The ideal beta readers are people who read in your genre and would buy your book in the store, because they can offer insight into whether your story appeals to that general audience and whether it compares to other books they are reading.

If the information is vital to the character—if it affects them or their world—it will also matter to the reader.

Like a recipe, it might sound fun to throw a bunch of spices into something, but what often happens is that the flavors become muddled and indistinguishable. A sign of a seasoned and skilled chef is restraint -one who makes few ingredients shine. Likewise, a skilled author will highlight their most important characters, being sure not to pollute the pages with unnecessary information or names.

Flashback scenes garner a mixed response from critics because they can be difficult to write and even more challenging to know where to place. However, a well-written flashback can enhance the reader’s understanding of the character, their motivations, and what’s at stake.

If, after careful analysis, you have found that your book is somewhat unconventional, it’s still possible to publish, but to pitch it properly and win over agents and publishers alike, you must first understand your intention to buck trends and then convince others why this choice is marketable.

It’s a challenge to interrupt the creative flow to take care of the physical self. But if you look at it this way, optimal physical health equates to optimal cognitive endurance, perhaps these small measures won’t seem as challenging to integrate into your routine.

Reading books on technique while you have your story in mind allows you to think about your work differently.

Receiving feedback gets easier but I don’t think anyone would describe it as a pleasant or comfortable process. However, it is a necessary part of producing good work. If you feel yourself struggling, just remember, the end goal is to create a fantastic story you can be proud of.

The gestational period of story ideas is exciting. One after another, ideas seem to sprout like weeds, and often, you can’t get the ideas onto paper quickly enough.

No one prepares you for the emotional roller coaster that follows submitting a manuscript…

Twelve books for writers, a holiday gift book guide for the writer in your life.

Do the holidays have you stressed? Think of Thanksgiving as your unofficial writer’s workshop…

What is your 'why' for writing? Understanding your 'why' deeply will help fortify you against the challenges accompanying the long writing journey...