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.
Why Every Word Matters: Even the Crappy Ones
Encouragement for the frustrated writer.
Writing can be maddening when the words won’t come, or we don’t like what we write. Sometimes, it can feel like a waste of time to plot story events that we can’t see clearly because they’ll probably all change anyway.
And what about when we write a handful of chapters and realize the story started in the wrong place, or we didn’t quite have our main character’s trajectory as mapped out as we thought, and we need to start over?
Writing With and About Chronic Illness and Disability with Sandra Postma
If you (or a writer you know) struggle to write because of a chronic illness or disability or desire to write a disabled character with integrity and authenticity, I have an incredible resource to share with you.
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 Find a Writing Process That Works For You
I realized I hadn’t done a personal writing update in a while, and the reason for my recent progress is directly linked to the podcast episode I’m going to talk about in just a moment so let me fill you in. I was pretty frustrated by the end of August. As in, for the love of all that is holy, someone find me dumpster, a match, and some gasoline. I’m gonna torch this baby. Burn the entire idea down! Of course, I didn’t. What I did do was get some outside help. Mindset help specifically geared toward me as a writer and my particular orientation of skills and talents.
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.
On Motherhood, Writing Gross First Drafts, and Having a Movie Made from Your Book
Do you have kids? And yes, of course fur-babies count.
If you do, then you’ll want to check out this podcast interview with author Julia Walton because it’s for any writer who has become a parent and any parent who has turned into a writer!
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.
My Thoughts on NaNoWriMo’s AI Position and Generative AI
I’ve had some trouble sleeping on and off over the last few weeks. It’s part nasty cold that has some serious hang time, part me being on my phone way too late (chocolate cake may or may not have been involved), reading about the controversy surrounding NaNoWriMo and its stance on Artificial Intelligence. Yeah... that.
Goal Setting for Writers: Ending the Year with Clarity and Focus
Considering we are facing the last months of the year, let’s talk about how to make the most of them because we can either make excuses or we can make an effort!
On Writing Romance, Avoiding Prescriptive Advice, and Finding Your Writing Process
Is your writing process filled with shoulds and should-nots?
Like I should be writing more, or I should be marketing this way, or I should not be editing as I go, or I shouldn’t be working on more than one story at a time?
My next podcast guest, romance author Roni Loren, is one of the people who helps me question “the shoulds” and whether they serve me.
Do You Suck at Celebrating Your Success? Here's How We Change That, and Why It Matters
Are you good about acknowledging and celebrating your achievements?
Most of us, myself included, already have our eyes set on the next “to do” before we’ve really even acknowledged what we’ve just completed. This may be a byproduct of our fast-paced lives, but sometimes, we don’t see our achievements as valuable and meaningful.
Both reasons for not celebrating can be damaging, and I want to talk about why because we always have a choice when it comes to our thoughts and intentions. Every choice comes with a cost.
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 Foreshadow In Fiction Like a Boss
In this article, we will define foreshadowing, explore the different types with examples from popular novels and films, and discuss techniques you can use to foreshadow effectively in your fiction writing.
Honoring Your Creative Rhythm and Writing Dual Timelines with Author Cynthia Platt
If you’re a writer who genre hops, or wants to, and gets frustrated with your inability to make progress because life lifes hard sometimes, well then I’ve got something special for you!
On episode 24 of the Write It Scared Podcast, I’m joined by the delightful and versatile kid-lit author Cynthia Platt.
On Getting Help When You Need It: A Personal Writing Update
Today, I want to take off the ol’ book coaching cap and chat writer to writer, human to human, and share a bit of a personal writing update.
The Art of Self-Editing a Fiction Novel
Earlier this summer I sat down with Savannah Gilbo, a fellow book coach, editor and the host of the fabulous Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast (go listen, it’s a goldmine) and dove DEEP into how to revise your manuscript in a systematic and effective way that will keep you from pulling your hair out.
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 Create an Eye-Catching Book Cover Design
This isn’t exactly a writing craft topic, but I was incredibly curious about this side of the publishing industry and had the opportunity to sit down with Katia Balabaieva from Miblart, a professional book cover design company. Miblart specializes in creating marketable covers for indie authors and publishers, and their mission is to turn book covers into an author's prime marketing tool.
The Necessary Discomfort of a Fiction Writer
If you are not stretching yourself as a writer, you are not growing.