Log Lines

 A log line is a one sentence pitch for your story.

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2021/09/log-line-entire-story-one-sentence/

Movement and Deep POV

 How do use movement to enhance a story's deep point of view?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/05/4-ways-movement-effects-deep-pov/

Writing Descriptions

 Make sure your descriptions serve your story.

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2021/08/description-writing-good-bad-stop/

Middle Grade Novels

 How to write middle grade novels that kids will love.

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

Fictional Characters and Copyright

 Are fictional characters protected under copyright law?

https://www.janefriedman.com/are-fictional-characters-protected-under-copyright-law/

Co-Writing

 What's involved in successfully co-authoring a novel?

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1016917725611909564/2895976682870586075

Author Websites

Why is it important for an author to have a website?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/07/5-reasons-why-authors-need-a-website/ 

Choosing Ideas for a Novel

 How do you decide what to write about in your novel?

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2013/10/how-to-choose-idea-for-novel

Novel Revisions

 Here are three hints to help when revising your novel.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/12/3-easy-tips-to-help-you-revise-your-novel/

Trimming Word Counts

 Here are some tips for trimming the word count in your manuscript.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/trim-books-word-count/

Series Openers

 Here are some points to consider when writing the first book in a series.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/90274-series-openers-six-authors-on-their-new-beginnings.html

Revising Book Galleys

 Here are some tips for when it comes time to revise your book galley.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1016917725611909564/992218750834797108

Personal Experiences and Writing

 Do you need to have experienced something personally in order to write about it?

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/do-you-need-personal-experience-to-write-about-something/

Structural Timing

 Often called the beats in your story, the structural timing reflects the pacing of your story.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/your-storys-structural-timing/

Revise and Resubmit

 Does receiving a revise and resubmit always leads to an offer of representation or a contract?

https://marianariosramirez.com/my-experience-with-rr/

Marketing Online and Offline

How can your online and offline marketing efforts have a synergistic effect? 

https://www.janefriedman.com/closing-the-influence-gap/

Action-Reaction

 Whether you call it cause and effect, stimulus and response, or action and reaction, your character needs to respond to the push of the story.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/12/3-action-reaction-misfires-that-flatten-your-writing/

Developmental Editing

 What does a developmental editor do?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/11/debunking-the-myths-of-developmental-editing/

Queries

 Here are some tips for submitting to literary agents.

https://www.writermag.com/get-published/the-publishing-industry/submitting-to-literary-agents/

Character Voice

 Every character should have a unique voice, and it shouldn't be the authors.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/07/5-steps-to-creating-a-unique-character-voice/

Marketing Strategies

 The first marketing strategy is to start early--before your book comes out.

http://www.24carrotwriting.com/-blog/josh-funk-shares-powerhouse-marketing-strategies

Pitching

 Here are some tips for pitching your book, whether virtually or in person.

https://nelsonagency.com/2021/06/ten-tips-for-virtual-or-in-person-pitching/

Introverted Authors

 As an author you're often in public situations, which may be difficult if you're an introvert.

https://annerallen.com/2021/06/introverted-authors-overcoming-fears/ 

Chapter Structure

 A chapter break is a signal to the reader to pause.

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/chapter-structure

Scenes

 Here are four essential elements for starting a scene.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2021/05/dont-start-a-scene-without-these-four-essential-elements

Throughline

 What's a throughline and why does it matter?

https://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2021/06/14/through-line-throughline-through-line-what-the-heck-is-it/

Facebook Ads

 Do Facebook ads help sell more books?

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-authors-can-leverage-facebook-ads-to-sell-more-books/

Publishing Terms

 Here's a list of about 150 publishing terms and jargon.

https://www.underdown.org/cigglossary.htm

Emotions

 Here are some tips for writing emotionally affecting fiction.

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-alchemy-of-emotion-6-key-strategies-for-emotionally-affecting-fiction/

Middle Grade Novels

 What makes a novel middle grade and what are some common themes?

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

Anecdotal Writing

 Anecdotal writing is a series of "this happened" then "that happened" without any cause and effect.

https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/anecdotal-writing

Style Sheets

 What is a style sheet and why should you have one?

https://annerallen.com/2021/05/style-sheet-style-guide-writing-style/

Deep Point of View

 Here are three tips for using deep point of view.

https://4cffc3ef-c894-48e1-8ef5-d0c53b5b3b79.filesusr.com/ugd/db3097_048d006965b6490d9931321b3f56f919.pdf

Acquisitions

 What is an acquisitions meeting and who attends?

https://www.kaileipewbooks.com/post/the-submission-experience-part-4-acquisitions

Historical Fiction

 In historical fiction, it's important to remember that the story comes first.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/11/historical-fiction-the-story-comes-first/

Point of View

 Which points of view are commonly used in writing for different ages of children and young adults?

https://nicholasrossis.me/2014/10/13/point-of-view-in-writing-for-children-guest-post-by-diane-robinson/

Prologues

 What's the difference between an interesting, necessary prologue and one which no one wants to read?

https://www.janefriedman.com/why-prologues-get-a-bad-rap/

Keeping a Series Fresh

Keep your series fresh with kid-friendly conflicts and changing genres.

https://writersrumpus.com/2022/11/08/keeping-a-series-fresh-with-kid-friendly-conflicts-and-changing-genres/

Head Hopping

 What is "head hopping," and why can this be a problem in your story.

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-big-of-a-problem-is-head-hopping/

Giving Critiques

 Here are some hints for giving helpful critiques.

https://annerallen.com/2022/11/critiquing-101/

World Building

 How world building can sometimes interfere with good writing.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/11/worldbuilding-the-enemy-of-good-writing/

Continuing Your Book Promotion

 Here are ways to continue promoting your book long after the initial launch.

https://buildbookbuzz.com/5-ways-to-promote-your-book-long-after-the-launch/

"Telling" in Your Story

 Here are seven ways to find "telling" in your writing.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/11/7-ways-to-find-telling-in-your-writing/

Reasons for Rejection

 There are many reasons your manuscript might be rejected, and only a few of them have to do with the quality of the writing.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/11/13-reasons-why-your-submission-could-have-been-rejected/

Author Collaborations

 Collaborating with another author can be both fun and fruitful.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/11/find-creative-gold-with-author-collaborations/

Is Your Book Any Good?

