by Shannon Dittemore | May 17, 2019 | Scenes and Scene Structure, The Craft of Writing, Writing
As a modern fiction writer, your words have to do some serious heavy lifting. Shorter attention spans combined with endless entertainment options mean that we have a very condensed amount of time to hook a reader. On top of that, it’s just good storytelling to ensure...
by Stephanie Morrill | Apr 22, 2019 | Antagonists, Characters, First Drafts, The Craft of Writing
**Today is the last day to enter the 100-word contest! Get your entries in by 9pm central. Details here.** Recently, I’ve come across something in a few different young adult and middle grade books that’s bothered me: The child character is absolutely...
by Stephanie Morrill | Mar 18, 2019 | Getting Feedback On Your Writing, Learning from Other Authors, The Craft of Writing, Writing, Writing Life
Confession: I dread when I’m asked about author voice at writing conferences. I always trip all over my words, and I usually find myself talking in circles. My answer is always convoluted with so many half-baked thoughts that I’m sure I’ve never...
by Shannon Dittemore | Mar 1, 2019 | Author Life, Getting Published, Productivity, The Craft of Writing, Writing Life
One of the more challenging aspects of blogging for writers is the wide audience you find yourself talking to. Even if you focus specifically on teen writers, none of the advice doled out is one-size-fits all. Not only does every writer have their own style and their...
by Stephanie Morrill | Feb 18, 2019 | Author Life, The Craft of Writing, Writing, Writing Life
Just like I knew would happen, after I published my writing truths last Monday, I thought of others, and I was reminded of some by you guys in the comments. Here are my 8 additions: Write purple This refers to a Writing Advice Examined post of mine from a couple years...
by Shannon Dittemore | Feb 15, 2019 | Getting Published, The Craft of Writing, Writing Life
Last Friday we talked about which writers need literary agents and where you can go to find one. When you’ve compiled a list of agents you’re interested in working with, it’s time to write that query letter. As a reminder, a query is a means of introduction to a...
