Tag: writetip
How to Set Your Readers Up For Success
We don’t think, as authors, that we’re responsible for making our readers successful. We think about making our careers, our book, successful, but our readers? How can we control that if w... Read More
So, You Want to Make Money as a Writer?
Maybe you have an English degree. Maybe you have an MFA, like me. Maybe not. Maybe you just love to write and think it’d be really nice to make some dough while you do it. Maybe it’s more ... Read More
7 Reasons to Include Holidays in Your Writing
As I’m writing this, it’s Good Friday and I’m preparing for my role as puppeteer in my church’s annual Easter event. In thinking about the holiday and all that comes with it, I... Read More
Is Your Story Contrived?
Yes, your story is contrived. ALL stories are contrived. The word contrived means to plan, to invent, to plot. And even pantsers plot and invent, regardless of whether or not they did it beforehand. I... Read More
6 Reasons to Write What You Want
A few months ago, I heard Sandra Huertes, a memoirist, speak. She said this: Don’t give yourself over to the fickleness of the publishing industry. Be in love with the writing, not the approval ... Read More
Know When It’s Time to Give Up
Most people tell you not to give up. Most times I will, too. And most times, you absolutely should not give up. But there are a few instances when giving up is the best thing. Maybe. Sometimes ideas c... Read More
6 Reasons to Turn Up the Silence in Your Writing Life
Life is loud. And because of the loudness in our lives and minds, it’s often difficult to find the time for silence. When was the last time you sat, on purpose, in quiet for any length of time? ... Read More
7 Important Things That Place Does in a Story
The setting of your story, or the “place,” is a critical element of your story. Too often I’ve thought about a story, and figured that, oh, it takes place in a suburb. But there are ... Read More