Digging to Find the Theme in Your Novel
When you ask a fiction writer what her story is about, she will usually explain the plot. Yes, plot is…
Using Motifs in a Powerful Way in Your Fiction
This is a reprint of a post I wrote many years ago, but it bears reprinting! Motifs are powerful elements…
4 Steps to Create Perfect Plot Twists
Plot twists are all about the unexpected. So, the best tip for writing great twists is come up with unexpected…
5 Tips to Writing about Place in Fiction
Today’s guest post is by Yasmin Chopin. I am often asked, ‘What is place writing?’ As a field of study,…
5 Characteristics of the Perfect Murder Mystery Hero
Today’s post is by screenwriter Neil Chase. There are many important elements to a successful murder mystery, but the hero…
How (and Why!) to Build an Email Following
Today’s guest post is by Scott Lieberman. Perseus Books Group reached out to me. They wanted to pay me to…
What Writers Need to Master Their Craft
Many people want to write a great book, but they don’t want to get into the weeds with grammar, punctuation,…
On Being an Exophonic Writer
Today’s guest post is by Berendsje Westra. Do you write in a language that is not your mother tongue? If…
The Secret to a Successful Book Publishing Career
Yes, I know there is more than one “secret.” But what is the most important aspect to garnering success as…