How to Write a Book Description: Tips from BookBub Editors by Lauren Aldrich

What Fiction Writers Should Know About Passive Voice by Chris Winkle

How to Outline Your Story by Chris Winkle

From Sidekick to Scene-Stealer: Making Your Secondary Characters Memorable by Maggie Smith

Who Should Be Telling This Story? by Jeanne Kisacky

9 Common Dialogue Problems and How to Fix Them by Anne R. Allen

10 Author Websites and Why They Work by Good Story Company

12 Fantastic BookBub Ad Designs Promoting New Releases by Shailee Shah

25 Authors Running Fantastic Book Promotions on Instagram by Shailee Shah

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Dave Chesson reviews the pros and cons of Draft2Digital’s services while Chuck Wendig expresses concern about the current literary landscape with a focus on AI and book bans.

At Mythcreants, Chris Winkle reminds us that the hero of our story should always have agency, even when things go sideways.  Elisa Bernick advises new writers on the right and wrong ways to approach established authors for advice while the nice folks at Good Story Company offer tips on marketing your books to libraries.

Over at BookBub, we have a trove of information on book promotion covering topics such as pre-orders, contests and giveaways, and attracting new readers.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Draft2Digital: Read THIS Before You Sign Up by Dave Chesson

Marketing to Libraries by Good Story Company

Giving Your Hero Agency When Things Go Wrong by Chris Winkle

Origin Stories and Big Reveals: Do We Really Need Them? by Barbara Linn Probst

Let’s Chat About ChatGPT by James Scott Bell

6 Ways Clichés Can Help Your Writing by Kathryn Craft

Striking Hollywood Scribes Ponder AI in the Writer’s Room by Mandalit del Barco

The State of Being a Published Writer in 2023 is Really Weird and a Little Worrisome by Chuck Wendig

The Right Way to Ask a Published Writer for Publishing Advice by Elisa Bernick

24 Great Prize Ideas for Book Promotion Contests and Giveaways by Leila Hirschfeld

11 Ways to Promote Preorder Books that Drive Real Results by Therese Walsh

BookBub: Promoting a New Book to Current Fans and New Readers [Case Study] by Carolyn Robertson