Word Choice

 Here are some things to look for in choosing that perfect word.

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/11/the-perfect-word-eight-qualities-to-look-for.html

Plot Structures

 Look past the traditional plot structures to see if any of these would work for your story.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/12/7-more-plot-structures-for-pantsers/

Picture Books

 Twenty questions to ask yourself when you're writing or revising a picture book.

https://rachelhamby.com/for-writers/

Middle-grade Voice

 How can you  nail that authentic middle-grade voice.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/6-golden-rules-of-writing-middle-grade

Chapter Books

 Links to everything you wanted to know about chapter books.

http://www.kidlit411.com/2013/12/kidlit411-chapter-books.html

Using Specifics in Your Story

 Contrary to what you might think, giving specific details in your story will make it more universal.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/11/how-specifics-make-your-stories-universal/

Story Elements

 What elements combine together to create a story?

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/11/before-its-too-late-six-tips-to-speed-up-the-pace.html

Pacing

 Keep your story moving and your readers engaged by upping the pacing.

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/11/before-its-too-late-six-tips-to-speed-up-the-pace.html

Infodumps

 You can avoid infodumps by using these hints to weave the information you need to give into your story.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2009/12/your-words-are-dead-to-me.html

Big Words

 A big word must be two things: the right word and the best word.

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-charm-of-the-large-word/

First Chapter

 Here are some do's and don'ts for your first chapter.

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/11/the-dos-and-dontsof-a-great-first-chapter.html

Plot Structures

 Even if you're a pantser, you still need to think about your novel's plot.

Middle-grade Novels

Middle-grade books are popular with kids, and here are some hints about writing them.

https://www.jennybowman.com/how-to-write-a-middle-grade-novel/

Science Writing

 Here's an extensive list of links helpful to those who want to write about science for kids.

https://sciencewriting.substack.com/p/-writing-about-science-for-kids

Show, Don't Tell

 We've all heard the adage to show, don't tell, but how do you do that?

http://www.childrenswritersguild.com/lets-get-this-show-on-the-page/

Positioning Your Nonfiction

 How do you narrow the focus of your nonfiction?

https://www.janefriedman.com/nonfiction-authors-find-their-position/

Onomatopoeia

 Jazz up your writing by including sound words.

onomatopoeia

Pacing

 Here are six ways you can speed up the pace of your book.

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/11/before-its-too-late-six-tips-to-speed-up-the-pace.html

Multiple Speakers

 If you have multiple people speaking, you need to make sure your reader knows who is talking.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2011/02/waitwho-said-that-keeping-your-speakers.html

A Novel's Middle

 Here are two approaches to move your novel's stuck middle along.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/11/stuck-in-no-mans-land-your-novels-middle/

Resending a Query

 Is it okay to revise a query and resend before hearing back from an agent?

https://katemckean.substack.com/p/is-it-ok-to-revise-and-resend-a-query

Overwritten Opening Scenes

 You don't have to give your readers every bit of backstory in your opening scenes.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2020/11/5-ways-youre-smothering-your-reader-in.html

Book Launch Prep

 Before your book comes out, make sure you've checked these essential steps.

https://buildbookbuzz.com/5-book-launch-prep-essentials/

Tension

 Here are five ideas of how to up the tension in your story.

https://diymfa.com/writing/5onfri-five-tips-building-tension-scenes

Protagonist's Origin Story

 Sidewriting your main character's origin story gives you insight into character, even if most of the writing doesn't end up in the final manuscript.

Comp Titles

 Reading comparable titles are useful both before you write your book, and also when you query.

https://annerallen.com/2020/10/titles-and-comp-titles-how-to-find-the-best-ones-for-your-book/

Distant Settings

 Here are some tips for writing settings, especially ones you're not as familiar with.

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/10/tips-for-distant-settings.html

Author Brands

 As an author, do you need a brand, and if so, how do you figure out what it is?  

https://annerallen.com/2020/11/branding-101-by-ev-bishop/

Filter Words

 Using filtering words distances your reader from your story.

http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2012/05/21/filter-words/

Common Writing Mistakes

 Here are five common problems to look for when revising.

https://blog.bookbaby.com/2020/10/five-writing-mistakes/

Social Media Assistants

 Keeping up with social media takes a lot of time, so should you consider hiring an assistant to help you?

https://www.janefriedman.com/should-you-hire-a-social-media-assistant/

Revising Your First Draft

 Congratulations, you've reached "the end" of your manuscript, and now it's time to dig deep and revise it.

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2020/10/26/32-steps-to-revising-your-first-draft/

Preparing for your Author Photo

 Before the first picture is taken for your author photo, you need to prepare.

https://careerauthors.com/how-to-prepare-for-your-author-photo/

Rhetorical Questions

 Rhetorical questions in your manuscript can teach you a lot about your characters.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/10/what-you-can-learn-from-rhetorical-questions-in-your-manuscript/

Personalizing Queries

 When should and shouldn't you address your query to a specific editor?

https://www.underdown.org/editors-names.htm

Middle Grade Protagonists

 What characteristics create the perfect middle-grade protagonist?

https://writingmiddlegrade.com/protagonist-characteristics/

Novel Outlines

 Download this free novel outline template from Mary Kole.

https://kidlit.com/novel-outline-template/

Picture Book Ideas

 Neil Gaiman explains how to keep your mind open to picture book ideas.

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2020/10/how-to-become-picture-book-idea-catcher.html

Picture Book Characters

 Five elements you should know when creating your picture book character.  

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/building-picture-book-characters-elements

Comp Titles

 How do you choose effective comparative titles for your submission?  

https://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2020/10/effective-comps-in-your-query.html

How to Format a Manuscript

 Make a good first impression with your manuscript by formatting the manuscript correctly.  

