At some point in the editing process, you’ll need to share your writing. NOT with an agent yet—when you submit your manuscript to query, the agent shouldn’t be the only person other than you to have seen it! Instead, you should gather a good group of beta readers. What exactly are beta readers, you ask?Continue reading “8 tips for finding your perfect beta readers (Editing Your Novel: Part Two)”
Category Archives: Writing
How to make the most of the read-through (Editing Your Novel: Part One)
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)”
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”
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”
5 Things I Learned About Storytelling from Nature Documentaries
One of my secret obsessions is nature documentaries. When I saw Blue Planet II was finally available on Netflix, I actually gasped out loud. As I started watching the new documentary, I wondered what exactly it was that made me love them. Of course, the absolute beauty of the earth, the crazy antics of animals,Continue reading “5 Things I Learned About Storytelling from Nature Documentaries”
New Year’s Resolutions for Writers
I don’t know about you, but I am one of those people who believes in the beauty of the new year and in making resolutions. I think there’s something about writing down your goals and giving yourself a deadline to achieve them that makes them especially powerful. This applies to writing, too. But there areContinue reading “New Year’s Resolutions for Writers”
12 Perfect Gifts for Booklovers (that aren’t books)
Christmas is absolutely my favorite time of year, and part of that reason is because I love giving gifts! If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life, I’ve got you covered. Grumpy Cat Bookmark, $4.75+ This adorable bookmark says everything you wish you could. When in doubt, go to theContinue reading “12 Perfect Gifts for Booklovers (that aren’t books)”
Why self-forgiveness is crucial to writing
Ever since I was a kid, I considered myself a writer. The very first story I remember writing was when I was in kindergarten, and was something akin to Pokémon fanfic, except before the internet existed. In second grade I decided I wanted to be a published author. I eventually went to college to getContinue reading “Why self-forgiveness is crucial to writing”