by Jill Williamson | Dec 20, 2023 | Brainstorming, First Drafts, Story Ideas, Writing
As a novelist, short stories have always been challenging for me. I have the tendency to overcomplicate things, and short stories need to be simple. Last year I wrote a short fiction story for a magazine. Thankfully, my editor gave me some advice about how to...
by Stephanie Morrill | Dec 13, 2023 | Author Life, Productivity, Time Management
Writing in December comes with unique challenges. Whether you have extra time on your hands (like Jill) or less time than you’re used to having (like me) there are tips in here for...
by Stephanie Morrill | Dec 6, 2023 | First Drafts, Writing
When writing a first draft of a novel, most writers tend to either write long (use more words than necessary) or write short (use too few words). You likely know which one you are. If you’re the type of writer who writes short, you’ll notice that when...
by Jill Williamson | Nov 29, 2023 | Author Life, Encouragement, Guest Posts, Learning from Other Authors, Writing
Lorie Langdon is the author of the Disney Villain series, Happily Never After, featuring the legendary villains; Ursula/Vanessa, Gaston, Yzma, Captain Hook, and the Evil Queen. Her short story ANNA and THE KING releases this November in...
by Stephanie Morrill | Nov 22, 2023 | Writing, Writing Life
As a writer (and as a person, if I’m honest) it’s easy for me to fixate on what changes I would like to make. Contracts I wish I had, books I wish I’d written, writing time that I wish was longer, a social media following that I wish was bigger, and...
by Stephanie Morrill | Nov 15, 2023 | Guest Posts, Setting, World Building
Gillian Bronte Adams writes YA epic fantasy novels, including the award-winning Of Fire and Ash and The Songkeeper Chronicles. She loves strong coffee, desert hikes, and trying out new soup recipes on crisp fall nights. Her favorite books are the ones that make your...
by Jill Williamson | Nov 8, 2023 | Editing, Getting Feedback On Your Writing, Getting Published, Lists for Writers, Writing, Writing As A Business
Editors and agents are busy people. If you have been invited to submit chapters or a full manuscript to them, take extra time to ensure that you are sending out your best work. To help you make the best first impression, I’ve created a Submission Checklist. Use this...
by Stephanie Morrill | Nov 1, 2023 | First Drafts
Obsessively rewriting the first chapter or two of my book was one of the first hurdles I had to get over as a new writer. Story beginnings felt easy and fun to me. I would write my first few chapters, or my first few scenes, and excitedly pass them out to my friends....
by Stephanie Morrill | Oct 25, 2023 | Characters, Fantasy, Guest Posts, Point of View
Gillian Bronte Adams writes YA epic fantasy novels, including the award-winning Of Fire and Ash and The Songkeeper Chronicles. She loves strong coffee, desert hikes, and trying out new soup recipes on crisp fall nights. Her favorite books are the ones that...
by Jill Williamson | Oct 18, 2023 | Creativity, Editing, Guest Posts, Learning from Other Authors, Practicing, Writing, Writing Exercise
Callie Thomas is an indie author who loves all things fairy tales—including twisting tales of her own. Her favorite stories have a mix of sweet romance, laughter, and a pinch of magic. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing board games, reading at the beach,...
