WRITING RESOURCES
HOT LINKS
NAVIGATION
FIRST DRAFT
A-D M-Q
E-H R-S
I-L T-Z
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Early Bird Books
Early Bird Books brings you free and bargain ebooks that match your interests. You can sign up for free, read the books on any device, and the books are yours to keep.
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Eats, Shoots & Leaves
THE ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH TO PUNCTUATION
By Lynne Truss
We all know the basics of punctuation. Or do we? A look at most neighborhood signage tells a different story. Through sloppy usage and low standards on the internet, in email, and now text messages, we have made proper punctuation an endangered species.
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eBook Marketing Funnel for Authors
By Clayton Noblit — Written Word
In digital marketing, the funnel is a commonly used mental framework. This framework can help you organize and optimize your marketing efforts. It breaks the customer journey into distinct steps, which makes it much easier to focus and be intentional about your marketing efforts.
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4 Types of Editing
By Jennifer — Treehouse Editing
For every editor you meet, there are differing opinions on the “types” of editing, but for clarity’s sake, I am going to explain the four main “umbrellas” of each kind. By the end, you’ll be able to decide for yourself which editing is right for you.
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Edit Like a Pro
By Susanne Bennett — Writers Write
In this post, we look at the process of editing and tell you how to edit like a pro. There are tons of advice on how to do it. Grammar, style, spelling – you name it.
But have you ever thought about the media you use?
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Editing Advice
from famous authors
By Alex J. Coyne — Writers Write
In this post, we share seven bits of editing advice from famous writers.
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Editing in the Age of the Amateur
By Helga Schier — Linked in
Self-publishing changed things. As traditional publishers take on fewer projects, more writers choose to take matters into their own hands and self-publish. Today, every single good book can and will find its readers. And that’s a good thing.
Trouble is, every single not-so-good book can, too.
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Editing Dialogue Mistakes
By Penning and Planning
This blog post outlines how to self-edit dialogue mistakes in your fiction manuscript.
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Editing Marks
EVERY WRITER NEEDS TO KNOW
By Austin Vosler — Writer’s Digest
Don’t make editing your novel harder! With 11 must-know editing symbols you’ll be able to decipher the language of editing.
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Editing Marks
HANDWRITTEN COPYEDITING MARKS
By NY Book Editors
This guide serves as a reference for the mysterious copyediting marks.
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Editing Tips
Self-Editing Tips
By Ellen Buikema — Writers In The Storm
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Editing Types
WHICH ONE DO YOU NEED RIGHT NOW?
By reedsyblog
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Editing Questions
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOUR BOOK IS ACTUALLY DONE
By Kris Spisak — Writer’s Digest
5 novel editing questions to ask before any next steps in the publishing process, including:
- Does your story have a strong narrative drive?
- Is your protagonist too passive?
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Editing Your Book’s Content for Print
By Gorham Printing
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Editor for Your Book??
TOP UP-TO-DATE RECOMMENDATIONS
By K.M. Weiland
While finding an editor is easy, finding a good book editor is something else again.
The following editors are in alphabetical order, with their names linked to their websites, so you can do further research to discover which is best suited to your needs.
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Editing Your Work?
WHEN SHOULD WRITERS EDIT THEIR WORK?
By Robert Lee Brewer — Writer’s Digest
When should writers edit their work? As they write? Afterward? And should they put a lot of effort into it before submitting it? We dive into these questions here.
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Editor or Agent First?
By Robert Lee Brewer — Writer’s Digest
It’s a common question asked by writers looking to get their first book published: Do you find an editor or agent first? The answer depends on each writer’s situation.
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Les Edgerton
ON WRITING
Les Edgerton teaches creative writing on the university level and does private coaching of writers on various on-line venues. He writes in a variety of forms: novels, short stories, nonfiction books and screenplays.
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Elements of a Book People Want to Read
THE TOP 10
By Helga Schier PHD — Writer’s Digest
Highly readable books are polished, refined, sophisticated, and mature on all three levels. To fulfill the potential of your book, develop and sharpen the following top ten elements.
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Elements of Fiction Writing
Conflict & Suspense
By James Scott Bell
Ramp up the tension and keep your readers hooked! Inside you’ll find everything you need to know to spice up your story, move your plot forward, and keep your readers turning pages. Expert thriller author and writing instructor James Scott Bell shows you how to craft scenes, create characters, and develop storylines that harness conflict and suspense to carry your story from the first word to the last.
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Elements of Style
By Strunk and White
Details eight elementary rules of usage, ten elementary principles of composition, “a few matters of form”, and a list of commonly misused words and expressions.