 How can you tell if your book is any good or not?

https://writerunboxed.com/2022/10/11/is-your-book-any-good/

TV and Film Adaptations

 What is the process for getting your book adapted for TV or film?

https://www.janefriedman.com/a-primer-on-tv-film-adaptation-for-writers-where-the-rules-change-often/

Over-realiance on Dialogue

 Don't use your characters' dialogue as a crutch to provide exposition.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/10/dont-force-your-characters-to-ask-leading-questions-just-so-you-can-deliver-exposition

Developmental Editors

 What is a developmental editor and why do you need one?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/11/think-you-dont-need-a-developmental-editor-oh-yes-you-do/

First Paragraph

 The first paragraphy of your book may be your only change to grab your reader's attention.

https://www.janefriedman.com/write-your-first-paragraph/

Co-Authoring

 What you should know about co-authoring a book.

https://www.janefriedman.com/what-you-should-know-about-writing-a-co-authored-book/

School Visits

 How do you engage students during school visits?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/how-to-engage-kids-the-abcs-of-author-talks-at-schools/

School Visits

 Here are some tips to engage kids during your school visits.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/how-to-engage-kids-the-abcs-of-author-talks-at-schools/

Booktok

How authors use TikTok to connect with their audience and increase sales of their books.

https://annerallen.com/2022/10/tiktok-works-for-all-genres/ 

Researching Literary Agents

 How do you know which literary agents might be a good match for you and your book?

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2017/06/how-to-research-literary-agent

Similar Books

When you're looking for an agent, how similar is too similar to a book they already represent?

http://literaticat.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-similar-is-too-similar-in-great.html

First Pages

 Here are five micro-edits that will help hook your reader on your first pages.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/five-micro-edits-to-hook-readers-on-your-first-page/

Weather

 How can you use weather to convey mood?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/the-top-three-world-building-pitfalls-and-how-to-avoid-them/

World Building

 Avoid these three pitfalls when building the world for your book.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/the-top-three-world-building-pitfalls-and-how-to-avoid-them/

What is a Bestseller?

 The algorithm fora book making a best selling list has changed through the years.

https://www.publicbooks.org/what-counts-as-a-bestseller/

Story Climax

 Here are some suggestions for writing a successful story climax.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/ingredients-for-a-successful-story-climax/

Tropes and Archetypes

 When does a trope or archetype become a cliche?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/10-ways-to-start-your-story/

Openings

 There are many different options to starting your story.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/10/10-ways-to-start-your-story/

Storybeats

Storybeats or milestones are like a skeleton for your story.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/the-skeleton-of-your-story/ 

Work for Hire

 Are you interested in IP work and book packaging?

https://writersblockpartyblog.com/2021/06/08/introduction-to-writing-ip-book-packaging/

Rhetorical Questions

 Can rhetorical questions help you dive deeper into your character's emotions?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/09/why-rhetorical-questions-help-you-go-deeper-with-emotions/

Internal Conflict

 There are many techniques to show a character's internal conflict.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/09/how-to-reveal-a-characters-internal-conflict/

Fantasy Picture Books

 How can you write a fantasy picture book that feels fresh?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/fantasy-picture-books

Themes and Symbols

 How can you use symbols to help show your book's themes?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/10/themes-and-symbols-go-together-like-peas-and-carrots/

Opening Chapter

 What should you accomplish in your opening chapter?

https://annerallen.com/2022/10/write-great-opening-chapter/

Many Characters

 How do you and your readers keep track if your book has a large cast of characters.

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

University Presses

 Sometimes the best publisher for your book is a university press.

https://www.janefriedman.com/submit-your-work-to-a-university-press/

Hybrid Publishers

 Here are seven questions to ask when you're evaluating a hybrid publisher.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/90279-seven-questions-for-finding-the-right-hybrid-publisher.html

Plot Fails

 Here are some reasons that your plot isn't working.

https://www.janefriedman.com/why-plots-fail/

Scene Titles

Giving titles to your scene makes it easier to write your novel.

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2021/05/how-scene-titles-make-it-easier-to.html

Getting an Offer of Representation

 Here are some mistakes to avoid in the excitement of receiving an offer of representation from an agent.

https://bookendsliterary.com/10-mistakes-authors-make-when-receiving-an-offer-of-representation/

First Chapters

 Here are seven key elements to include in your first chapter.

https://writersedit.com/fiction-writing/7-key-elements-include-first-chapter/

Children's vs. Adult Books

 Just because the main character in a book is a child, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a book for children.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2021/05/the-difference-between-childrens-and-adult-books

Funny Picture Books

 What's funny in a picture book often depends on the age of the target audience.

https://www.wordsandpics.org/2021/01/picture-book-focus-writing-funny.html

Proactive Protagonists

 By keeping your protagonist proactive, you'll keep the plot of your story moving.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/05/5-ways-to-keep-your-protagonist-proactive-and-your-plot-moving/

Present or Past Tense

 There are various things to consider when choosing whether to write in the present or the past tense.

http://howtoplanwriteanddevelopabook.blogspot.com/2021/04/pros-and-cons-of-using-present-or-past.html

Backstory

 The more complicated your story or amount of world building needed, the more backstory you'll have to included.

https://nelsonagency.com/2021/04/the-making-of-meaningful-backstory-part-ii/

Social Media for Writers

 How can being on social media help you as a writer?

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2021/04/how-social-media-can-benefit-writers.html

Powerful Scenes

 What do you need to put in your scenes to make them more powerful?

https://www.janefriedman.com/3-key-tactics-for-crafting-powerful-scenes/

Subtext

 What is subtext and what is it's purpose?

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-art-and-purpose-of-subtext/

Minor Characters

 How do you write your minor characters to make them matter to your story?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/09/writing-minor-characters-that-matter/

Word Count Issues

 Here are some tips and tricks to either increase or decrease your word count if it's too low or too high.

https://morganhazelwood.com/2020/05/07/tips-and-tricks-to-fix-word-count-issues/

Deep Point of View

 Is it always better to use a deep point of view?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/09/point-of-view-is-deeper-always-better/

Emotional Scenes

 How to write emotional scenes that don't sound like purple prose.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-write-emotional-scenes-without-making-them-cringey/

Point of View Character

Follow these two suggestions to stay focused on your point of view character.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/09/not-just-another-post-on-pov/

Fluff Words

 Here are some words you can cut to tighten up your manuscript.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/09/fix-fluff-words-fillers-for-writers-to-avoid-part-2/

Hybrid Publishing

 The IBPA has guidelines for evaluating hybrid publishers.

https://www.ibpa-online.org/page/hybrid-publisher-criteria-download

Disability in Publishing

Disability in Publishing in an organization focusing on disability/health inclusivity in the publishing industry.

https://disabilityinpublishing.com/about 

Prologues

 To prologue or not--that is the question.