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-format-a-manuscript

Funding Author Visits

 Help schools and libraries find the funds to bring in an author for a visit.

https://thebookingbiz.com/2016/08/21-ways-to-fund-author-visits/

Overused Words

 We all have words we use too often, but here's a selection of common ones.

https://lauradrakebooks.com/2020/10/26/overused-words/

Connecting With Other Writers

 Writing is a lonely profession, so it helps to have a writer community to keep you company.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/10/how-to-connect-with-other-writers/

Publishing Industry

 Here are some sources to keep up with the everchanging world of publishing.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/10/how-to-keep-up-with-the-publishing-industry-in-2020

Author Photos

 Your author photo is your face to the world, so how do you make it the best it can be?

https://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/debut-author-lessons-the-author-photo/

When to Stop Revising

 How do you know when it's time to put down your figurative pen and stop editing?

https://copyblogger.com/when-are-you-done-editing/

Author Bios

 You need to have an author bio, and here are some examples to give you ideas.

https://insights.bookbub.com/great-author-bio-examples/

Author Platform

 Your platform is a reflection of who you are as both a person and an author.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/7-strategies-revising-novel

Revision Strategies

 Here are some tips to get the most out of your revision process.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/7-strategies-revising-novel

Humor

 Kids love funny, and these authors talk about how to make your book humorous.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/49778-the-good-the-bad-and-the-funny-authors-talk-humor-in-children-s-books.html

Character Interviews

Asking your characters these questions will deepen your understanding of them.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/10/asking-the-right-questions-with-character-interviews/

Film Options

 What does it mean when your books has been optioned by a production company?

https://katemckean.substack.com/p/what-optioned-means

Plotting a Novel

 Here are four steps to plot your novel.

https://kidlit.com/writing-a-hot-plot/

Writer Hashtags

 Look for posts on social media with these writer hashtags.

https://socialmediajustforwriters.com/2020/10/05/105-hashtags-for-writers/

Personalizing a Query

 Here are three ways, in addition to using the agent's name, to show you've done your research about the agent.

https://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2020/10/effective-personalization.html

Cutting Your Word Count

 How can you tighten your writing without sacrificing your story?  

https://www.janefriedman.com/3-tips-for-cutting-your-word-count-without-giving-your-whole-story-the-ax/

Questions to Ask an Agent's Clients

 Before signing with an agent, you might want to talk with a few of their current clients.  

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/09/10/questions-to-ask-an-agents-clients/

Song Lyrics in Novels

 When can you use song lyrics in your nove., how much can you use, and how do you get permission?  

https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-legally-quote-song-lyrics-in-your-stories-books-and-articles-b0e62510ed55

Descriptive Writing

 We can all use some additions to our writer's toolbox to make our writing more descriptive.  

https://writersrumpus.com/2020/09/25/descriptive-writing-toolbox/

Deep Point of View

 You can still use deep point of view even if you're writing in third person limited.  

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/09/using-deep-pov-in-limited-third-person/

Character Names

 Here are some things to consider when naming your characters.  

https://indiesunlimited.com/2020/09/04/choosing-names-for-your-characters/

Historical Fiction

 Here are some tips to get you started, or keep you going on, writing historical fiction.  

http://booksbywomen.org/tips-on-writing-historical-fiction-by-sarah-burton/

What Do Agents Look For In a Book

 There are several standard things agents are looking at in your book when they decide whether or not to represent you.  

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/09/24/top-things-literary-agents-look-for-in-a-book/

Organizing Research

 If you're writing nonfiction or fiction, you often have piles of research that need to be organized to be useful.  

https://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2020/09/20/organizing-a-mountain-of-research/

Author Headshots

 Don't make these mistakes when you have your author headshot taken.  

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/09/top-7-mistakes-writers-make-with-their-author-photos/

Stories With Many Strands

 It can be difficult to smoothly weave together the many strands of a novel.  

Twitter Pitches

 Here are some strategies for getting noticed during Twitter pitch events.  

https://www.kaileipewbooks.com/post/how-to-get-attention-in-a-twitter-pitch-event

Worldbuilding Cultures

 When you write fantasy, you have to build a believable world for your readers.  

https://mythicscribes.com/world-building/worldbuilding-cultures/

Editorial Letter

 The first step after receiving your editorial letter is not to panic.  

http://ekthiede.com/2020/08/21/so-you-got-an-edit-letter-now-what/

Plagiarism

 When you plagiarize, you're stealing, so it's important to define it.  

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/09/plagiarism-is-a-fancy-word-for-stealing/

Character Names

 Here are some resources to help you find the perfect names for your characters.  

https://www.writingforward.com/writing-resources/writing-resources-for-naming-your-characters

Author Platform

 What does an author platform mean for nonfiction writers and do you need to have one?  

https://kidlit.com/2020/09/28/author-platform-and-nonfiction-for-children/

Characters

 Twenty traits to give your character to make them come to life.

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/twenty-things-to-give-your-characters-that-will-make-them-more-vivid/

Referrals to agents

 What is and is not a referral to an agent?  

https://nelsonagency.com/2020/09/referrals-a-powerful-tool-when-used-wisely/

Fair Use and Permissions

 What words and illustrations from other works are you allowed to include in your book and how to you get permission to do so.

https://www.janefriedman.com/sample-permission-letter/?mc_cid=cd891ead47&mc_eid=7a859f7071

Newspaper Photos

 Newspaper navigator helps you find just the right photos you need for your project.  

https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-20-060/library-of-congress-launches-new-tool-to-search-historical-newspaper-images/2020-09-15/

Large Cast of Characters

 If your book has many characters, you need to help your readers keep them apart.  

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/large-casts-of-characters/

Author Websites

 There are five crucial elements that should be in every author website.  

https://insights.bookbub.com/author-websites-missing-crucial-elements/

Researching Agents and Editors

 How to you find agents and editors who might be a good match for your book?  

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2020/09/my-top-10-ways-to-research-kidlit.html

Conference Notes

 You paid good money to attend those conferences, so why not review the notes you took?  

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/09/review-conference-notes/

Author Income

 How much of the money you pay for a book actually goes to the author?  

https://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2019/05/28/the-truth-about-author-incomes/

Sequels

 Here are five rules for writing a sequel to your book.  

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-write-a-sequel/

Chapter Books

 Chapter books aren't just books with chapters, but rathers ones aimed at new readers aged 5-9.

https://writerunboxed.com/2020/09/14/writing-chapter-books-for-young-readers/

Scene Fixes

 Here's a quick, three-minute fix to make your scenes better.  

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2020/09/the-3-minute-scene-fix.html

Historical Fiction World Building

 Here are some tips to getting your world building correct in historical fiction.  

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/10-steps-to-the-past-how-to-do-world-building-right-in-historical-fiction

NaNoWriMo

 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) offers community, encouragement, and info for those writing novels.  

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/10/has-the-coronavirus-changed-nanowrimo/

Skeleton Outlines

 Using skeleton outlines can help you write faster.

https://allfreelancewriting.com/use-skeleton-outlines-write-faster/

Finding Agents and Publishers

 How do you start your search for an agent or a publisher?  

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-to-find-publishers/?mc_cid=3fd05fc8e1&mc_eid=7a859f7071

Perspectives in Novels

 You need to chose a verb tense and a point of voice for your novel's perspective. 

https://nathanbransford.com/all-about-perspectives-in-novels

Which Books Get Published

 How do publishers make the decision about which books to invest money in?