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Eleven Modes Comprise All Fiction
By Mike Klaassen
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Elemore Leonard’s Ten Rules of Writing
“IF IT SOUNDS LIKE WRITING … REWRITE IT.”
TEN RULES:
- Brain Pickings
- Gotham Writers
- Elmore Leonard’s Book
Emotion
10 best tips for evoking emotion in your writing
By Writing with Jenna Moreci
Everyone’s always asking how to write emotion in fiction, so I’m opening up a big old can of writing advice! Here are my ten best tips for evoking emotion through your writing, including show vs. tell, using the five senses, cutting filter words, and pacing.
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Emotional Beats
HOW TO WRITE EASILY CONVERT YOUR WRITING INTO PALPABLE FEELINGS
By Nicholas C. Rossis
Because of the way our brains are wired, readers empathize more strongly if you don’t name the emotion you are trying to describe. As soon as you name an emotion, readers go into thinking mode. And when they think about an emotion, they distance themselves from feeling it.
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Emotional Craft of Fiction
HOW TO WRITE THE STORY BENEATH THE SURFACE
By Donald Maass
If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader’s experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters’ struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you.
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Emotional Scenes
how to write them
By K.M. Weiland — Helping Writers Become Authors
Learning how to write emotional scenes is one of the single most important feats any writer must rise to.
Scenes in which characters feel these powerful emotions should usually inspire the same feelings from readers. When done well, these powerhouse scenes become the cornerstones of the entire story. They are the moments audiences are likely to remember long after they may have forgotten beautiful prose or the specifics of the plot.
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Emotion vs. Feeling
HOW TO EVOKE MORE FROM READERS
By David Corbett — Writer’s Digest
Recognizing the subtle differences in writing emotion and writing feeling can help render both more powerfully on the page.
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Empathy
40 WAYS TO WRITE ABOUT EMPATHY
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
Great characters either lack empathy or have loads of it. In this post, we discuss ways to write about empathy.
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Empathy — The Key to Storytelling
EMPATHY IS CREATED THROUGH STORYTELLING
By P.J. Manney — Journal of Evolution and Technology
The role of empathy is growing larger and more important than ever. In theory, sensory/media input stimulates mirror neurons, which enable empathy. Practically, empathy is created through storytelling
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End of Chapter Hooks
By Nancy J. Cohen
Creating a hook at the end of a chapter encourages readers to turn the page to find out what happens next in your story.
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Ending a Story
By K.M. Weiland
There are three parts of a story that are difficult to write: the beginning, the middle, and the ending. Whether or not a story works is dependent on how well its beginning, middle, and ending hang together.
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Ending Your Book
TWO INGREDIENTS IN A PERFECT BOOK ENDING:
INEVITABILITY AND UNEXPECTEDNESS
By K.M. Weiland
“You want readers to close the book with a feeling of satisfaction. Whether they’re laughing, crying, or just thoughtful, you want them to be able to give their heads a little nod and say, “Yep, that’s exactly how it should have ended.”
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Enduring Fiction
FOUR ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
By D.J. Palmer — CrimeReads
Thriller author DJ Palmer breaks down the foundational structure to fiction that captivates readers. The secret to an enduring structure is a solid foundation.
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Enhancing Character Emotion
By Mike Klaassen
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Ereader News Today
Choose your genres, enter your email and start reading your new books today. Our service is always free to use – no strings attached!
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Espionage
7 QUESTIONS FOR AN ESPIONAGE PRO
By Piper Bayard –– Writers In The Storm
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Espionage
WOMEN PUSHING ESPIONAGE FICTION INTO NEW TERRITORIES
By Lisa Levy — CrimeReads
Spy fiction is undergoing a revolution, and women authors are using it to challenge notions about identity, power, and trust.
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The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published
HOW TO WRITE IT, SELL IT, AND MARKET IT . . . SUCCESSFULLY
By Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry
The best, most comprehensive guide for writers is now revised and updated, with new sections on ebooks, self-publishing, crowd-funding through Kickstarter, blogging, increasing visibility via online marketing, micropublishing, the power of social media and author websites, and more—making The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published more vital than ever for anyone who wants to mine that great idea and turn it into a successfully published book.
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Essential Writing Websites
30 ESSENTIAL WEBSITES & WEB APPS FOR WRITERS
By Writers Write
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Evoking Emotion in Writing
By Rebecca Yarros — Writer’s Digest
No matter what genre we write in, we all have the same goal—we want to bring our readers along for the journey. How do we get there? By reeling them in with their emotions. Think about your novel as a roller coaster. Sounds odd, but trust me.