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2022/09/seven-deadly-sins-of-prologues/

Making a Graphic Novel

 Follow the steps it took to create a graphic novel.

https://www.markfearing.com/how-to-make-a-graphic-nove

Rhyming Picture Books

 Writing in rhyme isn't easy, but here are some tips to help you along the way.

https://taralazar.com/2022/09/07/mouse-calls/

Building Tension

 Build tension in your story by encourage the reader to ask questions.

https://www.janefriedman.com/want-to-build-tension-encourage-the-reader-to-ask-questions/

Narrative Voice

 The narrative voice is the voice of the storyteller, that is, the author.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/08/what-is-the-narrative-voice

Types of Self-Editing

 Here's an explanation of the various types of self-editing including checklists.

https://refiction.com/articles/editing-a-book

Getting an Agent

 The most important step in getting in agent is to write a great book.

https://jerichowriters.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/

Funny Stories

 Kids love reading funny stories, and here are some hints about how to write them.

https://allisontait.com/2020/02/writing-for-kids-how-to-write-funny-stories/

Fluff Words

 Get rid of these fluffy, unnecessary words that slow down your story.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/08/fix-fluff-words-fillers-for-writers-to-avoid/

Author Websites

 Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up your author website.

https://sitebeginner.com/

Query Rejections

 Here's what not to do if you don't want your query to be instantly rejected before the agent even gets to your sample pages.

http://scotteagan.blogspot.com/2022/08/your-query-may-have-ruined-it-for-you.html

Websites for Picture Book Creators

 Here's a great list of websites of use to picture book authors and illustrators.

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2022/08/32-websites-for-picture-books-creators.html

Synopsis

 Here are some tips for writing a synopsis for your book.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/08/how-to-write-a-synopsis-for-a-novel

Character Goals

 A strong plot requires a strong goal for the character(s).

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/08/why-a-strong-plot-requires-a-significant-goal/

Resubmitting a Manuscript

 If an agent or editor didn't ask for a revise and resubmit, can you (and should you) still send it again?

http://www.literaryrambles.com/2019/02/mary-kole-guest-post-resubmitting-to.html

Screen Adaptations

 What's the process of bringing and adapting a book to screen?

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-are-books-adapted-for-the-screen-two-agents-demystify-the-process/

Chapter Book Series

 Four things to consider before writing a chapter book series.

https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/21795/4-things-to-consider-before-you-begin-a-chapter-book-series/

Categories of Children's Books

Here's information about the categories of children's books, from picture book to young adult.

https://www.annettewhipple.com/2022/08/writing-books-for-kids-and-teens.html

Revise and Resubmit

 What does it mean if you receive a revise and resubmit from an agent or editor, and should you do it?

http://www.literaryrambles.com/2022/08/getting-revise-submit-requests-from.html

Writing Myths

 Don't derail your writing career by falling for these writing myths.

https://www.janefriedman.com/dont-fall-for-these-5-myths-that-can-set-back-your-writing-and-make-you-miserable%ef%bf%bc/

Marketing and Promotion

 What's the difference between marketing and promotion, and how does the author fit into either of these?

https://picturebookbuilders.com/2022/07/my-thoughts-about-two-confusing-words-marketing-and-promotion/

Character Thoughts

 There are many different ways to show what your character is thinking.

https://kidlit.com/writing-character-thoughts/

Research for Fiction

 How deeply do you need to research if you're writing fiction?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/08/research-is-murder-how-far-fiction-authors-go-for-facts/

Great Endings

 Here are five must-haves to give your book a great ending.

https://diymfa.com/writing/five-must-haves-a-great-ending

First Drafts

 Watch out for these traps if you try and rush your first draft.

https://www.writersdigest.com/be-inspired/writing-mistakes-writers-make-rushing-the-drafting-process

Picture Book Revision

 How can you revise your picture book to make it the best it can possibly be?

https://www.katrinamoorebooks.com/blog-for-writers/digging-deeper-into-revision-questions-to-reveal-elevate-your-picture-book-manuscript

Query Rejections

 Maybe your query was rejected because you didn't do a good enough job of selling your book.

https://bookendsliterary.com/your-query-was-rejected-because-it-didnt-sell-the-book/

Suspense and Tension

Suspense and tension work together to increase the impact of your story.

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-suspense-and-tension-work-together-to-amp-up-story-impact/ 

Writing tics

 Whether they're overused words, phrases, dialogue, or gestures, we all have personal tics that slip into our writing.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/what-i-love-lucy-can-teach-you-about/

Chapter Books

 A children's chapter book is not just a book that has chapters in it.

https://marykole.com/how-to-write-a-childrens-chapter-book

Humorous Picture Books

 What are the elements that make a picture book funny?

https://lje1.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/writing-humorous-picture-books/

Nonfiction for Kids

 Here are some tips for writing nonfictin for kids.

https://www.highlightsfoundation.org/21970/five-questions-everyone-asks-about-writing-nonfiction-for-kids/

Series Arcs

 Does your series require an overall arc or can each book be stand alone?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/series-arc

Specifics in Scenes

 Good scenes require specifics and not generalities.

https://www.janefriedman.com/scene-prep-and-scene-sequences/

Plots

 Create a compelling plot by using the what-but-therefore method.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/07/create-a-compelling-plot-with-what-but-therefore/

Online Pitch Contests

 There are many online pitch contests, and it's often hard to know how to make the best use of them.

http://www.literaryrambles.com/2022/07/navigating-online-pitch-contests-by.html

Rejections

 Having your manuscript rejected is always hard, but persistence is the name of the game in publishing.

https://debbieohi.com/2022/06/rejection-advice/

Descriptions

 How can you write descriptions so your readers have a clear vision of the characters and where they are?

https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-end-a-story/

Ending Your Story

 Here are some tips on how to end your story that will leave your readers satisfied.

https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-end-a-story/

Moving From Scene to Scene

 How do you get your reader from one scene to the next?

https://www.janefriedman.com/moving-between-scenes-with-summary-and-spacers/

Types of Mysteries

 There are many different types of mysteries and they all have many components.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/07/its-a-mystery-to-me/

Revision Checklist

 Here's a handy-dandy checklist for revising your novel.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/06/revision-checklist

World Building

 Whether you're writing fantasy or a contemporary novel set in the present time, you still need to build a world for your readers.

