“E.L. Doctorow said once said that ‘Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’ You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice on writing, or life, I have ever heard.” Read More “The Best Advice on Writing”
Forming a poetry group will help you improve your writing, stay accountable, and build a foundation of mutual support. Read More “Forming Your Own Poetry Group”
Rejection is a universal part of being a writer. “Get used to it,” they say. “Grow some thick skin.” What they don’t talk about as much is just how much it hurts. Read More “A Sweet Way to Beat Rejection”
Banning took to Twitter, writing, “Only two people came to my author signing yesterday, so I was pretty bummed about it. Especially as 37 people responded ‘going’ to the event. Kind of upset, honestly, and a little embarrassed.” It was some void: In a supercharged example of writers supporting writers, the tweet racked up more than 80,000 likes after sparking the memories of bestselling authors like Margaret Atwood, Jodi Picoult, and Stephen King. Read More “Social Media & Writers Supporting Writers”
I began to take whatever steps I could think of to make myself ready to make the leap. For instance, I started saving intensely, making my own lunches, cutting back on driving to save on gas money, etc. Read More “How I (Finally) Quit My Day Job to Be a Full-Time Writer”
Six critique-free ways to add the buddy system to your writing process (plus one bonus variation). Read More “Introducing critiqueless partners”
Have an unfinished manuscript, a writing friend, and a small chunk of free time on the calendar? A reciprocal book-coaching marathon may help you both cross the finish line. Read More “Finishing our books in 10 days – or else”
“You’re asking the wrong question. Here’s the right one: Does my story need to be longer?” Read More “Gigi Will Know: My manuscript needs to be longer! Where can I look for an author who might collaborate with me?”
Timeless craft tips from our archives, featuring Margaret Atwood, Walter Mosley, Isabel Allende, Ursula K. Le Guin, and more. Read More “Celebrating 135 years of good writing”
Authors share stories of community-building by subscription. Read More “Reach readers with a newsletter for writers”
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”
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”
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”
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