Tag Archives: writers write

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Anne R. Allen warns us against critiques that do more harm than good while Amanda Bennett takes a graphical approach to story structure.

C.S. Lakin encourages us to be the Foley artists of our fiction, Sarah Gribbles delves into the elements of compelling short stories, and Matt Knight reviews basics of copyright law.

Jaime Herndon and Adam Gabbatt address the alarming rise in book burning and book banning, respectively.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

10 Dangerous Critiques: Beware Bad Writing Advice by Anne R. Allen

Copyright Basics for Writers by Matt Knight

How I Came Up with My Story Structure Mash-Up by Amanda Bennet

US Conservatives Linked to Rich Donors Wage Campaign to Ban Books from Schools by Adam Gabbatt

Draft2Digital Acquires Smashwords by Kevin Tumlinson

Rereading Fahrenheit 451 in an Age of Mass Censorship by Jaime Herndon

Grab the Popcorn and Improve Your Novel by Wendall Thomas

How to Use Framing Devices in Fiction by Heather Webb

How to Effectively Bring Sounds into Your Fiction by C.S. Lakin

What is a Satire and How Do I Write One? by Susanne Bennett

Elements of a Short Story by Sarah Gribble

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Ken Miyamoto encourages us to define our characters via their actions using Mad Max, Wall-E, and There Will be Blood as examples.

Dianne Pearce covers various ways to promote our books and help others do the same while Penny Sansevieri offers marketing strategies for a book series. Sarah Stewart Taylor delves into the emotional roller coaster of the writing life and Rob Eagar reviews recent changes on Amazon that affect authors.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Getting Away With Murder: A 5-Point Plan On How To Kill A Character by Christopher Luke Dean

Defining a Character Through Action: Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior by Ken Miyamoto

Defining a Character Through Action: Wall-E by Ken Miyamoto

Defining a Character Through Action: There Will Be Blood by Ken Miyamoto

10 Amazon Changes Authors Need to Know About by Rob Eagar

What is Kindle Vella? An In-Depth Explanation by Chris Fried

How to Sell Your Book – Part I by Dianne Pearce

How to Sell Your Book – Part II: Finish Your Damn Novel and What About Flash Fiction? by Dianne Pearce

How to Sell Your Book – Part III: Pay It Forward by Dianne Pearce

How to Make the Most of a Writing Hour by Ramona DeFelice Long

3 Quick Fixes for Your Dialogue by Jessica Strawser

5 Simple Marketing Strategies for Your Book Series by Penny Sansevieri

The Parts They Don’t Tell You by Sarah Stewart Taylor

How to Juggle More Than One Manuscript by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

 

 

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Paula Munier offers advice on transitioning from writing nonfiction to fiction while Anne R. Allen reminds us that self-publishing is serious business. Anne’s article has a few points in common with Sue Coletta’s tips on maintaining etiquette in the writing community.

TD Storm discusses the pros and cons of using filtering language, Alison Flood delves into the effects of cancel culture in publishing, and Kathryn Craft explains how we can increase tension in our stories through the eyes of an observer.

Oh, I almost forgot—Hanna Mary McKinnon provides tips on crafting characters with amnesia.

All that and much more. Enjoy!

How to Write About Amnesia by Hanna Mary McKinnon

Your Nonfiction is Showing by Paula Munier

Self-Publishing is a Business: Don’t Treat it Like a Childish Game by Anne R. Allen

To Filter or Not to Filter by TD Storm

What is DRC and How to Make it Work for You by IndieReader

Writing Community Etiquette by Sue Coletta

Six Ways to Add Stakes to a Mystery by Chris Winkle

Publishing’s Debate over Cancel Culture by Alison Flood

Managing a Motif by Dave King

Heighten Tension with a Watcher by Kathryn Craft

Character Description: 6 Tips from Stephen King’s Memoir by David Safford

Bringing a Character to Life by Barbara Linn Probst

The Unintended Consequences of a Lack of Setting by Amanda Patterson

 

 

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, Ken Miyamoto discusses five categories of SF and Fantasy worldbuilding while Anne R. Allen lists several reader pet peeves that writers should avoid.