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2022/07/world-building-captivate-readers-never-let-go/

Scenes that Matter

 Make sure that every scene in your book carries its weight.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/07/diamonds-in-the-rough-draft/

Copywrite Claims Board

 There a new way to dispute a copywrite infringement--the copywrite claims board.

https://writerbeware.blog/2022/06/17/the-copyright-claims-board-a-new-option-for-copyright-disputes/

Research Tips

 If you're writing historical fiction (or nonfiction!), you need to do a lot of research.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/5-research-tips-for-writing-historical-fiction

Traditional vs. Self Publishing

 There are pros and cons of both traditional and self-publishing.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/07/traditional-vs-self-publishing-which-one-is-best-for-you/

Building Scenes

 Don't just build scenes around the information your want to impart to your readers.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/07/dont-build-scenes-around-the-information-you-think-you-need-to-impart

Portfolios

 If you're an illustrator or an author/illustrator, you'll need a portfolio of your work.

https://literaticat.tumblr.com/post/678290959790915584/does-an-author-illustrator-portfolio-need-to

Junior Agents and Editors

 Agents and editors just starting out are often looking for manuscripts and will soon be senior people.

https://bookendsliterary.com/why-we-need-to-support-junior-editors-and-agents/

Wordiness in Picture Books

 Here are some tips to eliminate excessive words in your picture book (or novels, for that matter).

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/wordiness-in-picture-books

Checkov's Gun

 If you introducce an item (Checkov's gun) or a person early in your book, that item or person must be important before the book ends.

https://blog.reedsy.com/chekhovs-gun/

Publishing Timeline

 Why does it take so long to publish a book?

https://countercraft.substack.com/p/why-does-it-take-so-long-to-publish

On and Off the Page

 How do you decide what events to put on the page in scenes and what to have off the page as narration?

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/07/what-happens-on-and-off-the-page-in-your-novel

Boosting Writing Productivity

 One way to increase your writing output is to change where you're writing.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/07/how-a-new-location-boosted-my-productivity-and-could-boost-yours-too/

Lifelike Characters

 Here are some ideas about how to avoid filling your novel with cardboard characters.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-avoid-cardboard-characters-and-plot-contrivances-while-youre-at-it/

Chapter Books

 Children's chapter books are not just books that have chapters.

https://taralazar.com/2022/06/10/judy-bradbury/

What is Voice

 Authors often hear they should have a unique voice, but what does that mean?

https://www.thebookdesigner.com/voice-in-writing/

Middle Grade Mysteries

Middle grade books are popular with kids, and they especially love mysteries.

http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/2022/07/crafting-middle-grade-mysteries-melanie.html 

Picture Book Titles

 Here are some tips to choosing a great title for your picture book.

https://nakisanooraee.com/pb-book-title/

Novels in Verse

 Here are three tips for writing a novel in verse.

https://yvonneventresca.com/blog/three-tips-for-writing-a-novel-in-verse-by-lisa-fipps

Biography Subjects

 Should you reach out to the subject (or family members) of your biography and, if so, how do you go about doing that?

https://bethandersonwriter.com/2021/04/16/behind-the-scenes-best-practices-for-reaching-out-or-not-to-biography-subjects-by-emma-bland-smith/

Social Media Assistants

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

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/03/working-with-a-social-media-assistant/

Sequence of Scenes

 It's important to think about the order of your scenes.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/5-questions-about-scene-sequences/

Picture Book Arc

 Here's an example of how to lay out your traditional story arc for your picture book.

http://robsanderswrites.blogspot.com/2011/01/plot-and-story-arc.html

Mentorships

 What can you do to increase you chances of being accepted as a mentor?

https://www.janefriedman.com/mentorship-programs-for-writers/

Guest Blogging

 How can you market your books through writing posts for other peoples' blogs?

https://www.janefriedman.com/sometimes-better-than-blogging-guest-blogging/

Book Editors

 When (and if) should you hire a freelance book editor?

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2021/03/when-to-hire-a-freelance-book-editor

Backstory

 How to make sure your backstory in meaningful to your story.

https://nelsonagency.com/2021/03/the-making-of-meaningful-backstory-part-i/

https://nelsonagency.com/2021/04/the-making-of-meaningful-backstory-part-ii/

First Lines

 Here are seven tips for writing first lines that will make your readers want to read more.

https://proofed.com/writing-tips/7-top-tips-for-nailing-the-first-line-of-your-novel/

Middle Grade Novels

 There are three key components that makes a novel a middle grade.

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

Endings

 How do you find your way to the end of your manuscript?

https://www.janefriedman.com/finding-your-way-to-the-end/

Writing From Your Own Life

 There are several pitfalls when using your own life and experiences as the basis of a fiction manuscript.

https://www.janefriedman.com/3-common-pitfalls-when-writing-from-your-own-life/

Ghostwriting

 What's involved in ghostwriting and how to you get the work?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/07/opening-the-top-secret-client-vault/

Flashbacks

 What's the best way to use a flashback to give information about your characters and past events?

https://killzoneblog.com/2022/06/the-fundamentals-of-flashbacks.html

Chapter Book Series

 How do you turn a general idea into a solid chapter book series?

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/how-to-turn-an-idea-into-a-chapter-book-series

Novel Revision

 Here's a link to a novel revision checklist with links to more detailed information.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/06/revision-checklist

Avoid Stereotyping People of Color

 There are many ways to avoid stereotyping people of color when describing them or their actions.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/06/avoiding-stereotypes-in-fiction-people-of-color/

Levels of Scenes

 Scenes have two levels-both large and small structure.

https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/articles/writing-the-perfect-scene/

Picture Book Pagination

 Should you submit your picture book with the pages indicated or not?

https://debbieohi.com/2022/06/pagination/

Last Page

 The last page of your novel, not just the first, is also important.

https://annerallen.com/2022/06/last-page-of-your-novel/

Compelling Scenes

 How to use MRUs (motivation reaction units) to write great scenes.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/06/create-compelling-scenes-with-the-mru/

Synopses

 Many authors cringe at the idea of writing a synopsis, but here are some hints to make it a little easier.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/06/how-to-write-a-synopsis-for-a-novel

Narrative Perspective

 Sometimes it takes several tries to figure out which character is the best on to tell your story.

http://howtoplanwriteanddevelopabook.blogspot.com/2022/04/narrative-perspectives-which-will-serve.html

Comp Titles

 If you're asked to provide a comp(arative) title, here are some suggestions on how to find them.

https://ravenliterary.com/what-are-comp-titles-how-to/

Chapter Books

 Chapter books are a specific category, not just books with chapters.

