Building strong side characters
Side characters are often written without development, created for a specific purpose, and then discarded without a second thought. On our most recent First Draft Friday, author Cindy Skaggs explored why side characters desire proper attention, and how they can improve your story. xxxx xxxx They can help define your theme Cindy pointed out that […]
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Tips for building your editorial team
There comes a time in every novel’s life when it is time to leave the safe haven of the author’s computer and journey out into the world. Before it reaches retailer shelves, a variety of individuals should read and critique your masterpiece. One of the first editors who helped my novels on their journeys into […]
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Authors’ writing advice comes to life
Here’s a look at writing advice from some of the world’s best known authors, along with their animated images in MyHeritage’s trippy AI program Deep Nostalgia.
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Tips for writing in the Young Adult voice
Author Alessandra discusses best practices for writing in the Young Adult voice with YA fiction author and ghostwriter Morgan Bader.
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Examples of narrative arcs in modern fiction
Do novels share certain storytelling patterns? An A.I. has determined that most best-sellers use one of seven universal plot archetypes.
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Writing mistakes to avoid in your novel
Book editor Susan Barnes reveals the most common missteps that authors make. These mistakes can cause poor reviews, lost sales, and readers abandoning your novel midway through. In this half-hour event, Susan teaches how to avoid common pitfalls and what to watch our for when you’re writing and rewriting a draft.
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Is your romance novel too steamy?
Romance novels often get a bad reputation as being nothing more than tawdry scenes linked to each other by a cookie cutter plot. But as any romance reader knows, sex is just one portion of a beautiful and intricate romance novel. And in some romance novels, sex is missing altogether from the pages. In our […]
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Writing about guns? Get your ammunition right
How to make sure your fictional firearms don’t jam Part two of a two-part series. See part one: The right way to write about guns in novels Rounds, cartridges, shells or bullets? In this article I’ve been scrupulous about referring to “rounds” when I mean the things you load into your firearm and “bullets” when […]
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The right way to write about guns in novels
A farewell to firearms mistakes: How to get the details correct in scenes with guns First of a two-part series. Also see Part two: Writing about guns? Get your ammunition right See that handgun on your writing desk? There. Just to the right of your keyboard. Go on, pick it up. Heavy, isn’t it? Surprisingly […]
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How to become a more prolific writer
As a writer, have you ever achieved flow state – that feeling when words flow like water? Author Chris Fox explains how he writes 5,000 words an hour in this interactive chat.
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Improving your first page
If done right, a novel’s first page can be a powerful ally to generate sales. On the other side of that coin, your first page can be a powerful deterrant for readers if it misses its mark. So, how do you make sure that your first page, or first scene, captures the readers’ attention and […]
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Should you outline your novel or not?
Using a synopsis as a shortcut will give heft to your story A large question when one is starting a new novel is whether or not to outline the plot, the characters, and all the characters’ actions. That is, to have a clear idea of its “arc”– its beginning, middle, and end, which will tell […]
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