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-do-publishers-decide/

Animal Characters

 How do you make your animal characters ones that readers will remember.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/07/creating-memorable-animal-characters/

Picture Book Structure

 There are several classic ways to structure your picture book.

https://www.writersdigest.com/improve-my-writing/7-ways-to-structure-your-picture-book

Third Person

 How to avoid head hopping when you're writing in third person.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/08/third-person-omniscient-vs-limited-vs-head-jumping

Agent Websites

Here's a list of top websites about agents and publishing in general.

https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/writers-digest-top-agent-websites-2020

Nonfiction

 Ten tips for writing and selling kids' nonfiction.

https://lisadkerrbooks.com/2020/08/19/red-hot-nonfiction-for-kids-ten-tips-to-creating-and-selling-it//

Characters

 Here are nine things you need to know about your character.

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/the-nine-things-your-characters-need-from-you/

Character Names

 What are some of the resources to use when choosing your characters' names?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/character-names

Transitions

 Help your readers make the transition between scenes by making sure they know the time and place of the new scene.

http://www.plottopunctuation.com/article-scenecraft-2-how-to-create-smooth-scene-transitions.html

Finding an Agent

 The agent search may seem overwhelm, but you can break it down into eight steps.

https://jerichowriters.com/hub/get-agent/

Rhyming Picture Books

 If you're going to write a picture book in rhyme, make sure you do it well.

https://picturebookbuilders.com/2020/07/meet-federico-and-the-wolf-a-master-class-in-metered-rhyme/

Book Launches

 There are three tiers to your book launch--marathons, sprints, and pounces.

https://www.janefriedman.com/marathons-sprints-and-pounces-3-tiered-approach-to-book-launches/

Character Development

 Questions to ask (and answer!) your characters to make them more rounded.

https://kidlit.com/2019/06/17/character-development-questions-to-ask-and-answer/

Promotion Videos

 Here are five ways to use videos to promote your book.

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/07/5-ways-to-use-videos-to-promote-authors-and-their-books/

Successful Picture Books

 What raises a picture book from merely good to great?

https://tracymarchini.com/2011/02/14/9-factors-that-make-a-picture-book-successful/

Graphic Novels

 Here are links to many resources about writing a graphic novel.

http://www.kidlit411.com/2017/01/Kidlit411-Graphic-Novels.html

Character's Primary Attribute

 Yes, our characters should be well-rounded, but there is usually one attribute that defines her more than others.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/08/identifying-your-characters-primary-attribute/

Giveaways

 If you're doing a giveaway, make sure it's both legal and honest.

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-to-do-honest-and-legal-giveaways-as-an-author/

Deep Point of View

 Writing in deep point of view brings your readers into the minds and emotions of your characters.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/08/8-common-questions-about-writing-in-deep-point-of-view/

Series

 What are some of the reasons you might consider writing your book as part of a series?

https://annerallen.com/2020/08/any-which-way-but-done-writing-a-series-for-fun-and-flavor/

Animals in Picture Books

 How do you use animals in picture books and when should you do so?

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2020/08/using-animal-characters-in-picture.html

Blurb Requests

What are some of the ways you can answer when someone asks you to blurb a book?  

https://writerunboxed.com/2020/08/03/four-ways-to-answer-a-blurb-request/ 

Tighten Your Writing

 Your readers will appreciate if you get rid of the excess words/paragraphs/scenes that slow down your story.

https://annerallen.com/2020/08/12-tips-to-write-tight/

Backstory

 How do you weave in your character's backstory without pulling your readers out of the story?

https://writerunboxed.com/2020/07/06/how-to-weave-in-backstory-without-stalling-out-your-story/

Interpreting Rejections

 Here's how to interpret the different types of rejections you might receive on your manuscript.

https://medium.com/1-one-infinity/how-to-interpret-literary-agent-rejections-a5d5c371e7ee

Aging Up to Middle Grade

 Sometimes what you thought you were writing a picture book, but it would really work better as a middle grade.

https://www.nonfiction-ninjas.com/blog/upgrade-to-middle-grade

Similes

 Similes and the like give your writing flavor, but not if they're overused.

https://kidlit.com/2020/07/27/overusing-the-simile/

Antagonists

 To fully flesh out your protagonist's character, she needs a strong antagonist.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/07/10-traits-of-strong-antagonist.html

Plot Holes

 Four questions to ask to avoid having holes in your plot.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/prevent-plot-holes/

Elevator Pitches

 You need to have a short description (aka elevator pitch) of your book in case someone asks what you're working on.

https://killzoneblog.com/2020/07/how-to-craft-an-elevator-pitch-that-sells.html

Historical Fiction

 Here are six tips for writing historical fiction (and nonfiction, too!)

https://www.janefriedman.com/dos-and-donts-of-writing-historical-fiction/

Query First Impressions

Put your best foot forward in your query letter by following these tips.  

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2020/07/rejected-again-it-may-be-your-first.html

 

Middle Grade Market

Here are some points to think about when you're considering what your middle grade novel will be about.

https://jerichowriters.com/hub/childrens-book/learn-middle-grade-mg-fiction-market/

Narrative Voice

Here are thirteen mistakes to watch for in looking at your narrative voice. 

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/thirteen-mistakes-you-could-be-making-in-narrative-voice/

Triple Edits

There are three types of edits you need--developmental, copy, and proofread. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/07/the-triple-edit/

Query Letter Hooks and Ending Reveals

How do you put a hook in your query letter that will grab an agent and do you reveal your book's ending.

https://kidlit.com/2020/06/29/your-query-letter-hook-and-revealing-the-ending/ 

Narrative Voice

 Avoid these twelve mistake when giving voice to your narrator.

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/12-mistakes-you-could-be-making-when-creating-narrative-voice/

Increasing Book Sales

The secret to increasing sales of your book is to get people to actually buy the book. 

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-secret-to-increasing-book-sales.html

Memorable Characters

You want the characters in your story to be ones that the reader can't help but remembering. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/06/how-to-develop-a-memorable-character/

Cause and Effect

Your story needs to have a series of causes and effects. 

https://jamigold.com/2014/10/cause-and-effect-understanding-story-flow/

Rhythm

Even when not writing in rhyme, your sentences and paragraphs should have rhythm. 

https://jamigold.com/2013/11/does-your-writing-have-rhythm/

Character Introductions

How do you introduce a character with dumping backstory so your reader has enough information? 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/06/character-introductions-making-the-right-impression/

Promotional Materials

What is SWAG (promotional materials) and why do you need it?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/05/swag-what-to-bring-to-your-author-events/

Query Letter Format

Here's detailed information on how to put together your query letter. 

https://kidlit.com/2018/10/29/query-letter-format/

Three-Act Structure

Here are some points to think about when you're planning your book's three-act structure. 