https://taralazar.com/2022/06/10/judy-bradbury/

Blurbs

 Here are some places to find people to write the perfect blurb for your book.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/06/top-7-places-to-find-people-to-write-great-blurbs/

Picture Book Titles

 Here are some examples of picture book titles that didn't work.

https://katiedavis.com/blog/uncategorized/what-is-a-good-title-for-a-picture-book/

Planning Your Novel

 Here are seven tips to plan your novel.

https://annerallen.com/2022/06/7-essential-tips-plan-your-novel/

Gender-Neutral Pronouns

 If your character's pronouns aren't he or she, it's no big deal to use their preferred pronouns.

https://cmosshoptalk.com/2021/04/20/gender-neutral-pronouns-in-creative-writing/

Royalties on Net

 How does it work if your royalties are based on net instead of the retail price (gross)?

http://publishlawyer.com/the-net-revenue-royalty-clause/

Second Novels

 You'd think once you have one book published it would be easy to write a second one, but that's not always the case.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/the-challenge-of-writing-the-sophomore-novel/

First Lines

 Nailing those first lines in your manuscript is tough, but that's what will draw in your readers.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/06/write-a-compelling-first-line/

Sequels

 How do you go about writing a sequel and should you do so?

https://picturebookbuilders.com/2022/06/615285/

Avoiding LGBTQ+ Stereotypes

 You need to people your world with the great diversity of people in the real world, but make sure you don't use they LGBTQ+ stereotypes in doing so.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/06/avoiding-stereotypes-in-fiction-lgbtq-characters/

Stage Directions

 We don't need to know your character walked to the door, reached for the knob, twisted it, opened the door, and walked through it, when you can just say the character left the room.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/06/avoid-aimless-stage-direction

Character Voice

 We all know each character should have a distinctive voice, but how do you do that?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/06/3-ways-to-infuse-character-voice/

Describing Eyes

 When does it further your story to describe eyes--their shape, color, and most importantly, movement?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/describing-eyes-in-writing?rq=describing%20eyes

Exposition

 Sometimes you need to break the "show, don't tell" rule by using exposition to keep your story moving along.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/05/how-to-utilize-exposition-and-context-in-a-novel

Requesting a Blurb

 How do you request a blurb for your book and whom should you ask?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/05/the-ins-and-outs-of-blurb-requests/

Prologues

When should you have or not have a prologue for your story?

https://zoemmccarthy.com/writing/__trashed

Picture Book Agents

 Here's a list of agents who represent picture book authors (usually in addition to other categories).

https://frolickingthroughcyberspace.blogspot.com/p/monster-list-of-picture-book-agents.html

Publishing Auctions

 What does it mean if your book goes to auction, and what are the different types?

https://katemckean.substack.com/p/how-auctions-work?s=r

Timelines

 Setting up a timeline of events can be a helpful tool while doing your research.

https://www.nonfiction-ninjas.com/blog/timelines-as-research-tools

Plot vs. Story

 What's the difference between plot and story, and why do you need both?

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-vital-difference-between-plot-and-storyand-why-you-need-both/

Writing Picture Books

 Here are twenty tips if you're writing a picture book.

https://www.leeandlow.com/writers-illustrators/articles/twenty-tips-for-writing-picture-books

Author Visits

 Kids look forward to author visits, so here are some tips to make yours the best it can be.

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2022/05/five-tips-for-amazing-author-visit-by.html

Large Cast of Characters

Sometimes your story needs a large number of characters, so you need a way to help your readers differentiate between them.

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

Blurbs

 What to remember, do, avoid, and expect when asking people to endorse (blurb) your book.

Remember, Do, Avoid, and Expect

Author Bios

 You will often be asked to provide an author bio, so you should have ones of different length and focus available.

https://annerallen.com/2021/01/6-online-bios-every-author-needs/

Character Flaws

 All characters are flawed in some way, and here are some tips on how to show that.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/05/writing-memorable-character-flaws/

Overused Words

 We all have those words that we us over and over again in our manuscripts, so here's a list to help you find them.

https://larawillard.com/2015/11/17/words-to-delete/#wordlist

Flashbacks

 Ask yourself these four questions before deciding to write a flashback.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/05/4-questions-to-ask-when-writing-flashbacks/

Character Descriptions

 How do you let your readers know more about your characters without using cliches like looking in a mirror?

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/11-secrets-to-writing-effective-character-description

Narrative Pacing

 Here are seven steps to help you master the pacing of your story.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-master-narrative-pacing#7-tips-for-mastering-pacing-in-your-writing

Library Purchases

 Did you ever wonder how libraries choose which books to add to their collection?

https://writersrumpus.com/2022/05/10/how-do-libraries-choose-books-collection-development-in-public-libraries-an-interview-with-library-director-noelle-boc/

Virtual Book Tours

Here's how to have a book tour without leaving your house.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2021/03/virtual-book-tours-the-basics/ 

Story Endings

 Here are six types of ways to end your story plus seven tips to crafting the perfect ending.

https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-end-a-story/

Eight-Point Arc

 One way to think about the structure of your novel is through an eight-point arc.

https://thediscerningwriter.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/writing-for-prose-the-eight-point-arc/comment-page-1/

Middle Grade Novels

 One of the most important tips for writing a middle grade novel is to think like children of that age.

https://nybookeditors.com/2019/11/how-to-write-a-middle-grade-novel/

Synopsis

 A powerful synopsis is one of the things that will help sell your novel.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/05/how-to-create-a-powerful-synopsis-to-sell-your-novel/

Agency Contracts

 Here are the basics of what should be included in your agency contract.

https://literaticat.tumblr.com/post/673219976510963712/when-you-receive-a-contract-for-representation

Handling Time

You can handle time in your manuscript through basic chronological order, flashback, and backstory.

https://writerunboxed.com/2022/04/20/its-about-time-backstory-flashback-and-chronology/

Negative Feedback

How do you turn that seemingly negative feedback into a positive change for your manuscript?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/negative-feedback 

Mysteries

 Here are ten tips for writing mysteries for kids.

https://charmaineclancy.com/writingmysteriesforkids/

Character Secrets

 Reveal your characters deepest secrets to make your reader want to learn more about them.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/04/whats-your-character-hiding/

Three-Act Structure

 You've probably heard of the three-act structure for a book, but how do you implement it?

https://www.dailywritingtips.com/three-act-structure/

Story Ideas

 Here are some creative ways to brainstorm story ideas for your next book.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/04/creative-ways-to-brainstorm-story-ideas/

Song Lyrics

 What are the rules about quoting song lyrics in your work and, if you choose to do so, how much will it cost you?

https://annerallen.com/2022/05/can-a-writer-quote-song-lyrics/

Novel Synopsis

What are some of the common pitfalls when writing that important synopsis of your novel?