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Exciting Event
THE TWO HALVES OF THE EXCITING EVENT
By K.M. Weiland
Stories are made of scenes. By one of their simplest definitions, scenes are transitions.
The major turning points of the plot are the scenes that must dynamically change the conditions of the story and the characters in it. If these structural scenes fail to change or move the plot, then the entire story’s structure weakens and, eventually, crumbles.
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Expanding a Short Story Into a Novel
HOW TO RECIRCULATE SHORT STORIES INTO NOVELS.
By Les Edgerton — Writer’s Digest
A lot of writers have short fiction that has seemingly died, but in reality, is still amenable to more life.
The first thing to be aware of is that short stories and novels are two very different forms.
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Facebook Ads for Authors
By David Gaughran
Comprehensive tutorial on Facebook Ads for authors looking to scale up and sell more books.
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Famous Authors Talk About Writing
By Amber Lee Starfire — Writing Through Life
5 videos of famous authors talking about their lives, processes, and ideas about the craft of writing.
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Famous Writers Pick
THE BEST BOOKS ON WRITING AND THE WRITING PROCESS
By Writing Routines
What happens when a great writer sits down and starts to reflect on the art and craft of writing? Simple: they leave behind a totem for the rest of us, a message in a bottle to anyone who is looking to do creative work.
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Famous Writers Talk About Writing
By Joey — The Writing Center
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Famous Writers Talk Ideas!
STEPHEN KING, JOHN IRVING AND ALAN HOLLINGHURST REVEAL THEIR SECRETS
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Fantasy Fiction
5 WAYS TO DEVELOP YOUR IMAGINATION
By A.J. Smith — Writer’s Digest
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Fantasy and Science Fiction Awards
By Jen Northington — Book Riot
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Fantasy — How to Write It
By K.M. Weiland
The fantasy genre is broad with many subgenres but always includes some fantastical element—something magical or foreign that does not exist in reality. This fantastical element may be inserted into our own world. Or, more strictly, the entire world and premise may be based on a fantasy world.
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Fantasy Sub-Genres
A PODCAST ABOUT FANTASY SUB-GENRES
Writers Talk 6 – Writers Write
In this podcast, hosts, Oliver Fox and Christopher Dean talk about fantasy and its wonderful sub-genres.
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Fear
32 WAYS TO WRITE ABOUT FEAR
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
Fear is a vital response for human beings. If we didn’t feel fear, we couldn’t protect ourselves from threats. Our bodies and brains are wired to treat threats as life-threatening. This triggers an extreme fight-flight-or-freeze response.
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Fiction: Four Facets
By Mike Klaassen
This is an excerpt from Mike’s book Third-Person Possessed.
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Fiction and Psychotherapy
By Linda Feyder — Writer’s Digest
I am a psychotherapist who writes fiction.
Or maybe a fiction writer who practices psychotherapy. The chronological order of when I applied myself to each discipline is clear, but what has become clearer now is how the two professions require a similar skill set that has made them complementary to one another.
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Fictional Characters of Our Own Creation
By Nick Chater — Neuropsych
Data suggests that the stories we tell ourselves about our motives, beliefs, and values are not merely unreliable but entirely fictitious.
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Fictional Towns
8 tips for creating them
By L.G. Davis — Writer’s Digest
Choosing a name, borrowing from real places, adding unique characteristics, and more—author L.G. Davis shares eight tips for creating believable fictional towns.
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Fiction Sub-Genre Descriptions for Writers
By Michael J. Vaughn — Writer’s Digest
Here’s a breakdown of some of your favorite fiction genres, including romance, horror, thriller/suspense, science fiction/fantasy, and mystery/crime.
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Fiction Writing Modes
ELEVEN ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR BRINGING YOUR STORY TO LIFE
By Mike Klaassen
Eleven fiction-writing modes comprise all written fiction. If you don’t know what they are and how each works, how can your story reach its potential?
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Fiction Writing Rules
IAN RANKIN’S 10 RULES
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
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FightWrite
HOW DO PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW HOW TO FIGHT, FIGHT?
By Carla Hoch — Writer’s Digest
People who are not trained fighters may respond to threats as they do because of sociological pressures, psychological wiring, and biological construct.
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Fight Scene Mistakes
FROM A CRIME WRITER AND TAEKWONDO INSTRUCTOR
By Melissa Koslin — CrimeReads
“A good fighter is a strategist…If you’re writing a skilled character, show that strategy.”
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Figurative Language
WHY AND HOW YOU SHOULD USE IT
By Zara Altair — ProWritingAid
Figurative language means using literary devices, techniques, and figures of speech to heighten sensory response and add meaning, clarity, or impact to your writing.
