• For writers, there is one important festivity that takes place right before the holidays: NaNoWriMo. We want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible...

    Gearing Up for NaNoWriMo

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    For writers, there is one important festivity that takes place right before the holidays. The writing event of the year — NaNoWriMo — starts November 1, and we want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible if you’re planning on participating in the 30-day sprint to a 50,000-word first draft of your next novel. Take the remaining days of October to prepare yourself with our 10 easy steps: 1. Gather your tools. Before you can participate, you have to decide what tools you’ll be using to complete your 50,000 words. First, make sure your computer is fully updated and…

  • There are several ways to keep yourself and your writing organized. One great way is by creating and maintaining a style sheet ...

    Style Sheets 101: Why You Need One

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    There are several ways to keep yourself and your writing organized. One is a writer’s notebook and the other is to create and maintain your style sheet. Keeping all your ducks in a row as you write a book is no small feat! Let’s face it, you’re trying to keep track of the tiniest details that live within 50,000 or more words. Plus, you have way more important things to figure out, like your climactic moment and how to actually end your story. What is a style sheet? A style sheet is a document you add your preferences to regarding…

  • 31 Days of Fall Writing Prompts

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    Autumn is a great season to spend time journaling because we naturally begin to look back and reflect on the year. Take time to record your thoughts this month by participating in our 31 days of fall writing prompts. As you will see there is a writing prompt for every day of the month, but don’t feel like you have to do them in order. Print the list below and select a new prompt each day. As you finish one, cross it off the list. You may even want to choose a special journal to house your thoughts this month. Happy…

  • Plot holes can typically go undetected. To start identifying plot holes within your work, you have to know what you’re looking for. The different types o...

    What are Plot Holes and How to Avoid Them

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    Plot holes can creep up in any book genre, and typically go undetected for a while. To start identifying plot holes within your work, you have to know what you’re looking for. There are a few different types of plot holes: Continuity errors Something takes place that is impossible Storylines are unresolved at the end of the book Contradictions are embedded in the writing An illogical event takes place Now, that we know what plot holes are, we need to know how to avoid them. The most helpful way to avoid plot holes is to revise your work with strong…