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-to-write-a-novel-synopsis/

Characters and Crisis

 How can you use crisis to let your readers better understand your characters?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/05/using-crisis-to-reveal-character/

Being a Podcast Guest

 How do you get asked to be on podcasts and, more importantly, what can you do to be a good podcast guest?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/05/share-your-work-on-podcasts-and-get-asked-back/

Copyright and Fair Use

 What are the rules involved in quoting other people's work in your novel?

https://www.dukeupress.edu/getmedia/3363cb6e-04b6-43ec-b004-1c89e747512d/Copyright_FairUse_ObtainingPermissions#

Character Interviews

 Here are ten questions to ask your characters to get a better handle on their personalities.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/04/ten-questions-to-ask-your-characters/

Outlining to Fix Manuscript Problems

 Even if you're a pantser and wrote without an outline, when it comes time to revise, an outline will help fix your manuscript problems.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/04/six-ways-to-fix-manuscript-problems-with-an-outline/

Scenes

 Here are some tips to writing the perfect scene, including my favorite--leave out boring stuff.

https://jerryjenkins.com/8-steps-writing-perfect-scene-every-time/

Publicity vs. Marketing

 Your book needs both publicity and marketing, and this article tells you the difference between them.

https://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/understanding-the-differences-between-your-publicity-and-marketing-teams/

Social Media Executor

 What happens to all your social media accounts if you pass away?

https://annerallen.com/2022/04/social-media-executor-2/

Literary Techniques

 Picture books are the perfect place to use all those literary techniques you learned about in school.

https://nakisanooraee.com/pb-literary-techniques/

Unlikeable Characters

 Even your unlikeable characters must have some redeeming features.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/8-tips-to-make-an-unlikable-character-likable

Infodumping

 Be careful that you're not infodumping without even realizing it.

https://writerunboxed.com/2022/03/23/are-you-an-accidental-info-dumper/ 

Dialogue

 Here are some ways to build tension into your characters' dialogue.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/03/9-tension-building-elements-for-character-dialogue/

Successful Openings

 It's important to catch your readers' attention right from the opening of your book.

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-secret-ingredient-of-successful-openings/

Writing Jokes

 Here are some tips on how to add jokes to your manuscript.

https://mythcreants.com/blog/how-to-write-jokes/

Personalizing Queries

 Here are tips on how to personalize your query using the least amount of time.

http://blog.liviablackburne.com/2021/12/how-to-personalize-query-in-10-minutes.html

An Agent's Day

 An agent does so much more work than reading queries and editing manuscripts.

https://bookendsliterary.com/an-agents-job-besides-reading-and-editing/

Comp Titles

 Here's what you need to know about including comparative titles in your query.

http://www.literaryrambles.com/2022/04/using-comparative-titles-in-your-query.html

Rhythmic Writing

 Even if you're not writing in rhyme, your words should still have a rhythm to them.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/04/what-is-rhythmic-writing/

Scenes

 How many scenes do you need for novel and what should you include in them?

https://kidlit.com/tag/dramatic-arc/

Copyediting Corrections

 Here are ten popular corrections copy editors have to make on manuscripts.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/04/10-common-corrections/

Publishing Dictionary

 Like any business, publishing can have its own language, including acronyms.

https://bookendsliterary.com/the-sixth-edition-of-the-publishing-dictionary/

University Presses

 Sometimes a university is the perfect home for your manuscript.

https://www.janefriedman.com/why-you-should-consider-a-university-press-for-your-book/

Secondary Characters

 Just because a character is secondary, that doesn't mean your description should be any less vivid.

https://annerallen.com/2022/04/5-tips-secondary-characters/

New Agents

 What are the pros and cons of signing with someone new to being a literary agent?

https://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/should-you-pitch-and-sign-with-a-new-literary-agent-the-pros-and-cons/

Opening Pages

Setting, character age, and character description are important to include in the opening of your book.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/03/jenny-hansen/

Author Website

 Why is it important to have an author website?

https://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2022/03/why-you-need-author-website.html

Generic Reactions

 It's important to have your character react to events, but avoid using overused words and actions.

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2020/03/avoid-these-generic-reactions

Research

 Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, you'll usually end up having to research some fact to make your story more believable.

https://annerallen.com/2022/03/reference-research-resources/

Humor

 What can you add to your manuscript to make it funny for a child reader?

https://www.scld.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SWC_Adding-Humor-to-Chlidren%E2%80%99s-Stories.pdf

Marketing Tips

 It's great that your book is published, but now you need to find readers for it.

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/10-tips-for-marketing-your-childrens-book

Blurbs

 Do blurbs actually help sell books?

https://countercraft.substack.com/p/do-blurbs-actually-work?s=r

Multiple Points of View

 When writing through multiple points of view, you have to make sure to keep their voices distinct.

https://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2022/02/13/seven-voices-how-to-write-a-novel-in-multiple-points-of-view/

Verse novels

 Writing in verse is not just adding line breaks to your manuscript in prose.

https://www.diverseverse.com/blog/https/wwwdiverseversecom/subramaniam-larocca-interview

Publishing in Multiple Genres

 How do you keep your ideas, writing, and marketing efforts straight when you're working in multiple genre's. 

http://www.magicalwords.net/specialgueststars/i-dont-know-how-she-does-it-princess-aletheas-top-ten-list-of-things-to-remember-when-publishing-in-multiple-genres/

Flashbacks

 Instead of doing infodumps, weave flashbacks into your story.

https://www.janefriedman.com/weaving-flashbacks-seamlessly-into-story/

Historical Interests

 How do you mine information from your historical obsession to make it a good story/
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/02/spinning-a-yarn-out-of-history-how-to-craft-a-plot-from-your-historical-obsession/

Author Voice

 We all know that your author voice is important to your writing, but how do you find it?

http://www.literaryrambles.com/2022/03/top-three-tips-to-finding-your-author.html

Chapter Books

Chapter books help young readers transition from picture books to middle grade books.

https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/2022/03/writing-chapter-books-susan-muaddi-darraj-talks-about-the-joy-of-writing-chapter-books/

Finding Comp Titles

Here are some tips to find comp(arative) titles for your story.

https://www.janefriedman.com/how-to-find-compelling-comps-for-your-book/

Picture Book Characters

 How do you create memorable picture book characters that you're audience will want to read about over and over again?