Figures of speech color your prose, giving a sense of immediacy to readers. They evoke a strong emotional reaction.
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Finding Affordable Editors and Proofreaders
By Michael Sahno
If you don’t go with a vanity press, and then decide to self-publish, you’ll need professional editing and proofreading.
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Finding Your Voice
HOW TO PUT PERSONALITY IN YOUR WRITING
By Les Edgerton
Developing a voice of your own, one that rises above the literary din because of its individuality, not in spite of it!
INSIDE, YOU’LL LEARN:
- How to make any piece you write unmistakably yours and yours alone
- What agents and editors really think about using your own voice
- How to write better by ignoring the rules
- The keys to getting your voice and personality on the page
- How to get back the unique voice you may have lost by trying to write like someone else
Whether you write fiction, non-fiction or poetry, Finding Your Voice is a must for your personal library.
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Find Success As A Writer
CLAIM YOUR FREE BOOK!
By Bryan Collins
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Finesse of the Final Cut
By Helga Schier — Books 2 Go
For decades writers (and readers) bemoaned the fact that so many good books remained unpublished. It seemed that the industry’s gatekeepers agents and editors and publishers didn’t even look at your work unless you had amazing pedigree or a publication list a mile long. A first-time writer had a better chance of winning the lottery than getting published.
The self-publishing revolution changed things.
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Finished ???
WHAT “FINISHED” MEANS TO AN AUTHOR
By Donna Gabaldon
So you’ve finished your masterpiece and just sent it off to your publisher. Whew! But wait . . . we’ve only just begun.
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Finish That First Draft
5 FANTASTIC TIPS TO KEEP YOU MOVING FORWARD
By Anthony Ehlers — Writers Write
It’s tough to finish that first draft of a novel. We want to help you finish and you can by using these five fantastic tips to keep you moving forward.
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Finish Writing a Book
THE KEYS TO GETTING UNSTUCK
By Tucker Max — Scribe Media
If you’re feeling stuck and overwhelmed right now with your book, you don’t have to quit. It’s possible to overcome the problems you’re facing. You just have to know what’s causing them and face them head-on.
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Finishing Your Book
THREE TIPS
By R. Paulo Delgado — Entrepreneur.com
Here are some tips on how to overcome this drudgery, find joy in the book you’re penning and maybe even get a potential best-seller out to an agent within a few months of diligent work.
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Fire in Fiction
By Donald Maass
How to infuse your story with deep conviction and fiery passion.
THE BOOK FEATURES TECHNIQUES FOR:
- Capturing a special time and place
- Creating characters whose lives matter
- Nailing multiple-impact plot turns
- Making the supernatural real
- Infusing issues into fiction
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Fire Up Your Fiction
By Jodie Renner
If you’re looking to hone your style, bring your scenes to life, tighten up your writing, add tension, pick up the pace, and develop a more authentic, appealing voice, this guide to the indispensable style elements of writing a popular novel is for you.
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First Draft — What It Takes
By Shawn Coyne
When writing a first draft of anything, take the advice of Satchel Paige: “Don’t look back.”
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First Draft — What Is It?
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
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First Drafts and Battling Writer’s Block
By Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney — Literary Hub
Write the first draft for yourself!
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The First Draft of Your Novel Is Finished
now what?
By Nancy J. Cohen
Your book is not done just because you typed The End. Now begins the hard work of taking your raw material and honing it into a page-turning story. This will mean several rounds of revisions, intense reading sessions, and submitting to editors and beta readers for additional input.
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First Editing
A TEAM OF CERTIFIED STORY COACHES AND SENIOR BOOK EDITORS DEDICATED TO PERFECTING YOUR BOOK
JoEllen Nordström is First Editing’s Chief Word Wizard and the host of the Publishing Power Podcast.
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First Novel
on writing your first novel
By Stephen Haunts
From developing intriguing plots and complex characters to word processing and formatting tools, through to staying healthy and motivated as a writer, this book covers everything a first-time novelist needs to know.
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First Person Narrators
7 great crime novels
By Scott Blackburn — CrimeReads
the intimacy, the excitement, and the potential for deceit that only a good first person narrator can conjure up
As a reader, I’ve always been drawn to first person fiction. I love that it allows such a deep dive into a character’s mind while limiting my access to information, which I find crucial in building suspense. Mostly, I love that first person narration is conversational.
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First Reviews
By Farrow Communications
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Five Secrets to a Successful Webinar Series
By Jane Healey — Career Authors
Promote your books by creating a webinar!
