• 5 Things Every Writer Needs to Do This Year

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    A new year has started and you’re more determined than ever to find a writing lifestyle that works for you. You are ready to write a book this year. So, what exactly do you need to have a successful writing year? Here are five things every writer needs to do to be productive this year. Make a plan. The best-laid intentions won’t get you anywhere if you don’t devise a plan. To reach your writing goals this year, create a detailed plan of the work you need to accomplish. Then, break that work down into smaller, action-oriented goals. Are you…

  • You’ve probably heard the old adage that the best writers are the best readers. Here are 5 books you should be reading to improve your writing!

    5 Books Worth Reading for Writers

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    You’ve probably heard the old adage that the best writers are the best readers, but what should you actually be reading in order to improve your writing craft? Books published within the genre you’re writing will help you see the tone and style your future readers are accustomed to.  Reading other books in your genre isn’t about mimicking or copying, instead it provides insight into your book’s market. So, if you’re writing YA fiction, be sure to read up on popular novels in that genre. If you’re writing a self-help book geared toward couples who want to improve their relationships,…

  • Subplots, ever heard of them? Essential to a good novel, here's how you can incorporate them with ease, and why you need to.

    How to Add Subplots to Your Novel and Why You Need Them

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    While your main plot is solely focused on your protagonist and his or her outcome, subplots serve as side stories to the main plot and tend to focus on secondary characters. Subplots should not overpower the main plot, but instead, strengthen the story and more develop the theme of your novel. The How While short stories or children’s books under 8,000 words rely on a basic, linear plot structure (one plotline), any story over that 8,000-word mark should have one or more subplots (depending on the story’s length) woven into it. Treat each subplot as a mini-story, meaning they need…

  • For a book to provide a great experience, writers must build tension throughout the book. Here's how to show character emotions rather than just say them.

    Showing Characters’ Moods and Emotions

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    Whether you’ve been writing for decades or are just embarking on your first writing journey, you’ve likely heard the phrase “show, don’t tell” ad nauseum. It’s one writing rule that applies to every genre because it makes or breaks the reading experience for your end-user—the reader. When we take it upon ourselves to tell readers what happens instead of presenting them with scenes to imagine in their minds, we inevitably strip our writing of the one thing our readers are looking for—an experience. In order for a book to provide a great experience, writers must build tension from the first…