• Open Versus Closed Writing Critique Groups

    Open Critique Groups Open writing critique groups are open to everyone who wishes to join with no restrictions in regards to age, writing genre, writing experience, group participation, meeting attendance, group size, or anything else in that matter. There are also typically little to no rules beyond common courtesy. PROS Flexibility: Attendance to meetings–whether virtual or in-person– isn’t mandatory. There’s also no pressure in sharing or participating which many writers that are new to critique groups will appreciate.  Diversity: You’ll receive and observe feedback from a large variety of perspectives and writing styles. Networking: If your goal is to expand…

  • How to Create a Visual Experience in Your Writing

    When writing, it’s so easy to get bogged down with dialogue, plot lines, verb tense, and comma placement. We can get so caught up with that we can forget to push our creative boundaries. Becoming fixated on punctuation can cause our descriptions to go flat. Other times, we may avoid using symbolism in writing because it feels too advanced for the current writing level. It’s easy to stick to what you know. If your manuscript is starting to feel like dialogue mixed in with a bunch of bland back story, give symbolism, description, and color a try. Here are our…

  • Should You Include The Pandemic COVID-19 In Your Next Book?

    The big question on every writer’s mind right now is: “Do I write about pandemic COVID-19 in my next book?” Here’s the answer: You don’t have to if you don’t want to. Fiction readers choose books that most often help them escape their realities. So, if a reader is trying to escape the reality of the coronavirus, a novel that doesn’t talk about the virus is more palatable for them. On the other hand, there are readers who are going to want to read all about COVID-19 because it helps them see the pandemic from other people’s viewpoints. The real…

  • A Pre-Writing Checklist for Fiction Writers

    Hyping yourself up to write a book is a lot like getting in the right frame of mind to start a new workout routine. First, the determination takes hold. “I am going to start right now.” Then, self-doubt takes over. “I have no idea where to start.” So, this is your crash course to the pre-writing process. Follow our checklist, and you’ll feel more confident and prepared when it comes time to start writing. 1. Develop your elevator pitch, also known as a premise. Your premise should mention of your protagonist, his or her goal, and the situation that will…