Friday, August 31, 2018

Pen Names

In this day and age, pen names may be more trouble than they're worth. 

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2016/08/the-problem-with-pen-names/

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Self Editing

Make sure your manuscript is in the best shape possible before you send it out. 

https://www.writermag.com/2016/09/22/self-editing/

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Tighten Your Writing

Here are some common examples of overwriting that can be fixed to tighten your writing. 

http://theeditorsblog.net/2013/01/22/cut-the-flab-make-every-word-count/

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Synopses

One way to approach writing the dreaded synopsis is to write a pitch first. 

http://annerallen.com/2018/07/novel-synopsis-hacks/

Monday, August 27, 2018

Advice for Middle Grade Authors

Kids tell what works for them and what doesn't when reading a middle grade book. 

https://www.alistandish.com/single-post/2018/02/26/Are-Middle-Grade-Authors-Getting-It-Wrong

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Researching Agents and Publishers

It's important to do your research before submitting, both to make sure your manuscript is a good match and to avoid scams. 

http://pitchwars.org/how-to-research-literary-agents-and-publishers-before-sending-materials/

Saturday, August 25, 2018

School Assemblies

A school visit presentation to hundreds of children presents unique challenges. 

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2018/06/promoting-your-book-and-yourself-at-a-school-assembly/

Friday, August 24, 2018

Openings

Here are twelve ways to make sure your readers will want to turn that first page. 

https://insights.bookbub.com/start-novel-bang-hook-readers/

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Character Physical Features

One Stop for Writers offers this thesaurus to describe your character's physical features. 

https://onestopforwriters.com/physical_features

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Age of YA Protagonist

What's an acceptable age for the main character of your young adult book? 

http://bookendsliterary.com/2018/06/27/askagent-is-it-okay-to-make-your-ya-protagonist-14-years-old/

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Plotting

Yes, plot means conflict, but also needs to include a call to action. 

http://middlegrademinded.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-things-i-wish-id-know-about.html

Monday, August 20, 2018

No Agent Needed Publishers

Here's a list of some of the US publishers who accept children's book submissions without needing an agent. 

https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2014/05/17-us-childrens-book-publishers.html

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Book Readings

Here are some things to consider when you're "performing" your book in public.  

Friday, August 17, 2018

Picture Book 101s

This is a great introduction to writing picture books. 

https://medium.com/@michaelhingston/picture-books-101-from-alison-hughes-9b9eec235b19

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Deep Point of View

Emotional layering is the key to writing in deep point of view. 

http://writersinthestormblog.com/2018/06/emotional-layers-the-gateway-to-deep-point-of-view/

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Revision Steps

Sometimes the first step in revising is to create a second rough draft.

https://jamigold.com/2018/06/breaking-down-the-steps-of-revision-to-improve-our-storytelling/

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Monday, August 13, 2018

Publishing Credits

What publishing credits should you list in an agent query and what if you don't have any? 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2018/06/how-to-list-your-publishing-credits-in-a-query-letter

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Plot Basics

No matter what structure you use for your novel, there are certain basics you need to cover in your plot. 

http://middlegrademinded.blogspot.com/2014/07/basics-of-plot-structure.html

Saturday, August 11, 2018

A Career in Writing

If you want to be a professional writer, here are some steps to follow. 

https://rachellegardner.com/7-keys-to-planning-your-career-path/

Friday, August 10, 2018

Writer's Conferences

From getting feedback to meeting other writers, there are many reasons to attend a writer's conference. 

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2018/06/every-writer-should-attend-at-least-one-writers-conference/

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Scenes

What are the elements of a scene that will draw in your readers? 

http://thewriteediting.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-making-of-scene.html

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Editing a Novel

Breaking your novel into chunks will make the editing process less overwhelming. 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2018/05/how-to-edit-novel-without-feeling.html

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Alien Character Names

If you're writing science fiction or fantasy, these patterns might help you choose the perfect character names. 

http://ralph.nuoj.com/alien.php

Monday, August 6, 2018

Cover Reveal

What's the best way to reveal the cover of your soon to be published book?

http://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-art-of-the-cover-reveal/


Sunday, August 5, 2018

Query or Contest

Should you try to get representation through queries or contests? 

https://subitclub.com/2018/07/03/query-or-contest-whats-best-for-you/

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Critique Groups

Critique groups do more than just provide feedback on manuscripts. 

http://www.emroyal.com/2018/06/19/critique-groups-8-good-reasons-to-love/

Friday, August 3, 2018

Interviewing Experts

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, you may need to find and interview experts in a field.

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2018/06/conducting-interviews-for-research-identifying-and-contacting-expert-sources/

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Pronoun Problems

Make sure it's clear to whom you are referring when you use pronouns. 

https://www.indiesunlimited.com/2018/06/22/solving-pronoun-problems-can-benefit-your-writing-in-general/

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Pitch Sessions

Be prepared for your pitch session by practicing the answers to these questions. 

https://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2018/06/questions-to-be-prepared-for-in-pitch.html