Beta readers do a lot of things for authors, but aside from pointing out confusion in a manuscript and revealing aspects that are lacking in a story, the most important task they perform is to bolster the writer’s self-confidence.

I’ve noticed that even with my favorite books, there is usually something I don’t love about the book. The interesting thing, I think, is that I still love that book unconditionally.

Tips to help you get the ball rolling.

Story structure is pretty complex, so I understand why some writers resist learning about it. “I don’t want to write in a formulaic way,” is one of the common responses. But story structure does not require you to write formulaically.

This week's blog is a guest article by author Deborah Sheldon, who discusses how the Covid lockdown affected the writing of her novella Readhead Town.

I didn’t always like character sketches. They were like homework I did not want (or need) to do. I no longer feel that way.

The great thing about making an audiobook is that it requires a relatively small amount of time compared to writing and publishing a novel. Part 1 in this short series will provide a general outline of how an audiobook is made, and Part 2 will dive into the particulars of hiring a narrator and other details.

Instead of speeding headlong into 2024 with new material, I’m going to start off the year with a peek back at 2023 and the many blog posts I (and a few guest bloggers) wrote.

In this blog post, I talk about series and the kind of thinking that can help you get started on writing one.

The objections to the typewriter were the bleating heart of nostalgia. Such feelings occur when a change is so unfamiliar it frightens us back to comfortable corners. Such are the objections to AI writing tools today. This is a guest blog written by Zoë Routh.

Concise writing clearly expresses itself in the fewest number of words. Because it doesn’t carry any baggage, it speeds along the page. Here’s how to create it.

Guest blogger Cookie Boyle started her book before meeting her husband. He had given her feedback on her plays, and she gave him feedback on his scripts. But her novel was different. It predated their time together, so she thought she could and should finish it on her own.

Self-editing is about seeing what’s really there and recognizing what is not but should be. Here is a short checklist to help you do it well.

POV and Setting go hand in hand in creating a world your reader can visualize. Are you sure you have a good handle on them?

The other day, someone asked me the age-old question, “How do I become a writer?” My answer was, “Just start writing.” Of course, that’s the edited version of the real answer, which involves a lot more than any blog post can handle.

When guest blogger Erika Hoffman walked into a restaurant called Il Culaccino, she mentally noted how a single word can spark curiosity in someone unfamiliar with it.

What is it about a story that compels readers to stay up far later than they should? Why is it we have trouble getting to the end of one book, yet we fly through another?

Unlock the secret power reading provides writers.

Beta readers read your manuscript and provide constructive criticism on the big things like pacing, plot, characters, and voice. They are not friends, parents, siblings, or anyone else who will worry about hurting your feelings.

There are as many ways to garner inspiration as there are to write a novel. In this article, I share what works for me.