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Flawed Protagonists
RELATABILITY VERSUS RELIABILITY
By Bracken Macleod — CrimeReads
“In order to depict people who are human, I think it is an absolute prerequisite that they be flawed in some way.”
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Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime — Videos
This is the YouTube Channel for the Florida Gulf Coast Sisters in Crime. On our channel, you will find recordings of our virtual programs, including meetings, workshops, panel presentations, and more.
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Focused on the Wrong Goal?
By Tiffany Yates Martin — Foxprint Editorial
Many writers confuse a character’s secondary goal with his true primary goal. In this case, the goal of “solving the crime” is a secondary goal–few characters are driven to solve a crime for its own sake (except maybe Sherlock Holmes), and that’s not usually a powerful enough driving force on its own. It’s a bit general and impersonal, and thus doesn’t deeply engage readers.
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Foreshadowing
Use it to jazz up slow scenes
By K.M. Weiland — Writers Helping Writers to Become Authors
Foreshadowing is the writer’s secret weapon. Hand in hand with the obvious benefit of using it to clue readers in on what’s yet to come.
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Foreshadowing
how to harness the power
By Scott McCormick — BookBaby
Foreshadowing is one of the simplest literary devices: It is merely the act of hinting at what will happen later in a story. But don’t let its simplicity fool you — foreshadowing can also be powerful.
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Foreshadowing Tips for Fiction Writers
By Mia Botha — Writers Write
Foreshadowing is a literary device that can be used to create expectation with readers. It is a preparation tool. You let your reader know something is going to happen without giving the story away. You can create a happy or sombre or ominous tone by foreshadowing.
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Forget the How — Focus on the What
By Carter Baus — Literary Hub
Don’t write anything just because you think you’re supposed to. Write the parts you want to write, and skip everything else. Just tell the story.
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Formatting an Ebook in Word
USING STYLES BEFORE SELF-PUBLISHING
By Derek Haines — Just Publishing Advice
Using styles is the easiest way to format an ebook in Word before you publish your ebook.
For a full-length novel, the whole process to format an ebook should take no longer than an hour. So it is well worth spending this small amount of time to make sure your readers get to read a perfect ebook.
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Formatting a Screenplay
By Final Draft
Before you can produce, direct or sell your movie, you have to write the screenplay in the correct entertainment industry format. Final Draft can help you figure out how to format a screenplay so you can focus on what’s important – crafting a great story.
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Formatting Services
the book khaleesi
We can format your manuscript for Kindle, ePub and Paperback (Amazon Print). We also design Book PDFs for website giveaways, ARCs, etc.
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Four Main Characters
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
One of the easiest ways to tell if you have a plot and not just a story idea is by looking at the characters you’ve included in your story.
You need to pay special attention to the four main characters who give your story the structure it needs. They are:
- The Protagonist
- The Antagonist
- The Confidant
- The Love Interest
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FREE Creative Writing Course
By About Writing
Covering plot& structure, character & development, writing effective, attractive prose, editing your work.
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FREE Online Courses to Improve Your Writing Skills
By Dhawal Shah
A variety of FREE online courses for all types of writers to improve their writing skills
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FREE Online Writing Courses
By Creative Writing Now
The creative writing classes and FREE online writing courses that we are currently offering.
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FREE Online Writing Courses
By Study.com
See our list of universities that offer FREE online writing courses. Learn about what college writing classes are available and what topics they cover to find the course that’s right for you.
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FREE Online Writing Courses
SELECT A TOPIC, BROWSE OUR LESSONS AND ENROLL ON A FREE 10-DAY COURSE
By Reedsy Learning
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Freebooksy — FREE Kindle Books
WE LOVE FREE EBOOKS. WE HELP YOU FIND THEM.
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Jane Friedman
Jane Friedman has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in business strategy for authors and publishers. In 2019, Jane was awarded Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World; her newsletter was awarded Media Outlet of the Year in 2020.
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From First Draft to Book
a guide to self-publishing
By Kara Starcher
If you’ve battled with how to get your finished work published, this comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide will soon have you checking all the boxes. And by following Starcher’s step-by-step process to produce a book, your words can go from buried on a hard drive to out into the world of excited readers in just a short time. Armed with confidence to do things the right way, you will give yourself the best chance at earning that coveted bestseller badge.
The book’s four parts—Writing and Editing, Designing, Printing, and Planning—cover basic information about each specific stage of book production.
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From First Draft to Published Author
SHOULD YOU GO TRADITIONAL, INDIE, OR HYBRID PUBLISHING?
