I like to change up my reading vibe according to the seasons. Spooky reads in fall, snowy reads in winter, etc. Christmas deserves its own category, and if you’re in the mood for some Christmas literature, I’ve got a few recs. for you. I’m skipping over Little Women and A Christmas Carol, because you already…
There’s an online writing activity I like about as much as having someone else floss my teeth—posting the first line of a story in internet forums to receive critique from whoever’s willing to help. This practice is common on Reddit; I’ve also seen these threads in Facebook groups that are otherwise valuable places for writers…
Whether you’re a traditionally published or self-published author, you’re going to have to promote your book on your own time and your own dime, for the most part. There are exceptions, but plan on being your own marketer. For the past year or so I’ve been watching Kimberly Nixon do a heck of a job…
Writer’s block. It’s a thing. But it doesn’t have to be your thing anymore. It’s frustrating to feel stuck in your work, but you often only need to take a smallish action, usually one you’re not used to doing, to get through it and beyond it. Writer’s block is not the same as being burnt…
Do I even need to talk about why the opening pages of your book are capital “C” critical? I doubt I do. Writers are readers, and you know how you either fall into a book or lean away from it, and then quit it, usually quickly. As an editor and writing teacher, I’ve spent years…