Craft

I start to write without having completed the research, because once you start writing, it opens up a lot of other questions that you need to do research on, and I feel like my research process is never complete.

Tracy Chevalier

Secondary Characters: Five Secret Ways to Use Them

by Hank Phillippi Ryan | Apr 27, 2022 | Craft

Fully-formed secondary characters can make the difference between a book that’s two-dimensional and one that readers describe as rich and resonant. Here are some ways to do that.

6 Tips for Smarter Novel Research

by Our Special Guest | Apr 11, 2022 | Craft

by Jess Montgomery When people ask me how I research my Kinship Historical...

4 (Surprising) Tips to Finish Your First Draft

by Our Special Guest | Apr 6, 2022 | Craft, Life

You’ve probably already heard that when writing a first draft the key is quantity over quality, but how exactly do you “get it done”? To accomplish this daunting task, must you resort to mind games and trickery? Absolutely, says writer Liz Scheier, and she offers up 4 ingenious tips to help you accomplish your literary goals.

The Anatomy of a Novel: What Goes Where and Why

by Dana Isaacson | Apr 4, 2022 | Craft, Publishing

A novel is not a collection of impressions or events. It’s an organic whole comprised of interlinking parts that move a story forward to a satisfying ending. Editor Dana Isaacson advises writers seeking a healthy and robust narrative to study “The Anatomy of a Novel.”

GO FOR BROKE: 6 ways to make your story stand out

by Paula Munier | Mar 30, 2022 | Craft, Marketing

If you’re having trouble getting the attention of agents and editors, here are six ways to make sure your story stands out—in a good way. Ways that can help get you past the gatekeepers and into the bookstores.

COMIC BOOK WRITING 101: THE HONEST TRUTH

by Hank Phillippi Ryan | Mar 23, 2022 | Craft

Ever thought about writing comics? Award-winning author Alex Segura has done that for years–and gives Career Authors the inside-the-industry scoop.

WRITING PROMPT: Who is she?

by Brian Andrews | Mar 18, 2022 | Craft, Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt: Who is she? Where is she? And what is she thinking about?

11 Hard-Earned Lessons from Three Decades of Writing

by Our Special Guest | Mar 16, 2022 | Craft, Life

From staying grounded to tackling writer’s block, guest contributor Erica Ferencik shares 11 Hard-Earned Lessons from her Three Decades of Writing!

4 Tips For Writing Backstory

by Brian Andrews | Mar 14, 2022 | Craft

Backstory is prequel—the aggregate and cumulative life experiences the character has before the reader meets him or her for the first time. In this week’s post, Brian Andrews gives 4 Tips for Writing Backstory.

BEHIND THE PAGES: The Murder Rule

I start to write without having completed the research, because once you start writing, it opens up a lot of other questions that you need to do research on, and I feel like my research process is never complete.

“ ‘The cat sat on the mat’ is not the beginning of a story, but ‘the cat sat on the dog’s mat’ is.”

When someone is mean to me, I just make them a victim in my next book.

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