A FREE GUIDE! — from prowritingaid
How do I write a pitch? What kind of royalties should I expect? What the heck are beta readers and why do I need them? Publishing is an ever-changing business. As a result, these and many other questions are at the forefront of the modern-day writer’s brain. You’ve probably asked them yourself!
This guide will take you through the entire process, from refining your manuscript to choosing a publishing track to releasing your book into the world.
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From No Book to Book Deal
in under a year
By Carely Fortune — Writer’s Digest
From picking up a reading habit to navigating daily word counts, award-winning journalist Carley Fortune shares how she went from no book to a book deal in less than a year.
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Fussy Librarian
FREE EBOOKS
With millions of ebooks out there, it can be time consuming to find the good stuff. We can help!
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Gangsters
the top ten books about gangsters
By Rod Reynolds — The Guardian
From The Godfather to LA Confidential, these are some of the most compulsive tales of men who live and die in the mob.
It’s not hard to understand the enduring appeal of gangsters in fiction. From the romantic notion of the outlaw antihero to the caricature of the psychotic mob boss, they have been portrayed in many different lights; but the unifying theme is that they live by a set of rules alien to the law-abiding public, and that makes them fascinating. We want to know what makes them tick, to understand their world and to see it in all its bloody reality. It’s the essence of what makes a good thriller: showing us a violent existence from the safety of an armchair.
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John Gardner
John Gardner was a pioneering creative writing teacher whose students included Raymond Carver and Charles Johnson.
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Gaslighting and Writing Villains
By Amy Jones — Writer’s Digest
Writing villains can be a challenge but one approach is having them use gaslighting techniques on their victims.
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Generating Great Story Ideas
By Brian Klems — Writer’s Digest
Here are five ways that will help pump up your creativity muscle and build story ideas that will keep you writing for hours on end.
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Get Readers Hooked from Your Ebook Sample
By James Scott Bell, Guest Blogger — BookBub
One of the great online boons to book lovers is the ability to view a sample of a book before purchasing it. On Amazon, users can download the first ten percent of a book for free or read it onsite via the “Look Inside” feature. As an author, this gives you the opportunity to score a sale if you make the reader want to read on.
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Getting Published
THE FIVE OPTIONS YOU HAVE
The publishing world has changed dramatically in recent years. Self-publishing has disrupted the publishing industry and caused all sectors to reconsider how to publish a book in this new book market.
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Give Your Writing An Instant Makeover
IMPROVE YOUR WRITING TODAY
By All About Writing
Download our guide to giving your writing an instant make-over.
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A Goal Without a Plan Is Just a Wish
By Helga Schier — Linked in
A writing project is a daunting task. And it is even harder if you go into it without a plan and just wing it. So let’s plan.
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Goals: Is Your Protagonist Focused on the Wrong Goal?
By Tiffany Yates Martin — Foxprint Editorial
Many writers confuse a character’s secondary goal with his true primary goal. In this case, the goal of “solving the crime” is a secondary goal–few characters are driven to solve a crime for its own sake (except maybe Sherlock Holmes), and that’s not usually a powerful enough driving force on its own. It’s a bit general and impersonal, and thus doesn’t deeply engage readers.
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The Godfather Analysis
CORRUPTION CHARACTER ARC EXPLAINED
By StudioBinder
The Godfather analysis — We track the Corruption Arc of Michael Corleone and the film’s Bitter Ending.
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A Good Story Must Be Disturbing
By Mark Rubinstein — Writer’s Digest
Whether you’re writing a literary novel, a psychological, medical, legal or spy thriller, or even a cozy mystery, for a novel to be engaging, it must center on human conflict and disturbance. Here’s what you need to know.
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Gotta Read It
FIVE SIMPLE STEPS TO A FICTION PITCH THAT SELLS
By Libbie Hawker
Blurbs, product descriptions, query letters… no matter what you call them, they’re a chore to write. And yet the success of any novel can depend on its pitch. What’s an author to do?
STILL ONLY 99 CENTS
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Three Fake Grammar Rules
what you think you learned in English class may actually be hurting your writing.
By Ellen Jovin — Writer’sDigest
Faithful adherence to grammar rules that are not actually rules has sucked the life out of many excellent sentences. Adults are often hobbled by outdated or just plain wrong notions of correct grammar they feel they must adhere to—for example, the idea that it is ungrammatical to end with a preposition, as I did right before my em dash in this sentence.
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Great Ominous Beach Settings in Fiction
“THE OCEAN IS WITHOUT REMORSE . . . IT IS THE PERFECT MURDERER.”