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/questions-to-ask-when-planning-your-three-act-structure/

Middle Grade Nonfiction

Some tips if you're writing middle grade nonfiction. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/what-ive-learned-writing-middle-grade-nonfiction/

Body Language

How can you take the best advantage of including body language in your writing? 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/05/body-language-in-writing/

Edit as You Go?

Should you revise as you're writing or wait until you finish a draft?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/05/in-defense-of-editing-as-you-go/

Dialogue Tags

Here's everything you need to use about how to use dialogue tags, including how to punctuate them. 

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/05/everything-authors-need-to-know-about-dialogue-tags

Author Voice

We all know how important an author's voice is, but how do you find yours and hone it?

https://writerunboxed.com/2020/04/23/how-to-find-and-hone-your-author-voice/

Using Photos for Research

A wonderful way to understand a character, location, or time period is to use photos as a research tool.

http://www.marcieatkins.com/2020/07/17/portals-into-your-subject-using-photographs-as-research-tools/

Writing Numbers in Books

What are the rules for writing a number in a book--whether to spell it out or write it as a numeral?  

https://careerauthors.com/writing-numbers-in-fiction/

Nonfiction Chapter Books

For grades 3-7, nonfiction chapter books will grab children's interest. 

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2020/07/a-sporting-chance-author-lori-alexander.html

Co-Authoring

A second author can bring new ideas and writing skills to your project.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/07/joining-forces-harnessing-the-power-of-coauthoring/

Guest Blogging

One way to promote your book is to be a guest blogger for someone else's blog. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/use-guest-blogging-promote-book/

Episodic Writing

Here are some hints if your novel tends to be episodic--just a series of events.

https://annerallen.com/2020/07/biggest-writing-craft-issue/

Choppy Sentences

How do you fix your sentence structures for better flow? 

https://jamigold.com/2020/06/sentence-flow-fixing-choppy-writing/

Common Query Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes that agents see over and over again in queries. 

https://literaticat.tumblr.com/post/622545654126968832/what-are-the-top-five-most-common-mistakes-you-see

Character Arc

What's a character arc and why does your book need one? 

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/01/what-is-a-character-arc

Publishing Contracts

Here are some questions to ask the publisher before signing that book contract.

https://www.janefriedman.com/questions-to-ask-your-publisher-before-you-sign-the-contract/

Rhythm

If you're writing in rhyme, you also need to understand rhythm.

http://lauralavoieauthor.com/studying-rhythm-to-master-rhyme-by-carrie-finison/

Middle Grade Novels

If you're interested in writing middle grade, whether as a beginner or more experienced, here's a great deal of information to help you. 

https://www.jennybowman.com/how-to-write-a-middle-grade-novel/

Differentiate Your Characters

It's important for your readers that they can tell one character from another. 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/05/3-ways-to-differentiate-your-characters/

Redundancy in Writing

Here are three types of repetition to watch out for in your writing. 

https://jamigold.com/2019/10/watching-our-for-redundancy-in-our-story/

Photos

If you're going to use photos in your book, start researching them early. 

https://writersrumpus.com/2020/05/29/picture-perfect-authors-and-photo-research/

Series

Some pros and cons about writing a series. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/05/tips-on-writing-a-series-plus-a-giveaway/

Writing Middle Grade

The first golden rule of writing middle is grade is to see the world through their eyes, not yours. 

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/6-golden-rules-of-writing-middle-grade

Query Tips

When you're ready to query, here are some tips for you to consider. 

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/05/20/top-ten-query-tips/

Dialogue Mistakes

Here are eight ways you may be bungling your dialogue. 

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/eight-ways-you-may-be-bungling-dialogue/

Narrative vs. Expository Nonfiction

How do two of the major types of nonfiction writing, expository and narrative, compare? 

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2020/05/narrative-vs-expository-two-nonfiction.html

Grammar Checkers

If you need help with your grammar, here's a list of programs to help you.

https://smartblogger.com/best-grammar-checker/

Story Decisions

Small decisions in your story can have a huge impact. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/05/small-decisions-huge-story-impact/

Evaluating Publishing Contracts

Make sure you're not sabotaging yourself when signing a publishing contract. 

https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2020/05/evaluating-publishing-contracts-six.html

Inciding Incident

How do you show the event that sparks the rest of your novel?  

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/04/everything-you-need-to-know-about-inciting-incidents

Comp Titles

Do you need to include comparative titles in your query and, if so, how do you find them? 

https://literaticat.substack.com/p/best-of-ask-the-agent-all-about-comps

Word Choice

Your choice of words affects many aspects of your storytelling.

https://jamigold.com/2020/05/word-choice-what-does-it-mean-for-our-writing/

Peer Critiques vs. Professional Editing

How do you know whether you should get a professional editor for your work? 

https://www.janefriedman.com/peer-critique-versus-professional-editing/

Virtual Book Launches

Here are some tips to make your virtual book launch more memorable. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/create-virtual-book-launch/

Agency Contracts

What should you look for (or avoid) in an literary agent contract? 

https://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2020/04/what-authors-should-look-for-or-look.html

Describing Locations

Even if you've never been to the location your book is set in, you need to get all the details correct.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/04/how-to-describe-a-location-youve-never-visited/

Structural Toolbox

One of the many toolboxes you need as a writer is a structural one, to identify and fix your stories.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/03/why-all-writers-need-a-structural-toolbox/

Clarity in Writing

If the information is not on the page, your readers don't know it. 

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/04/if-its-not-on-the-page-your-reader-doesnt-know-it

Openings

Here are eight ways not to begin your novel. 

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/eight-awful-beginnings-you-want-to-avoid/

Young Adult

How to tell if you book is or isn't a YA novel. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/06/ya-or-not-ya/

Author Branding

What is an author brand and how do you develop one? 

https://nowastedink.com/2020/06/25/author-branding-by-rennie-st-james/

Revise and Resubmit

What does it really mean when an agent asks you to revise your manuscript and resubmit it? 

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/06/25/interpreting-a-revise-and-resubmit-by-a-literary-agent/

Author Contracts

What are the most important points you should look for in an agent or publisher contract? 

https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/2020/06/legal-aspects-of-writing-interview-with-author-agent-jacqui-lipton-and-giveaway/

Character Grids

Character grids can help you keep track of what your characters are doing and feeling in each part of your story. 

https://kimharrison.wordpress.com/2019/08/19/character-grid-2/

Literary Executor

You need to decide who has control over what is done with your books after you die. 

https://literaticat.tumblr.com/post/621108222048239616/i-dont-have-a-will-right-now-for-the-time-being

Map Building

Although you might think you only need to map build your world when writing fantasy, it helps to do so in realistic fiction, too. 

https://mythicscribes.com/world-building/map-building-for-writers/

Two Main Characters

How do you craft your story when you have more than one main character? 