http://picturebookden.blogspot.com/2022/03/creating-memorable-picture-book.html

Multiple Points of View

It can be tricky keeping your characters' distinct when writing from multiple points of view.

https://nailyournovel.wordpress.com/2022/02/13/seven-voices-how-to-write-a-novel-in-multiple-points-of-view/

Kidlit Sales

 Good news--the sale of children's books is rising.

https://www.licenseglobal.com/entertainment/kid-lit-report

Imagery

 Imagery is a great tool for your writer's toolbox.

https://groggorg.blogspot.com/2022/03/guest-post-power-of-imagery-by-beth.html

Social Media Platforms

 What are the different social media platforms and which are best for you and your writing?

https://www.janefriedman.com/which-social-media-platform-is-the-best/

Present or Past

 Which tense is the best one to use in telling your story?

https://writersrumpus.com/2022/03/15/past-or-present-learn-which-tense-is-best-for-your-narration/

Writer's CV

 A writer's CV is different than one you'd use for a non-writing job or contest application.

https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/getting-published/the-writers-cv

Guest Posting

 Writing a post for someone else's blog is a good way to expand the audience for your book.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/03/tips-for-landing-a-guest-posting-gig/

Character Descriptions

 Describing your characters, and not just the physical appearances, can help bring them to life.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/02/dig-deep-to-create-nuanced-characters/

Gamify Your Nonfiction Book

 One way to structure your nonfiction book is to make it a game for the reader.

https://www.nffest.com/2022/02/gamification-cool-way-to-do-nonfiction.html

Comp Titles

 Avoid these pitfalls when using comp(arative) titles to your book.

https://nelsonagency.com/2022/03/zeroing-in-on-comps-part-ii/

Synopses

 Here are some simple tips to writing your synopsis.

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-value-of-percolation/

Letting Manuscripts Rest

 There are many advantages to letting your writing percolate.

https://www.janefriedman.com/the-value-of-percolation/

Computer Crashes

 Here are some steps to recover your lost data, but most importantly, set up a backup system for your files.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/03/a-modern-writing-horror-story/

Children's Dialogue

 Remember that when writing dialogue for children, they don't speak the same way adults do.

https://www.janefriedman.com/childrens-dialogue-they-dont-talk-like-adults/

Present Tense

 What are appropriate times to use present tense in your writing?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/present-tense-writing

Commas

 Are you confused about when, and when not, to use a comma?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/03/to-comma-or-not-to-comma-part-3/

From Early Readers to Chapter Books

 What's the difference between early readers and chapter books, and how do you write them?

https://kidlit.com/early-reader-chapter-book-market/

Book Sales

 Since books can be returned to distributors, what counts as a book sale?

https://katemckean.substack.com/p/when-is-a-book-sale-a-sale?s=w

Pitching Your Book

 You need to tailor your pitch to its audience.

https://authornews.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors-toolkit-how-to-pitch-your-book-to-anyone/

Sensitivity Readers

 What is a sensitivity reader, and do you need one for your manuscript?

https://annerallen.com/2022/03/need-a-sensitivity-reader/

Independent Editors

 Here are some best practices for working with an independent editor before your manuscript is acquired.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/03/now-that-youve-hired-an-editor-best-practices-for-working-with-an-independent-editor/

Contacting Experts

 During the course of your research, whether for fiction or nonfiction, you might have to contact experts.

https://www.nffest.com/2022/02/research-with-confidence-contacting.html

Loglines

 Writing a logline can help you see the big picture of your story.

https://bethandersonwriter.com/2021/08/27/mining-for-heart-logline-as-lifeline-for-whole-whale-by-karen-yin/

Query Letters

 Here's an example of a query letter, with an agent's comments, that landedd her an offer of representation.

https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published/how-to-write-the-perfect-query-letter

Proofreading

It's not easy proofreading your own work, but these suggestions will help.

https://stevelaube.com/proofreading-tips-tricks/

Historical Novels

Here are some tips for writing historical novels.

http://booksbywomen.org/my-top-tips-for-writing-historical-novels/ 

After the Agent Offer

Here are some questions to ask of a potential agent.

https://www.donnajanellbowman.com/2021/03/14/you-dont-know-what-you-dont-know-questions-to-ask-a-potential-agent/

Writing Middle Grade

 Middle grade books are not just shorter versions of young adult ones.

https://writingtipsoasis.com/how-to-write-middle-grade-fiction/

Reader Pet Peeves

Buzzfeed collected from readers these pet peeves about the books they read.

https://annerallen.com/2021/03/reader-pet-peeves/

Essential Edits

 Here are eight edits you must do when you revise your manuscript.

https://diymfa.com/writing/eight-essential-edits

Creative Nonfiction

 What is creative nonfiction (hint: it's factual) and how do you write it?

https://www.writingforward.com/creative-writing/writing-creative-nonfiction

Scammers

Publishing scammers are everywhere, waiting to pounce on their prey, so make sure you're not it.

https://annerallen.com/2022/02/publishing-scammers-how-to-stay-safe-2/

Middle Grade Market

 Although you shouldn't write to the market, you certainly need to consider it, and here's information about the middle grade grade.

https://fundsforwriters.com/five-wisdoms-about-the-middle-grade-market/

Multiple Agent Offers

 It's incredibly exciting to have multiple agents extend offers, but there are many factors to consider in making your choice.

https://nelsonagency.com/2022/02/dance-with-the-right-partner-at-the-publishing-prom/

Series Bible

 If you're writing a series, you need a bible to keep the characters and setting consistent.

https://killzoneblog.com/2022/01/creating-a-series-bible.html

Writing Magic in Real World Settings

 How do you incorporate magical elements and beings into a real world setting?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/01/writing-magic-in-a-real-world-setting/

SEL - Social Emotional Learning

If you want to include SEL in your book, you need to know these five key competencies.

https://lernerbooks.com/sel

Cliches

Give those tired cliches an unexpected twist to make them fresh.

http://smack-dab-in-the-middle.blogspot.com/2022/02/twisting-cliches-to-make-them-unique.html

Voice

 Your authorial voice is the most powerful tool in your writer's toolbox.

https://writersrumpus.com/2022/02/22/writers-voice-your-most-powerful-tool/

Kidlit Categories

http://evalangston.com/2021/08/16/kidlit-genres/Here's a detailed description of the different kidlit categories (even though they call them genres) such as picture book, middle grade, and young adult.

Comp Titles

 What are comp titles and what should they do?

https://nelsonagency.com/2022/02/zeroing-in-on-comps-part-i/

Full Request

 What happens after you get a request for your full manuscript?