Kris Calvin and Philip Athans provide their points of view on writing multiple points of view, Brian Andrews concludes his lesson on crafting believable action scenes, and Penny Sansevieri offers strategies for book marketing and author branding.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

The Craft and Rules of Worldbuilding in Science Fiction and Fantasy by Ken Miyamoto

Three Things Your Query Letter Needs to Stand Out by Lucinda Halpern via Anne R. Allen

How to Avoid Writing Stuff Readers Hate by Anne R. Allen

30+ Ideas for Bite-Sized Book Marketing by Penny Sansevieri

Writing from Multiple Points of View by Kris Calvin

Whose POV Should it Be? by Philip Athans

How to Write Amazing Action Scenes (Part 2 of 2) by Brian Andrews

5 Great Tips: A Beginner’s Guide to Author Branding by Penny Sansevieri

Make Your Protagonist an Actor by Kathryn Craft

7 Awesome Foreshadowing Tips for Fiction Writers by Mia Botha

 

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff…

This week, learn how to deal with writer burnout from Tom Meitner, and let attorney Joseph Perry explain the critical components of a publishing contract.

At Career Authors, Erin Celello urges us to take our story idea on a date while Hank Phillippi Ryan offers advice on self-editing.

Kelly Jensen reminds us of the value of mood to both writer and reader while over at the The Write Practice, Joslyn Chase and Ruthanne Reid discuss the proper use of cause and effect and the elements of plot, respectively.

Janice Hardy give us some strong opening lines and Anthony Ehlers shows us how to be visual storytellers.

All that and a little more. Enjoy!

Stretched to Your Limits? How to Avoid—and Cure—Writing Burnout by Tom Meitner

Know Your Rights: Key Provisions in a Publishing Contract by Joseph Perry via Anne R. Allen

How to Cut 20,000 Words by Hank Phillippi Ryan

4 Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing that Book by Erin Celello

How Much Really Needs to Be in Your Novel’s Opening Sentence by Janice Hardy

5 Tips on How to Fit Your Book’s Hook into a Super Short Amazon Ad by Bryan Cohen

10 Powerful Visual Storytelling Techniques for Writers by Anthony Ehlers

How to Maximize the Power of Cause and Effect in Your Stories by Joslyn Chase

What is Plot? The 6 Elements of Plot and How to Use Them by Ruthanne Reid

Mood is the Most Underrated Literary Device—and the Most Valuable by Kelly Jensen

Wattpad to Be Acquired for $600 Million by Korean Internet Conglomerate Naver by Todd Spangler for Variety

Class Action Suit: Amazon and Publishers Face Price Collusion by Personanondata

 

Articles, Blog, Craft, Opinion, Writing and Publishing

About This Writing Stuff

This week, James Scott Bell makes a good case for putting your protagonists between opposing characters, thereby forcing them to choose a path. Siera London introduces us to the BENP system of book marketing, and Daphne Gray-Grant links perfectionism with depression.

Richie Billing examines the use of religion in the fantasy genre, Joe Bunting provides a 20-step guide to novel writing, and Donald Maass teaches us to how dance to the beat (story beats, that is).

At Fiction University, we get schooled by Kassandra Lamb on the relationshp between backstory and behavior, Chris Eboch explains the importance of plot questions, and Janice Hardy offers advice about planting clues in your story.

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

Religion in Fantasy by Richie Billing

What Kind of Marketing Plan Will Work for Us? by Siera London via Jami Gold

Put Your Lead Between Opposite Characters by James Scott Bell

How to Choose Scenes for Your Story by Chris Winkle

What is DRM (Digital Rights Management)? by Matt Knight at Sidebar Saturdays

Show Me the Money: Royalties, Rights, and Riches for Indie Authors by Erika Liodice

The Beat Goes On by Donald Maass

How to Write a Novel (Without Fail) by Joe Bunting

How to Sneak Clues Past Your Readers and Keep Them Guessing by Janice Hardy

Writing a Page-Turner: Keep the Reader Guessing with Story Questions by Chris Eboch

The Importance of Backstory (or How the Brain Connects the Present to the Past) by Kassandra Lamb

Is Your Depression Masquerading as Perfectionism? by Daphne Gray-Grant

11 Ways to Give Writing Perfectionism the Heave-Ho by Daphne Gray-Grant

60 Things For Your Character to Do When They Talk or Think by Amanda Patterson