When Revising, Ask Yourself: Who Cares?
If your answer doesn't in some way relate to the reader and them experiencing your story in the best way possible, then "revision needed."
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- Nov 24
- 2 min
DON'T Query (or Publish) That First Draft!
Take time away from the manuscript before you revise, then get some insight from beta readers before you revise again.
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- Nov 17
- 3 min
Embrace Variation in Your Writing Style
Mindfulness plays a huge role in becoming a skilled writer. Understand how sentence and paragraph lengths affect your readers.
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- Nov 10
- 1 min
"Writing is rewriting." –Donald Murray
While everyone has their own process, the revision phase of writing is typically a longer journey than the initial drafting.
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- Sep 22
- 3 min
Expanding Your Network, Part I: Associations
Social media is great for beginning to build your writing (or editing) community. Whether your book is out and you need it boosted,...
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- Sep 15
- 4 min
Writing Unreliable Narrators
Unreliable narration is a literary device that can create a deeper sense of suspense or mystery, engaging your reader on a fresh level....
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- Sep 8
- 2 min
Remember: Feedback is Subjective
If we followed one another on TwiX, you may or may not have seen tweets from me that noted that being able to receive feedback is as much an
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- Aug 18
- 3 min
Writing Believable Dialogue
Well-crafted dialogue pulls the good from how we write and the good from how we speak to create something that feels natural and believable.
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- Aug 10
- 3 min
Authors, You NEED a Website!
Understand why you need to be in control of your author brand and how your website is the center of that.
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- Jul 28
- 2 min
Choosing Your Editor(s), Part I
While experience is a key aspect of finding the right editor for your work, it’s not the only thing to consider. Here are the four main...
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- Jul 20
- 1 min
Create Flawed Characters
Don’t be afraid to get rough with your characters, even if—no, especially if—you love them. If you make their path too easy, your novel...
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- Jul 13
- 1 min
Let Your Story Come to You However it Wants
Think of your story like a puzzle. We don't put pieces together in a specific order. Some people dive in, some look for corners or edges,...
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- Jul 6
- 1 min
Trust Your Creative Gut
Writing one scene but thinking of another? You risk losing a great idea if you force yourself to work on one thing when your mind is...
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- Jun 29
- 1 min
Plan Your "Freebies" Early
Writers, you should start thinking about your marketing strategy early—even while you're still revising. Cutting major chapters and...
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- Jun 22
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Don't Be Afraid to Negotiate
If an editor (or cover designer, illustrator, book formatter, etc.) seems out of your price range, don't give up! Ask if they have...
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- Jun 15
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Know Your World
What YOU know about your world and your characters should be greater than what makes it to the page. If you find yourself explaining...
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- Jun 8
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Make Sure Your Scenes Are DOING Something
In genre fiction, each scene you write should be moving your plot forward. That doesn’t mean it’s all about the ACTION—you also need time...
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- Jun 1
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Writing Multiple Points of View
Writing your story from multiple points of view can allow greater perspective and a slow reveal of the full picture, but this structure...
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- May 18
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Mindfulness During Revision
Accept even before you begin writing that the final draft of your story or manuscript will likely look very different from the first...
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- May 11
- 2 min
Friday Tip: Cherish Your Wins
Keep track of kind words that you receive and all of your successes—even the little ones. They help lift you up on the down days, but...
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