Ask Gigi: Writing About Celebrities
Is it ok to write about celebrities in your fiction? Read More “Ask Gigi: Writing About Celebrities”
Fiction
How To Build Flash Fiction Characters
So nurture an irreverence of banality, a disdain for the ordinary. Don’t be complacent. A complacent author creates complacent characters, characters content to exist in generalities, cliches, and stereotypes. Read More “How To Build Flash Fiction Characters”
Ask Gigi: How Do I Sort Out the Genres of Books?
I think one thing we must consider when we look at creative work is whether or not we’re slapping unreasonable boundaries on ourselves. Read More “Ask Gigi: How Do I Sort Out the Genres of Books?”
Retelling Stories: A Useful Addition To Your Toolbox
Whether it’s for training, improving, or relating, retelling stories can prove a useful addition to every writer’s toolbox. Read More “Retelling Stories: A Useful Addition To Your Toolbox”
Gigi Will Know: Characters’ perspectives
How should a novelist handle using two characters’ perspectives? Read More “Gigi Will Know: Characters’ perspectives”
The Sex, Love, and Supernatural Fantasy of Paranormal Romance
What is paranormal romance and what are the keys to writing it well? Read More “The Sex, Love, and Supernatural Fantasy of Paranormal Romance”
A New Approach to Outlining
Seeking a middle ground in the plotters vs. pantsers debate. Read More “A New Approach to Outlining”
Ax to Grind
The perils of settling scores in your writing. Read More “Ax to Grind”
Atmosphere
On setting in horror. Read More “Atmosphere”
Gigi Will Know: How can I know if a prologue is the right way to open my novel?
“I have a short prologue written, but I’m not sure if it adds to the story or takes away from my opening chapter.” Read More “Gigi Will Know: How can I know if a prologue is the right way to open my novel?”
Featured Posts
Opportunities for Writers: February 2023 Calls for Submissions
February 2023 Calls for Submissions These are the writing opportunities and contests that caught our eye and are published in the February issue of The … Read More “Opportunities for Writers: February 2023 Calls for Submissions”
Consistency across your YA series
The key to writing a great YA series (or MG series) is knowing your characters and plotlines inside and out – while giving yourself the flexibility to modify things when needed. Here are four things to live by when writing a series, based on tips from middle grade and young adult authors who have been there. Read More “Consistency across your YA series”
25 Sensory Writing Prompts to Improve Detail & Description
By most accounts, there are more than five senses. Some experts say there are seven, some as many as 20. But narrowing in on at least the five classical senses can lend a much-needed “sense” of detail to your writing. Here are five prompts for each of those five classic senses. Read More “25 Sensory Writing Prompts to Improve Detail & Description”