Residencies, retreats, and conferences abound in the publishing world. Very few of them are dedicated to queer authors writing queer romance. I touch on a few different options that can tangibly change this.
Creating Writing Spaces for Queer Romance Authors Read More »
My initial exposure to queer romance was by chance. Becoming a queer romance story coach? That was by choice.
What Led Me to Queer Romance Story Coaching Read More »
It can be hard to find the right queer romance writing coach for you. Here are a couple questions to ask that make that decision easier.
How to Find the Right Queer Romance Story Coach Read More »
Your queer romance writing mentor is out there. Here are a couple mentor types to keep an eye out for.
Finding A Queer Romance Writing Mentor Read More »
Inner monologue shows who characters are on the inside. Here’s three tips on building more well-rounded characters using their inner thoughts.
How to Create Character Depth Through Inner Monologue Read More »
Give your readers strong verbal exchanges with this week’s tips on how to effectively use dialogue in your fiction.
How to Use Dialogue Effectively Read More »
Although Q1 wasn’t my best quarter, as a freelancer, the only easy day was yesterday. Q2 is waiting.
Adjusting My Freelance Editing Business Read More »
“How Much Worse Can It Get?!”: How to Effectively Combine Conflict in Your Story Photo by lucas clarysse on Unsplash The first quarter of 2024 has admittedly not been all that kind to me. With my fairly successful rebranding, I set lofty professional and personal goals. Purposefully making the decision to
How to Effectively Combine Conflict in Your Story Read More »
Resting isn’t just for writers to put aside their manuscripts. Characters need to put aside their worries for a time, to remember why they’re in the fight in the first place.
Give Your Characters (and Yourself) A Break Read More »
Psychoanalysis isn’t just for the doctor’s office. Applying Freud’s theories can help you build stronger, more realistic characters.
Psychoanalyzing Your Novel’s Characters Read More »
Here’s a few questions to ask as you seek a writing critique partner to address the conflict problems you may be having with your own manuscript.
How to Use the Right Critique Partner Read More »
Organizing your story from the end to the beginning connects events in a way that your drafting (and especially your revising) stages become easier to reflect on one word at a time.
How to Write Your Story in Reverse Read More »
This week, I cover the misunderstood title of “pantser” in fiction writing. More importantly, I provide a few tips on how you can “pants” your way to a first draft without the internal panic.
How to Write a Story from Start to Finish Read More »
The first ten percent of your novel is not where you want your readers to get entangled in the details. I provide advice on the best (and not-so-best) places to drop in information vital to understanding who your protagonist in at any given point in your story.
Do You Have Too Much Backstory or Not Enough? Read More »
Introducing a reader to your novel isn’t just about the character’s external journey taking place. Readers need an understanding of your protagonist beyond their external goals.
Ordinary Does Not Mean Boring Read More »
Famous duos run through books, TV shows, movies, and all other forms of media and entertainment. Here’s just a few of those duos, why their connections run so deep, and how their roles should be replicated to your own fiction writing.
Use Supporting Characters to Help and Hinder Your Protagonist Read More »
Your protagonist’s internal journey is only as strong as their external one. The environment the story is set in should be built up in conjunction with the character’s arc and the plot’s development.
Create an Impactful Story World Read More »
DNF’ing a book is a part of every reader’s life. There are foundational ideas that lower the chances of an author’s target reader closing their book for good.
Avoid the Dreaded DNF Read More »
Reflect on who your character is versus who your character wants to be, even just one word at a time.
Stay True to Your Characters Read More »
I have learned a lot over the past two-plus decades about what it takes to be both an editor and an author. This week, I cover a few of those lessons.
Balancing Being an Editor and Author Read More »
Last week, I wrote about the importance of understanding your skill sets and abilities within the book editing process, and why I chose the specialties I did. This week, I cover the other side of the equation: genre writing. There are a few ways fiction authors can decide the subgenre that best fits their style and personalities. Read on to learn more!
Niching: Genre Writing Read More »
The end of 2023’s Camp NaNoWriMo came six weeks ago. It was my first year participating. Check out this week’s article on how that participation affected my approach to fiction writing and the lessons you can think about applying to your own processes!
How NaNoWriMo Changed Me as a Writer Read More »
Fan fiction has so much more to offer authors than the opportunity to play around with their favorite TV, book, or movie characters. Writing fan fiction offers the chance to hone your craft. This week’s blog article argues why that’s the case.
Fan Fiction to Original Fiction: Is It Worth the Jump? Read More »
There’s something special about writing prompts. Even for someone who primarily sticks with the editing side of the book publishing process, I find them vital to stirring up creativity. I provide a few ways to make them work best for authors, no matter their preferred genre.
Make Writing Prompts Work for You Read More »
There are countless writing craft books on the shelves these days, spanning fiction and nonfiction, and every genre within those categories. I highlight two that I’ve discovered, two that should serve as the foundation of every fiction writer’s craft library.
Craft Books: Writing Resources Read More »