By Via Harper — CrimeReads
If setting is a character, there is none more mysterious—and duplicitous—than an ocean beach, especially at night. The fearsome roaring of the waves, the pounding crash of breakers and the dreadful sucking sound of the undertow provide haunting backdrops to sinister intents. They remind the reader that much like those we love and assume love us in return, the ocean is never to be trusted. It can be serene one moment and violent the next.
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Great Resources for Connecting with Other Writers
By Ellen Buikema — Writers In The Storm
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Guilt in Fiction
four tips for writing
By Veronica Gutierrez — Writer’s Digest
Feeling guilty is something we all can relate to, but what can that feeling do for our stories?
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— H —
Habits of Successful Authors
11 THINGS GOOD WRITERS DO
By Tom Corson-Knowles — TCK Publishing
Whether you want to be an author, blogger, content creator, copywriter, or poet, becoming a successful writer takes hard work and a lot of practice.
That’s why the best writers all have a certain set of habits that ensure they are constantly writing, learning, and improving.
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Hammock Books for Summer Reading
BEST BOOKS TO READ IN A HAMMOCK
By Leah Rachel von Essen — BookRiot
Here are nine books!
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Happy Characters
7 SECRETS TO WRITING HAPPY CHARACTERS
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
There are characters in our stories who are happy. Sometimes they are foils for our protagonists. Sometimes, our protagonists live through intensely happy periods.
So, how do we write about these happy characters without putting our audience to sleep?
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Healthy Habits to Boost Your Writing
By Connor Swensen — Written Word
Focus, optimism and sustained output are three key skills for successful authors. However, these don’t come easily.
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Hear Your Characters Speak
By Alison Flood — The Guardian
A MAJORITY OF AUTHORS HEAR THEIR CHARACTERS SPEAK
Some writers have always claimed they can hear their characters speaking, with Enid Blyton suggesting she could “watch and hear everything” and Alice Walker describing how her characters would “come for a visit . . . and talk”. But a new study has shown this uncanny experience is very widespread, with almost two-thirds of authors reporting that they hear their characters’ voices while they work.
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Helping Writers Become Authors
By K.M. Weiland — This blog is devoted to mentoring other authors.
START BY READING HER FOUR-CORE SERIES:
- How to Outline Your Novel
- The Secrets of Story Structure
- How to Write Character Arcs
- How to Structure Scenes in Your Story
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Helvetica Documentary Movie
By Gray Hustwit — STUDIO DAR
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The Heroine’s Journey
FOR WRITERS, READERS, AND FANS OF POP CULTURE
By Gail Carriger
Tired of the hero’s journey?
Frustrated that funny, romantic, and comforting stories aren’t taken seriously?
Sad that the books and movies you love never seem to be critically acclaimed, even when they sell like crazy?
The heroine’s journey is here to help.
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The Hero’s Journey
WHY JOSEPH CAMPELL’S HERO’S JOURNEY IS IMPORTANT
By Hannah Yang — ProWritingAid
Whether you’re working on a novel or a short story, you can use the hero’s journey to plot and outline your work. If you’re new to the hero’s journey, start with our guide to using the hero’s journey as the backbone for your story.
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Hidden Brain Podcasts
A SERIES ON STORYTELLING
Hidden Brain explores the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior and questions that lie at the heart of our complex and changing world.
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Hooked
WRITE FICTION THAT GRABS READERS AT PAGE ONE
By Les Edgerton
If a novel or short story has a bad beginning, then no one will keep reading. It’s just that simple.
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Hook Your Readers
WITH COMPELLING STORY, TAGLINE AND BACK COVER COPY
By Jodie Renner — The Killzone Blog
Here are some tips on writing an engaging storyline, tagline, elevator pitch, and back cover copy for your novel. These are all essentials for hooking potential readers and enticing them to read your novel. If you’re still writing your novel, doing these exercises will help you focus on the core of your story and how best to engage readers.
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HOWDUNIT
A MASTERCLASS IN CRIME WRITING
Edited By Martin Edwards
EXCITING TOPICS INCLUDE:
- Openings
- Making Characters Believable
- Let the Story Be the Driver
- Writing Scenes
- The Face in the Mirror
- Action Scenes
- Impostor Syndrome
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How to Construct a 3D Main Character
By Kathy Edens — PrWritingAid
Think about the latest book you couldn’t put down. You could hardly wait to find out what happened to the MC. You just “got” her; she was relatable and you understood why she did the things she did.
She was obviously a three-dimensional MC. But what does that mean?
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How to Disappear
ERASE YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT, LEAVE FALSE TRAILS, AND VANISH WITHOUT A TRACE
By Frank Ahearn
Written by the world’s leading experts on finding people and helping people avoid being found.