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2020/06/crafting-story-with-two-main-characters.html

Believable Dialogue

Your readers won't identify with your characters if their dialogue doesn't sound realistic. 

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2020/06/10/writing-believable-dialogue-for-kids/

Character Development

Round out your characters by including these traits.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/06/the-8-cs-of-character-development/

Power of Pronouns

Using pronouns, if done well, is a powerful shortcut for our readers.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/06/power-of-pronouns-part-1/

Active Verbs

Use active verbs to bring your writing to life.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Active-Verbs-List.pdf

Picture Book Endings

Ending a picture book is not as simple as writing, "the end." 

http://robsanderswrites.blogspot.com/2011/02/effective-endings.html

Narrative Drive

Here's a handy checklist to keep the narrative in your story moving forward. 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2020/05/a-handy-checklist-to-strengthen.html

Building an Author Brand in Difficult Times

How do you promote your author brand when many traditional avenues are unavailable? 

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/03/23/building-an-author-brand-in-difficult-times/

Anecdotal Writing

How to avoid the dreaded this happened, then this happened, then this happened, in your writing.

Author Platform

What is an author platform and how can you make yours stronger? 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/06/grow-a-more-fertile-author-platform-part-ii/

Virtual Visits

How to look and sound your best when doing a virtual visit. 

https://www.talkabook.com/our-journal/the-dos-and-donts-of-video-calls

Book Series

Here are four principles to consider when you're writing a series. 

https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2020/06/01/the-four-principles-of-series-writing/

Publishing Contracts

Whether or not you have an agent, you need to understand publishing contracts. 

https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2020/05/evaluating-publishing-contracts-six.html

Picture Book Revision

Here are five quick tips for revising your picture book, starting with cut like an illustrator. 

https://brucehale.com/5-quick-tips-for-revising-your-picture-book/

Middle Grade Novels

Here are three key components in a middle grade novel. 

https://lernerbooks.blog/2018/04/3-key-components-middle-grade-novels.html

Limited Research Materials

How do you craft a true story when there are not a lot of primary and secondary sources? 

https://www.nffest.com/2020/02/crafting-true-story-when-information-is.html

Point of View

The pros and cons of using each of the different points of view in your writing. 

https://jamigold.com/2020/05/how-can-we-identify-our-storys-point-of-view/

Planning a Scene

Here are some questions to ask when blueprinting a scene. 

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/10-questions-to-ask-when-you-are-blueprinting-a-scene/

Increase the Action in Your Novel

Here are a few hints to make your readers anxious to turn the page. 

https://annerallen.com/2020/05/improve-the-action-in-your-story/

Number of Characters

Is your book confusing because you have too many named characters? 

https://annerallen.com/2020/05/too-many-characters/

Pen Names

Reasons to use, and not to use, a pen name when writing. 

https://askanauthor.substack.com/p/should-i-use-a-pen-name

Action Beats

Instead of always using dialogue tags, you can use action beats to indicate who is talking. 

https://jamigold.com/2020/05/how-to-improve-our-story-with-action-beats/

Finding an Agent

There are many resources you can use to narrow down your search to find the right literary agent for you and your book. 

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/05/14/finding-a-literary-agent/

Plotlines

Having multiple plotlines can add dimension to your novel.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/05/how-plotlines-add-dimension/

Book Titles

Often, the title of your book will change before publication. 

https://mgbookvillage.org/2020/05/09/they-changed-the-title-of-your-book-by-chris-baron/

Virtual Book Launches

There are many ways to move your book launch online. 

https://insights.bookbub.com/virtual-book-launch-events/

Killing Your Darlings

Here are some hints to identify and get rid of those parts of your manuscript that you love, but do nothing to advance your story.

http://www.10minutenovelists.com/a-writers-guide-to-ruthlessly-killing-your-darlings%ef%bb%bf/

Realistic Dialogue

Writing realistic dialogue doesn't mean you should make it sound exactly like people talk in real life. 

https://christianediting.co.nz/dialogue-in-fiction/

Nonfiction Picture Books

How do you craft narrative and/or expository nonfiction picture books? 

https://picturebookbuilders.com/2020/05/crafting-narrative-expository-nonfiction-pbs-a-guest-post-by-maria-gianferrari-a-giveaway/

In Media Res

We've all heard the advice to start your book in media res, but how do you do that while still having your readers invested in your characters?

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2020/04/whats-in-media-res.html

Word Counts

Here are some general guidelines for the words counts of different categories and genres of books. 

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/04/14/word-count-guidelines/

Novel Outline

Here's a template you can use in outlining your novel. 

https://kidlit.com/2020/03/16/novel-outline-template/

Publisher Edits

There are three types of edits your book will receive, sometimes known by different names: macro, line, and copy. 

https://rachellegardner.com/what-does-the-editing-process-look-like/

Character's Thoughts

Do you italicize a character's internal thoughts or not? 

https://jamigold.com/2020/03/character-internalization-to-italicize-or-not-to-italicize/

Plotting Your Plot

Even if you're a pantser, a little bit of plotting will make your writing go more smoothly.

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2020/04/plotting-out-your-plot.html

Picture Book Publishers

Here's an update to the monster list of picture book publishers. 

https://frolickingthroughcyberspace.blogspot.com/p/monster-list-of-childrens-book.html?m=1

Picture Book Editing

Here's a basic checklist to use when editing your picture book. 

https://cbiclubhouse.com/clubhouse/try-this-picture-book-editing-checklist/

Cover Reveals

How and where to reveal your book cover is a part of your marketing strategy. 

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

Verb Tenses

It's easy to get tripped on when figuring out which verb tense to use. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-easy-to-fix-tense-problem-that-might-be-tripping-your-readers-up/

Literary Devices in Nonfiction

Nonfiction books can benefit from the same literary devices as those used in fiction. 

https://lisadkerrbooks.com/2020/04/17/how-to-use-literary-devices-to-make-your-nonfiction-picture-books-come-alive/

Middle-Grade Novels

There are three characteristics of middle-grade novels.

https://lernerbooks.blog/2018/04/3-key-components-middle-grade-novels.html

Signing With and Agent

Here are some questions you might want to consider before signing with a literary agent.

https://bookendsliterary.com/2020/04/09/questions-to-ask-before-signing-with-a-literary-agent/

Library of Congress

Twice a week, the Library of Conference has webinars of interest to authors doing research for a book. 

https://loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/office-hours/

Avoiding Repetitive Conflict

If your characters are already involved in a conflict, don't have them encounter the same one again. 

https://mythcreants.com/blog/six-tips-for-avoiding-repetitive-conflict/

Story Ideas

Here are some ways to make your story idea unique. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/04/9-ways-to-originalize-your-story-idea/

Rhetorical Questions

Should characters in your book propose rhetorical question?

