How Writing Short Stories Can Make You A Stronger Novelist
I've always been a little intimidated by short stories. Something about squeezing an entire meaningful journey into just a few thousand words felt daunting—especially when compared to the spacious freedom of an 80,000-word novel. But after chatting with author and editor Demi Michelle Schwartz, I realized I'd underestimated the incredible benefits that writing short stories can offer us as novelists.
Are You Procrastinating or Percolating? How to Stop Beating Yourself Up for Not Writing
We writers (and writing coaches) talk a lot about procrastination—how it creeps in as resistance, keeping us from doing our work. But sometimes, we mislabel what’s actually happening and then beat ourselves up for not making progress. That dawdling, that staring at the screen without typing, the Wordle break, the social media scroll, or the "just one more level" on Royal Match—what if that’s not procrastination at all?
Live Pitching vs. Cold Querying Your Novel Submission—Which Path is Right for You?
If you’ve been in the trenches of traditional publishing, you know the struggle. But what if there was another way? What if instead of waiting endlessly for an agent to open your email, you could pitch your book directly to them—face to face?
That’s exactly what I sat down to talk about with Amy Nielsen—author, freelance editor, and literary agent with the Purcell Agency. She’s been on both sides of the publishing fence, and in this conversation, we unpacked the pros and cons of live pitching vs. cold querying
From Draft to Done: How Author Michael Fedor Finished His Novel After 20 Years
Writing a novel is hard. We all know this. Now, writing a novel that takes 20 years to complete? That’s take’s hard and persistence to a whole different level.
Three Revision Mistakes New Writers Make and What to Do Instead
Revision isn’t just about tightening sentences or making the language flow better. That’s part of it, but it’s only a small piece of the bigger picture.
How to Write Historical Fiction: Tips from Author Susanne Dunlap
How can a writer balance historical accuracy with compelling storytelling? And how much research is too much? Let’s dive into the craft of historical fiction with Susanne Dunlap, acclaimed author, writing mentor, and all-around historical fiction powerhouse.
5 Key Questions to Help You Define Your Book’s Genre
In this article, I break down five key questions to help you classify your book more easily, from defining the writing style and target audience to determining the story's world and time period. With examples ranging from a 1960s feminist protest to a time-bending, intergalactic adventure, I'll walk you through how these five questions shape genre decisions.
Holiday Cheer for Writers: Free Resources to Fuel Your Writing Journey
Free Resources from Write It Scared
I hope you find something that helps you move forward in your writing journey and feel free to forward it to a writer who it might help!
How to Use Mentorship as a Powerful Tool for Your Writing
Have you ever felt stuck in your story development or draft, unsure of the next step, underwhelmed by the quality of your words, and simultaneously overwhelmed by the idea of actually finishing a novel that others might enjoy?
Yeah. I know exactly how that feels.
Working with writing mentors—people who helped me see my potential and guided me through the twists and turns of the creative process—was a game changer for me.
How to Decide if You Should Stick with Your Writing Project or Start Something New
Is it shiny object syndrome or should you actually be writing something else: What to do when you feel like you are at a creative crossroads.
It never fails—at least for me and many of the writers I work with—that at some point during the process of planning, drafting, or revising a novel, we get the itch to walk away. And I don't mean take a break for a week. I mean shelve the entire thing, bury it in a drawer for an undetermined amount of time, and focus our creative energy elsewhere.
How to Write a Horror Novel that Satisfies Readers
Even if you don’t write horror specifically, understanding this genre will make you a better storyteller. Horror is a genre that transcends, crosses literary lines, and many of the novels we love today blend in elements of this incredibly versatile storytelling machine. Not only does horror transcend, but it exists on a spectrum: from the cozy, quiet creep to full-on, in-your-face slasher/splatter gore.
Mastering the Art of Writing a Successful Query Letter With Julie Artz
Are you thinking about querying your manuscript soon? Have you tried writing this mystical document called the query letter meant to attract the representation of your dreams?
Nervous?
Yeah, I feel you. Been there.
It’s a lot of pressure to put on three paragraphs.
How to Improve Your Fiction Writing with Author Tim Grahl
Do you need reassurance that you can and will become a better writer?
My next podcast guest is going to do exactly that, but he doesn't sugarcoat the amount of work it takes to go from so-so to stellar writing.
How to Pace Your Fiction Novel: Practical Tools & Tips
Do you find yourself asking that about your novel? Me, too. What we usually mean is how does it read? Too slow? Too fast? Are you bored out of your gourd, or can you not breathe? Pacing is a combo of how fast events are happening and the feeling that gives the reader, but it's not just about fast or slow.
How to Write a Seamless Flashback In Your Fiction Novel
Flashbacks are a mainstay of commercial fiction, especially in the suspense and romance genres. When done poorly and placed improperly, yes, they are painful to read. But here’s the secret…when you learn to write a flashback well they become a fluid part of the narrative. You don’t even notice them—and really, that’s the goal.
The Art of Crafting Remarkable Middle-Grade Fiction with Janet Fox
Do you have an idea for a middle-grade novel, or know a writer that does?
Wonder where you should start, how long the story should be, or what the middle-grade audience is actually interested in?
If you said yes to any of those join me as I dive deep into the intricacies of writing for middle-grade fiction with author and book coach Janet Fox in this week’s podcast.
How to Convey Backstory Without Bogging Down Your Novel
Conveying backstory is only necessary if it helps the reader understand the present moment and move the story forward. If the backstory is irrelevant to the character’s present situation or circumstances, it does not need to be there.
Show, Don’t Tell: How to Make Your Fiction Come Alive
“Show don't tell,” is probably the most common and most frustrating piece of feedback a new writer receives. When I started writing fiction, I scratched my head at this statement. What the hell did that mean?
That's today's aim friends: to dig deep into the meaning of show vs. tell.
What is it about reading a good book that makes us love it? It is the story? The characters? The writing?
Why Your Fiction Novel May or May Not Need a Prologue
Many writers I work with wonder if their fiction novel needs a prologue. It’s a good question, and often my answer is no. They need to weave that information into the main story's narrative, but there are some exceptions.
But first, what is a prologue?
How to Write Effective Subplots in Your Fiction Novel
Subplots In a fiction novel are necessary to make a story layered and engaging. This blog post, written by Author Accelerator certified book coach Stacy Frazer, will help you write compelling subplots for your book that don’t steal the show.