Pros at Cons: How Professional Authors Build Their Careers at ConventionsIf you live in an urban area, you’ve probably seen large groups of people dressed in colorful costumes, headed toward your city’s convention center for huge fan events. Possibly less noticeable,...
Dictation: Speed Up Your Writing ProcessFor many authors, the greatest obstacle is often not a lack of ideas, but too little time. One potential solution may be easier than you think: increase your writing speed by speaking your first draft rather than typing. Why...
Strategies to Tackle Challenging Books: Improve Your Reader ExperienceThe thought of new year's resolutions can sometimes have us looking back on previous promises where we fell short—like reading that one life-changing novel everyone recommended but you struggled to...
Writing Groups: Why You Should Join and How to Find ThemIn the new year, many of us find ourselves feeling extra inspired and excited to complete goals . . . but sometimes those goals can be hard to stick to within a few weeks. Heading into 2022, many have made the...
“It’s so sad!” Have you ever had a friend begin recommending a book by using that line? If any story has a reputation for being a tearjerker, you might find yourself wondering why anyone would consider that a positive recommendation. And yet, many of the most...
As we dig into the month of November, many novelists are working their way into new plots. Some have meticulously outlined, and others are making it up as they go. This question is vital to both: “Will my ending be satisfying?” Whether you’re writing the end of a...
Setting out to write a novel can be daunting. This fact is true for both the seasoned veteran and the first-time novelist. Fortunately, all writers can participate in a free event called NaNoWriMo, which provides support and encouragement through an annual month-long...
On my first visit to a public library, I was told that all books could be grouped into Fiction and Nonfiction. In the Fiction section, I could find amazing adventures set in made-up worlds with wonderful descriptions and dialogue. The example for a Nonfiction book was...
Before authors begin writing new stories, many will create thorough outlines as their roadmap. This process is often referred to as “plotting” because plotters prefer to predetermine the steps and beats of their plot. Another, seemingly opposite, school of thought is...
Have you ever wondered why “Science Fiction & Fantasy” is one combined section of the book store—especially when our mental images of the two genres might feel very different? Typically, science fiction depicts a plausible, explainable future, with robots or...
