This post is part of the Editing Your Novel series. Click through to read about beta readers, the macro-edit, and the micro-edit. After you’ve taken a step back from your novel (however long that needs to be for you) you’re ready to jump back into it with the read-through. This step is pretty much summed upContinue reading “How to make the most of the read-through (Editing Your Novel: Part One)”
Author Archives: Chelsea
Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: An intricate plot & stunning debut
Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, dreaming of an unremarkable life. But when her beloved father is found dead, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of a surprisingly unstable kingdom. What’s more, Hesina believes that her father was murdered—and that the killer is someone closeContinue reading “Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: An intricate plot & stunning debut”
What to do when you finish your first draft
So. You’ve done it. You had an idea, then sat down and did the work to turn it into an actual story. You wrote a first draft! Now what? Finishing a first draft, especially if it’s your first first draft, can seem like a daunting task, so that when it’s finally over, many writers areContinue reading “What to do when you finish your first draft”
Three questions to ask to create compelling characters
Characters are the heart of your story. If readers don’t connect with them, there’s almost no better way to guarantee they put your book down and never pick it back up. So how can we create characters that are compelling, yet believable? Likable, but realistic? It may seem like a lot of pressure, but thereContinue reading “Three questions to ask to create compelling characters”
I visited an Amazon Books location and this is what it’s like
As a bookworm, I’ve always loved exploring bookstores. I do my fair share of ordering books online, of course, but there’s something special about wandering through a bookstore and being able to physically hold (and, okay, smell) the books. I recently became a member of my local indie bookstore to help support the store (andContinue reading “I visited an Amazon Books location and this is what it’s like”
Interview with author C.G. Drews
Today I am absolutely thrilled to bring you an interview with YA author, C.G. Drews aka Cait aka PaperFury! If you’re a writer, you may recognize Cait from her informative blog, her colorful bookstagram, and her witty Twitter updates. I followed Cait for a while online before I was finally able to get my handsContinue reading “Interview with author C.G. Drews”
10 books to read for Women’s History Month
March is already here, and that means it’s Women’s History Month! I love learning about all the important women in history who have been overlooked, and this happens in spades in March. Plus, this March brings us Captain Marvel, and I am here for all the women superheroes! If you’re looking for more pop culture that featuresContinue reading “10 books to read for Women’s History Month”
Should I go to college for writing?
As February comes to a close, spring is upon us. For seniors in high school, there is another level of pressure: it’s time to decide about college. I’m 25 and I still remember the stress and crushing doubt of spring semester of senior year (both in high school and college—yay grad school!). Of course thereContinue reading “Should I go to college for writing?”
5 (more) podcasts for writers
Six months ago, I started this blog! Since then, by far my most popular post has been one of the very first: 10 podcasts to make you a better writer. As I said in the original post, I’m pretty obsessed with podcasts, so in the months since then I’ve discovered some more podcasts that I’veContinue reading “5 (more) podcasts for writers”
Romanov by Nadine Brandes: book review + free wallpaper!
Synopsis and book cover from GoodReads: The history books say I died. They don’t know the half of it. Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the BolshevikContinue reading “Romanov by Nadine Brandes: book review + free wallpaper!”