• How to Stick to Your New Year’s Writing Goals

    New Year, new book! If you’re an aspiring author determined to publish in 2023 or a writer just wanting to increase their productivity, this list of tips is for you. Here are 5 ways to set and stick to New Year’s writing goals: 1. Create an action plan. Just writing down a list of goals isn’t enough this year. Take time to create an action plan for every goal you want to achieve. Be honest with yourself and make sure it’s a realistic action plan that you can stick to. The action plan should include quantifiable milestones, like hitting a…

  • Gearing Up for NaNoWriMo

    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…

  • Style Sheets 101: Why You Need One

    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…

  • What are Plot Holes and How to Avoid Them

    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…