Comp Titles

Do you really need comp titles and, if so, what should they be?

http://www.juliehedlund.com/do-you-really-need-comp-titles/

Sense of Touch

Make your prose come alive by including your characters' sense of touch. 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/04/breathe-life-into-your-prose-with-the-sense-of-touch/

Middle Grade or Young Adult?

This post explains the many differences between these two categories of books. 

https://writingmiddlegrade.com/middle-grade-ya-books/

Book Trailers

Here are hints on how to make a book trailer and why you should do so. 

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/04/how-to-make-an-awesome-book-trailer-and-why/

Author Bios

Whether you're in the querying stage or about to have your book published, you need to craft an inviting author bio.

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/04/4-elements-to-craft-your-author-bio/

Polishing Your Prose

Consider these suggestions when self-editing to make your prose sparkle. 

https://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/polishing-your-prose-tips-for-self-editing

Blending Types of Nonfiction

Take a narrative nonfiction, add some expository literature, and come up with a new type of nonfiction. 

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2020/05/beyond-5-kinds-of-nonfiction-blended.html

Book Titles

These are some points to consider when you're choosing a title for your book. 

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=1016917725611909564#allposts

Multiple Points of View

How do you balance the amount of each character gets when your books has multiple points of view? 

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-balance-multiple-povs/

Virtual Launch Events

Here are some ideas to bring your launch party online. 

https://insights.bookbub.com/virtual-book-launch-events/

Verse Novels

Novels in verse are a string of emotional moments.

https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/15758/verse-novels-a-string-of-emotional-moments/

Press Releases

Here are some tips to make your press release work harder for you.

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/02/make-your-books-press-release-work-harder/

Comp Titles

Do you really need comp titles (other books similar to yours) in your queries?

http://www.juliehedlund.com/do-you-really-need-comp-titles/

Picture Book Tips

Here are ten tips to help make your picture book the best it can be.

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2020/01/ten-top-picture-book-writing-tips-lynne.html

Dialogue-Only Picture Books

What do you need to consider if you're writing a picture book that consists only of dialogue? 

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2020/03/dialogue-only-picture-books-challenges.html

The Agent Search

Some people think the search for an agent is like looking for the perfect date.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2019/12/the-dating-er-agent-search-game.html

Blurbs

Whether you're asked to blurb someone else's book or you're being asked to give a blurb, here's what you need to know.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/03/blurbing-and-getting-blurbed/

Book Fairs

Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of attending book fairs.

https://annerallen.com/2020/03/first-book-fair-13-tips/

Young Adult or Middle Grade?

How do you tell what category your book fits into--young adult or middle grade?

https://cornerstonesus.com/894-2/

Secondary Sources

We all know the importance of using primary sources, but sometimes it's those secondary sources that provide the information we need. 

https://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2020/02/26/secondary-sources-to-the-rescue/

Character Arcs

There are four essential components to a character arc. 

https://mythcreants.com/blog/the-four-essentials-of-an-effective-character-arc/

School Visits

Having an author visit a school has a great influence on the students. 

https://www.nffest.com/2020/02/the-power-of-great-school-visits.html

Writing Conferences and Introverts

Even if you're an introvert, you can still go to and benefit from writing conferences. 

https://rachellegardner.com/an-introvert-at-a-writers-conference/

Historical Fiction Mistakes

Be careful that you don't make these mistakes in writing historical fiction. 

https://selfpublishingadvice.org/five-historical-fiction-mistakes-to-avoid/

Nonfiction vs. Informational Fiction

What's the difference between nonfiction and informational fiction, and does it matter? 

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2020/02/nonfiction-vs-informational-fiction.html

Writing-related Apps

Here are some tools to help make you a better writer.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/02/tools-to-make-you-a-powerful-writer-in-2020/

Picture Book Biography Structure

There are so many ways to structure your picture book biography, so keep trying until you find the one that works for your story.

https://www.nffest.com/2020/02/choosing-structure-for-your-picture.html

Finding a Critique Partner

What are some sources for finding a critique partner or beta reader? 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/02/how-to-find-critique-partners-beta-readers/

Author Visits

Here's a list of links all about author visits, including how to finance them. 

https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit-resources/read/authors/auth-illmultiplelists/

Best Writing Websites

These are 100 of the best websites in 2020 for writers. 

https://thewritelife.com/best-websites-for-writers-2020/

Chapter and Scene Breaks

Where do your break your scenes and chapters to make it more likely your reader will continue to turn the pages? 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2020/01/a-simple-trick-to-keep-readers-turning.html

Word Track Changes

Most editors use Microsoft Word's track changes, so if you're not familiar with it, now's the time to learn. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/01/my-favorite-editing-lifesaver/

Picture Book Endings

There are several ways to end your picture book to give your readers a satisfying resolution. 

https://www.wordsandpics.org/2016/04/ask-picture-book-editor.html

Chapter Lengths

Although there are no hard and fast rules about chapter lengths, you should keep them consistent except when changing for emphasis.

https://kidlit.com/2017/06/05/childrens-book-manuscript-chapter-length/

Writing Dialogue

Well-written dialogue will keep your readers engrossed and wanting to read more. 

https://annerallen.com/2020/01/15-keys-writing-dialogue/

Middle Grade Novels

The most important thing in writing a middle grade novel is to know your audience. 

http://www.right-writing.com/middle-grade.html

Deep Point of View

When you're writing in deep point of view, you need to make sure you aren't "storytelling." 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/01/quick-fix-for-telling-in-deep-pov/

Book Series

From planning a series to writing it, here's what you need to know. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2020/03/everything-writers-need-to-know-about-book-series

Action Scenes

Here are five tips to pick up the pacing during an action scene. 

http://www.orangeblossombooks.com/blog/five-factors-for-mastering-fast-pacing-in-action-scenes

Author Collaboration

How do authors split up the work when they're writing a book together? 

https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/two-heads-are-better-than-one-how-author-collaboration-works-by-jan-greenberg-and-sandra-jordan/

Funny Picture Books

Kids love reading funny picture books, so here are some hints on how to write one. 

https://www.darcypattison.com/writing/picture-books/what-kids-think-is-funny/

Book Titles

Although there's a good chance that your publisher will change the book title you choose, here are some hints to choose a good one.