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/full-manuscript-request

New Publishers and Agents - 2021

 Here are some new publishers and agents from 2021.

https://hotsheetpub.com/2021/12/new-publishers-agents-2021/

Writing About High School

 If you're writing a young adult novel, you'll need to know what current-day high school is like.

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/writing-about-high-school

Sensory Writing - Taste

 How can you incorporate the sense of taste into your writing? 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/02/using-the-power-of-taste-in-writing/

Specific Details

Giving specific details can help connect the description to your character.

https://www.janefriedman.com/use-telling-details-to-connect-description-to-character/ 

Clothing

 How can you use clothing to energize your plot and help define your characters?

https://annerallen.com/2022/01/9-ways-clothe-energize-your-plot/

Finding a Literary Agent

 What are the steps to finding the perfect literary agent for you and your work?

https://www.janefriedman.com/find-literary-agent/

Writing Magic in the Real World

 How do you inject magical elements into an everyday, real-world setting?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/01/writing-magic-in-a-real-world-setting/

Literary Techniques in Picture Books

 Picture books are the perfect place to use literary techniques such as metaphor and repetition.

https://nakisanooraee.com/pb-literary-techniques/

Writing Tips

 Here are six simple writing tips to get you (or keep you) on the right track.

https://nelsonagency.com/2022/01/6-writing-tips-from-my-6-years-in-publishing/

Branding

 How to you use your brand to capture and keep a possible reader's attention is our busy world?

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2022/01/branding-attention-busy-brains-in-a-busy-world/

Character Skills

 Help your characters stand out from each other by giving them different skills.

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/01/want-your-characters-to-stand-out/

Who Are Your Readers?

 Do you know who your intended audience is and why that matters?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/01/who-are-your-readers-and-why-does-it-matter/

"Kill Your Darlings"

 We've all heard the phrase, "kill your darlings," but how do you go about doing that?

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/01/writers-grab-a-knife-how-to-kill-your-darlings/

Doorways into Story

 Do you approach your writing through character, scene, word choice, or by the story itself?

https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/the-four-doorways-into-story-and-how-to-use-them-to-create-a-bestselling-novel

Revising Scene by Scene

 There are many approaches to revising, but one of them is doing so scene by scene.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/02/stoking-your-storys-fire-three-considerations-for-revising-scene-by-scene/

Choosing a Title

 What are some tips on choosing a good title (even though it may be later changed)?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/02/tips-to-create-a-bestselling-title/

Bad Writing Advice

Not all suggestions you receive about your manuscript are good ones. 

https://annerallen.com/2022/02/10-dangerous-critiques/

How to Tell When Appropriate

 Sometimes it's appropriate to tell, not show, and here are some tips on how to do that well.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/02/6-cheats-to-tell-well/

Research

 How do you know when you've done enough research?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/01/how-much-research-is-enough/

Synopses

 What do agents look for in a synopsis?

https://bookendsliterary.com/2022/02/01/what-agents-look-for-in-a-synopsis/

Mentally Ill Characters

 There's a need for sensitively written mentally ill characters in children's books.

https://wildthings.vcfa.edu/why-we-urgently-need-more-mentally-ill-characters-in-books-for-young-readers-how-to-write-them-by-ann-jacobus-kordahl-nancy-bo-flood-07/

Books for Tweens

 How do you write for that gap between middle grade and young adult books?

https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/writing-for-young-readers/the-in-betweeners-mg-and-ya/

Finding a Literary Agent

 The first and most important step in finding a literary agent is to write a great book.

https://jerichowriters.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/

Sense of Touch

 How can you incorporate your characters' sense of touch into your story?

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2022/01/how-to-use-touch-in-writing/

Co-authors

 How does it work when you collaborate with another author on a manuscript?

https://www.writermag.com/improve-your-writing/writing-for-young-readers/co-authors-in-kidlit/

Paying for an Author Visit

 There are many ways to fund having an author visit your school.

https://www.annettewhipple.com/2019/06/how-to-pay-for-author-visit.html

Branding

 How do you create your brand and use it to turn that into sales and loyal readers?

https://authorkristenlamb.com/2022/01/branding-attention-busy-brains-in-a-busy-world/

Seven Deadly Query Sins

 How to write a query that won't end up in spam or be ignored.

https://annerallen.com/2022/01/7-deadly-query-sins-how-to-write-a-query/

Self-Editing

 Self editing can help take your manuscript to the next level.

https://writershelpingwriters.net/2022/01/perfect-to-me-how-self-editing-can-take-your-novel-to-the-next-stage/

Book Reviews

 Why are book reviews important and how can you find places to get them.

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/2021/12/why-book-reviews-are-important-and.html

Middle Grade

 Here are some tips on how to write a middle grade novel that kids will clamor to read.

https://www.ignitedinkwriting.com/ignite-your-ink-blog-for-writers/how-to-write-middle-grade-stories-kids-want-to-read/2019

Revising After Feedback

 Be careful not to overcorrect after receiving a critique on your manuscript.  

https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2022/01/how-to-avoid-overcorrecting-after-receiving-feedback

Compelling Dialogue

 Here are three tips for writing compelling dialogue.

https://nowastedink.com/2022/01/06/three-tips-for-writing-compelling-dialogue-by-rita-m-reali/

Book Titles

 Choosing a book title has changed in this age of self-published books and online bookstores.

https://annerallen.com/2022/01/choosing-a-book-title-in-the-e-age/

BookTok

 BookTok is both an organic way to market your book plus a safe haven for young female readers.

https://www.janefriedman.com/booktok-a-safe-haven-for-young-female-readers/

Active Dialogue

If you write active dialogue, you'll need to use fewer dialogue tags.

https://www.goodstorycompany.com/blog/how-to-write-active-dialogue 

Sounds

Here's a list of 106 ways to describe sounds in your book.

https://www.writerswrite.co.za/106-ways-to-describe-sounds/

Critique Groups

 Being a part of a critique group is great--but not always.

https://annerallen.com/2016/09/critique-groups-6-ways-they-hurt-your-writing/

Notifying Other Agents of an Offer

 How do you let other agents know that you've received an offer of representation?

https://bookendsliterary.com/2021/12/14/notifying-agents-of-offers/

Querying Tips

 Those lessons you learned in kindergarten will help you when querying.

https://wildthings.vcfa.edu/everything-i-need-to-know-about-querying-i-learned-in-kindergarten-10-tips-to-write-that-letter-by-laurel-abell-18/