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
What’s Luck Got to Do With Your Writing Dream?
Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day, let’s talk about luck—specifically, how much (or how little) it actually matters when it comes to our writing success.
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.
The Mystery-Thriller Novel: What It Is and How to Write It
In this article, we’ll explore the mystery and thriller genres separately to understand their unique story obligations. We'll then combine them to see how they work together to create a satisfying story that fits into the mystery-thriller subcategory.
Crafting Authentic Romance with Fiction Book Coach Trisha Jenn Loehr
Do you love a good romance story? Me too
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, of course we’re going to chat about the romance genre, and I have a very special episode of the Write It Scared podcast for you. Plus, I’ve included some free resources to help you craft your next romance.
I’m thrilled to be joined by the amazing Trisha Jenn Loehr, a romance expert, and Author Accelerator Certified Fiction Book Coach.
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.
Learning to Say No to Mom Guilt with Author MK Pagano
Are you a parent to an amazing human, or maybe more than one, who is the center of your world, and you’re also a writer with a passion for what you do and struggle to balance both, plus all the other stuff life throws your way?
How to Use Story Structure and Character Arcs to Write More Compelling Fiction
Today, we’re diving deep into some essential craft topics: story structure, plot, character arcs, and character development. These elements are inseparably linked, and understanding how they interact will elevate your writing.
Mastering Character Development: How to Get Your Characters to Spill Their Secrets
We all know that one-dimensional characters won’t cut it, and we strive to create dynamic and emotionally resonant fictional characters.
We also understand that to do that, we have to figure out what drives our characters to take action and engage in our plots. We have to figure out what they want, what they need to learn, what they fear, and the internal struggles that stunt them.
The million-dollar question is, “How?”
An Honest Story About a Writer Accomplishing Goals Inch by Inch
Ready or not, 2025 is knocking. I’m not sure if I want to answer, but of course, like you, I will, and I want to go forward with a plan. If you like a plan and want a little help creating one for the coming year, here’s a goal-setting exercise you can use to set intentions and mile markers for 2025.
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 Celebrate Your Writing Wins and Set Yourself Up for a Confident 2025
The 2024 writing season is winding down, and I have a question for you…
Have you taken a moment to acknowledge everything you did in the last year?
Have you looked at what you are proud of and really let it sink in—deep into your heart and bones?
If you're like me, I bet you haven't done that yet; maybe it's not even on your radar, but I'm going to invite you (both of us) to make it a priority before the clock strikes twelve on January 1.
The Importance of Learning to Rest: Lessons From Creative Burnout and How to Recover
Have you ever felt like your creative ambition failed you? Writing used to light you up, but not anymore. The want is still there–you want to write your books. You want to do all the things that you think are required to make that happen–but you just can’t.
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.