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2020/03/how-to-choose-a-book-title

Picture Book Queries

The first step in writing a picture book query is to perfect the book. 

https://blog.reedsy.com/picture-book-query-letter/

Handling Feedback

It's important to be professional when receiving feedback on your work.

https://indiesunlimited.com/2020/03/09/dont-be-that-author-how-to-handle-genuine-feedback-on-your-manuscript/

Contract Deal Terms

Whether or not you have an agent, it's important to understand what the deal terms mean in your contract. 

http://bookendsliterary.com/2020/03/10/understanding-deal-terms-auction-pre-empt-and-exclusive/

Pacing

What's the correct pace for your story and its scenes? 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/03/storytelling-decisions-whats-the-right-pace-for-your-story/

Tax Time Hints

Here are some vital questions to ask yourself when you're considering the tax implications of your writing. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/04/tax-time-chat-for-authors/

Virtual Events

There are many ways to create you virtual event, and here are some tips on how to do so. 

https://www.bookweb.org/resources-and-tips-creating-virtual-events

Spice Up Your Characters

No one wants to read flat characters, to give yours more life. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2020/01/9-ways-to-spice-up-characters

Rejection Reasons

There are so many reasons your manuscript might be rejected, and most of them have nothing to do with the quality of your writing. 

https://careerauthors.com/rejection-reckoning-why-was-your-book-rejected/

Creating Scenes

Start to build your scene by first cocnentrating on a single character taking action to solve a problem.

https://inventingrealityeditingservice.typepad.com/inventing_reality_editing/2016/10/how-to-build-a-scene-for-your-story.html

Book Turns

Physically having to rotate the orientation of a book creates an interactive experience for the reader. 

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2020/01/book-turns-create-interactive-stories.html

Cancelled Author Visits?

If you've had events and visits cancelled, now's the time to catch up on other marketing-related activities. 

http://coolschoolvisits.com/2020/03/23/cancelled-author-visits-25-ways-to-use-that-time-for-next-years-visits/

Podcasts for Writers

Here are some writing podcasts you might want to give a try.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2020/03/10-podcasts-for-writers/

Multiple POV

If you're writing a book with multiple points of view, you need to make sure the reader can distinguish the characters from each other.

https://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/writing-multiple-points-of-view

Termination Clauses

You never want to think you'll part ways with your agent, but just in case, your contract should specify how this will be done.

http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-authoragency-agreement-termination.html

Revising Picture Books

Here are some common mistakes and suggested solutions for revising fiction picture books. 

http://www.writingforchildrenandteens.com/revision/revision-9-1-1-for-fiction-picture-books/

Author Websites

If you're setting up (or revising) your author website, here's a guide to help you through the process. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/author-websites/

Openings to Avoid

There are some overdone or misleading novel openings you might want to avoid. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2011/06/five-openings-to-avoid

Social Media Strategy

Whether you're new to social media or an old pro, you might want to review these strategies for getting the most out of your author platform.

https://socialmediajustforwriters.com/2020/02/17/how-to-create-a-social-media-strategy-as-an-author/

Co-writing

If you're thinking of collaborating on a manuscript, here are some points you might want to think about. 

https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2020/02/ten-tips-for-successful-collaboration.html

Writers and Taxes

It's tax season again, so here's what are some things you know to know as a writer. 

https://writersblockpartyblog.com/2018/01/16/hi-writers-lets-talk-about-taxes/

Improve Your Verbs

Remove the clutter around your verbs to make them more powerful. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2020/02/clear-out-the-clutter-around-your-verbs

Children's Book Mistakes

Here are five big no-nos to avoid when writing a book for children. 

https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/writing-for-young-readers/childrens-book-mistakes/

Olfactory Descriptions

We all know we should include all five senses in our manuscripts, but it's not always easy to include the sense of smell. 

https://88cupsoftea.com/making-a-big-stink-using-olfactory-descriptions-to-electrify-story-by-emilie-christie-burack/

Using Quotes

Here are some tips for using quotations in your nonfiction manuscript. 

https://www.nffest.com/2020/02/four-tips-for-using-quotes.html

Permission to Use Images

There are some standard questions you'll be asked when you request permission to reprint an image in your work. 

https://nancyisanders.wordpress.com/2020/01/29/permission-for-image-use-2/

Writers' Conference

You've paid a lot of money to attend a conference, so make sure you get as much out of it as possible. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/guide-to-writers-conferences/

Picture Book Revision

Here are twenty questions to ask yourself when revising your picture book or critiquing someone else's. 

https://rachelhamby.com/for-writers/

Chapter Length

How long should your chapters be, and does it need to be consistent? 

https://kidlit.com/2017/06/05/childrens-book-manuscript-chapter-length/

Being a Writer

Here are 10 (and a bonus) commandments, not about how to write, but rather how to be a writer.

https://theconversation.com/10-commandments-of-writing-129069

Book Trailers

What makes a book trailer amazing? 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2020/01/how-to-make-an-amazing-book-trailer/

Character Arcs

We all know that our characters should change along the way, but how do we write that? 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2020/01/what-is-a-character-arc

Choosing an Agent

If you're lucky enough to be choosing between competing agent offers, here are some points to consider. 

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-to-choose-an-agent-amid-competing-offers/

Professional Queries

Whether you're sending your query to an editor or an agent, you want to be professional. 

https://annerallen.com/2020/01/write-a-professional-query/

Marketing Groups

Here's a great guide if you're thinking of starting a marketing group with fellow authors.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c439e7255b02c5aa1f838d6/t/5e09013441180e2960e7a643/1577648438599/Co-Marketing+Group+Guide.pdf

First Chapter

How your word choices can improve the first chapter of your novel. 

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/critique-10-ways-to-write-a-better-first-chapter-with-specific-word-choices/

Top Author Blogs and Websites

Here are one hundred author websites and blogs of interest to authors. 

https://blog.feedspot.com/top-100-writing-blogs/

The Agent Search

Before you query agents, you need to know what you want from an agent.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2019/12/the-dating-er-agent-search-game.html

Editorial Feedback

It can be overwhelming when you receive that editorial letter, but here are some ways to help navigate it. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/11/how-to-navigate-editorial-feedback-and-revise-your-wip/

Picture Book Structure

There are many possible structures to use when writing picture books. 

https://kidlit.com/2018/10/15/picture-book-structure/

Pitches and Blurbs

Here are some tips for when you're pitching or blurbing your book. 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2019/11/some-dos-and-donts-for-pitches-and.html

Story Essentials

What are the basic building blocks of a story? 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2019/12/the-8-essential-elements-of-a-story

Deep Point of View

Writing in deep point of view is removes the narrative distance as much as possible. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/11/how-to-tell-if-youre-writing-in-deep-point-of-view/

Cutting Words

There are many words and scenes you can cut to tighten up your writing. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2019/11/how-to-know-what-to-cut-from-a-novel

Character Description

Here are eleven tips about how to write an effect character description. 

https://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/there-are-no-rules/11-secrets-to-writing-effective-character-description