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How to Edit and Publish a Book for FREE!
A FREE YOUTUBE VIDEO
By Fawn Tiffanie
This video explains how to edit, format, and publish for free; with help from other sites.
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How to Find a Literary Agent
By Faith Prince
If you wrote a book and would like to be traditionally published, the first step is finding a literary agent. At times, the agent search and submission process may seem daunting. In this video, I demonstrate how to use querytracker, a website that helps aspiring authors find literary agents
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How to Find Publishing Companies You Can Trust
By Derek Haines — Just Publishing Advice
For first-time authors, it can be a daunting process. There is such a wide range of publishing options available. What are the best publishing companies, and what are your choices? Which ones are the most reputable companies?
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How to Know When Your Manuscript Is Ready
By Tiffany Yates Martin — Writer’s Digest
In a craft and business as subjective as writing, there’s no clear finish line to let you know when you’ve arrived. Let editor Tiffany Yates Martin give you some tips for knowing when your manuscript is ready.
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How Market a Book — FREE ON KINDLE
Overperform in a Crowded Market
By Ricardo Fayet
Writing a book is hard. Marketing it can be even harder.
Marketing a book in 2022 can seem like a full-time job, what with the crazy number of things authors seem to be expected to do: social media, blog tours, advertising, price promotions, mailing lists, giveaways, you name it.
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How to Read Like a Writer
A FREE YOUTUBE VIDEO
By Diane Callahan — Quotidian Writer
Reading like a writer means reading to learn from other authors. By understanding the creative choices used in novels you admire, you can better apply those tools and techniques to your own writing.
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How to Self-Publish Your Book for FREE
and not get conned
By TW Robinson
Everything you need to know about being an author and making bank is right here in this book. I cover how to write, edit, format, design covers, and handle copyrights. I also provide in-depth, step-by-step instructions on how to publish and market your book. You can do it all yourself, without a publisher, on a budget and even for free.
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How to Tell a Story
By
The definitive guide to telling an unforgettable story in any setting, drawing on twenty-five years of experience from the storytelling experts at The Moth
Filled with empowering, easy-to-follow tips for crafting stories that forge lasting bonds with friends, family, and colleagues alike, this book will help you connect authentically with the world around you and unleash the power of story in your life.
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How to Write a Book
EBOOK AND SEMINAR
By Just Write It Services
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How to Write a Book
when you have no idea what you are doing
By Angela Ackerman — Writers Helping Writers Become Authors
It may seem daunting at first, and doubts might try to sway us (What was I thinking? I can’t do this!), but I’m here to tell you that, yes, you can write a book.
7 Tips for How to Write a Book When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing
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How to Write Like a Writer
A Sharp and Subversive Guide to Ignoring Inhibitions, Inviting Inspiration, and Finding Your True Voice
By Thomas C. Foster
how to write everything from a report for your community association to a meaningful memoir
Combing anecdotes and hard-won lessons from decades of teaching and writing—and invoking everyone from Hemingway to your third-grade teacher—retired professor Thomas C. Foster guides you through the basics of writing. With How to Write Like a Writer you’ll learn how to organize your thoughts, construct first drafts, and (not incidentally) keep you in your chair so that inspiration can come to visit.
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How to Write a Series
By Sara Rosett
A Guide to Series Types and Structure plus Troubleshooting Tips and Marketing Tactics
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How to Write a Thriller That Delivers
By Wand Morris — Writer’s Digest
When you’ve kept your readers up all hours of the night turning the pages, then you know you’ve got a winning thriller on your hands. Here are 6 tips on how to write a thriller that delivers, plus examples from thrillers to add to your bookshelves.
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Human Reactions
capturing authentic human reactions in fiction
By K.M. Weiland — Helping Writers Become Authors
The goal of all memorable fiction is to capture the truth about humanity. Sometimes that truth is weighty and all-encompassing, such as the ubiquitous “good triumphs over evil.” But sometimes the important truths in fiction are found in the tiniest representations of the world around us and the people who inhabit it. When authors faithfully capture the rainbow glint of a dragonfly’s wing or the raspberry sherbet color of a sunrise, they offer us a nugget of truth about our shared existence.
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All About Hyphens
By Amanda Patterson — Writers Write
This post is all about hyphens and em dashes. Punctuation is the name for the marks we use in writing. Punctuation marks are tools that have set functions. We use them to give a sentence meaning and rhythm.
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HOT LINKS
NAVIGATION
FIRST DRAFT
A-D M-Q
E-H R-S
I-L T-Z