Show, Don't Tell

We've all heard that we should show and not tell in our writing, but how do you do that? 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2019/12/mastering-show-dont-tell/

Middle Grade or Young Adult

How do you tell if your story if a middle grade or a young adult novel? 

https://cornerstonesus.com/894-2/

Final Chapters

You may have written the best novel ever, but if it doesn't come to a satisfying conclusion, your readers will be unhappy. 

https://annerallen.com/2019/11/writing-final-chapter/

Literary Agent Etiquette

Following these rules will help you make your best impression on a literary agent. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2018/05/a-guide-to-literary-agent-etiquette

Action Scenes

Here are five hints to increase the pacing in your action scenes. 

http://www.orangeblossombooks.com/blog/five-factors-for-mastering-fast-pacing-in-action-scenes

Thoughts About Being Published

These are some things to consider if your dream is to become a published author. 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2009/11/golden-oldies-ten-things-to-remember-if.html

First Chapter

Here are some do's and don'ts to consider when writing that first chapter. 

https://annerallen.com/2019/11/writing-that-first-chapter/

Character Outlines

Here's a way to outline your novel based on what's going on with your characters throughout the story. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2019/06/how-to-outline-a-novel

Middle Grade Novels

Everything you wanted to know about writing a middle grade novel.

https://www.jennybowman.com/how-to-write-a-middle-grade-novel/

Fatal Flaws

How do you identify your characters' fatal flaws that present barriers to achieving what they want? 

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2019/10/identifying-your-characters-fatal-flaw/

Book Market vs. Your Interests

How do you figure out where your passion intersects with the current publishing market? 

https://rachellegardner.com/passion-meets-market/

Getting Blurbs

How do you ask people to write a blurb for the back cover of your book? 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2009/08/guest-blog-week-fine-art-of-getting

Story Theme

Are you struggling to figure out the theme of your novel? 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/09/finding-your-storys-theme/

Author Visits

Here are some of the benefits, and also the challenges, of school visits. 

http://schoolvisitexperts.com/author-visits-benefits-obstacles/

Revise and Resubmit

Congratulations, you've received an invitation to revise and resubmit your manuscript, but now what? 

https://byomentor.com/2019/09/16/somewhere-between-yes-and-no-the-rr/

Picture Book Openings

Here's a list of ways to begin your picture book along with mentor text examples. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/08/3-tier-backup-for-writers/

Backups

As a writer, it is vitally important that you have your work backed up--things happen. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/08/3-tier-backup-for-writers/

Receiving Advice

Here are three indications that you might be ignoring the advice you're getting on your manuscript. 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2018/06/3-signs-you-might-be-ignoring-writing.html

Literary Agents

What does a literary agent do for you and your career? 

http://bookendsliterary.com/2019/09/10/the-role-of-a-literary-agent/

Self Editing

When you're editing, start with the big picture and work your way down. 

https://www.nonfiction-ninjas.com/blog/the-three-step-self-edit-by-lisa-amstutz

Scene Building

Build your scenes, brick by brick, from the ground up. 

https://byomentor.com/2019/07/01/brick-by-brick-how-to-build-a-scene-from-the-ground-up/

Words to Delete

You should delete the redundant words from these phrases. 

https://forge.medium.com/close-proximity-end-result-and-more-redundant-words-to-delete-from-your-writing-3258be693a3d

Pen Names

Under what circumstances should you consider using a pen name?  

https://blog.bookbaby.com/2019/08/pen-names-how-and-why-to-use-them/

Story Ideas

If you're stumped on an idea for your next story, maybe one of these methods might help. 

https://www.chloetwist.com/blog/how-to-get-story-ideas/

Blurbs

Here are some reasons your query blurb might not be working. 

http://bookendsliterary.com/2019/08/20/why-your-query-blurb-isnt-working/

Writer's Brand

The pros and cons of whether or not you should break out from your writer's brand. 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/07/can-authors-break-free-from-the-brand/

Marketing Objectives

Before you decide on a marketing plan, you need to know what your objectives are (other than just to sell more books). 

https://www.janefriedman.com/before-you-market-your-book-set-your-objectives/

Kidlit Writing Tips

Here are five simple tips to think about if you write for children. 

https://blog.nathanbransford.com/2019/07/5-tips-for-writing-for-children

What Editors Wish Writers Knew

Here are seven things that children's book editors wish authors knew before submitting. 

https://writeforkids.org/blog/2014/09/7-things-editors-at-childrens-book-publishers-wish-writers-knew/

Foreshadowing

Done well, foreshadowing is a might tool in your writer's toolbox. 

https://www.nownovel.com/blog/8-laws-foreshadowing/

Promoting a Debut

What should you do (or not do) and how much does it cost to promote your debut? 

http://www.rachelsolomonbooks.com/blog/my-promo-breakdown

Streamline Your Editing

Here's a list of things to look for as you revise your manuscript. 

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/2019/11/quick-and-tidy-tips-to-streamline.html

Picture Perfect Picture Books

These five tips will make your picture book one kids will want to read over and over again. 

http://www.childrenswritersguild.com/five-top-picks-for-a-picture-perfect-picture-book/

School Visits

Here are some examples of school visit letters of agreement that will help make the day go more smoothly.

http://schoolvisitexperts.com/school-visits-letters-of-agreement/

Publishing Lessons

Nine lessons, both business- and emotion-related, about publishing. 

https://www.malindalo.com/blog/2019/12/10/9-lessons-from-10-years-in-publishing

Copyright Myths

There are many misconceptions about copyrights.

https://copyrightalliance.org/ca_post/debunking-copyright-myths/

Writing Fantasy

Here are seven suggestions from Gail Carson Levine for writing fantasy.

https://kidlit.com/2019/12/16/writing-fantasy-gail-carson-levine/

Perfect Endings

What are the elements of a perfect ending for a story? 

https://killzoneblog.com/2019/12/what-makes-for-the-perfect-ending.html

Outlining

Even if you're a pantser, an outline can help in many ways. 

https://www.nonfiction-ninjas.com/blog/outlines-what-else-are-they-good-forby-christine-liu-perkins

Show, Don't Tell

We've all heard the adage, "show, don't tell," but how do you go about doing that? 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2019/12/show-dont-tell-misunderstood/

Work for Hire

How do you decide if work for hire is for you? 

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2019/11/writers-is-work-for-hire-for-you.html

Critique Groups

Why it's important to be part of a critique group. 

http://fantasy-faction.com/2019/on-the-importance-of-critique-groups

Fair Use

When is it fair use to include third-party text in your manuscript? 

https://nonfictionauthorsassociation.com/fair-use-when-can-i-use-third-party-text-by-joseph-perry/