Guest Post

Does my story matter? Is it good enough? They’re questions every writer asks, and the way to answer them is to connect to your why.

The early part of your memoir should reveal the short list of narrator flaws and problems you’ll resolve by the end of your book.

In times of sickness, cultural upheaval, and real existential threats, perhaps stories matter more than ever.

The pages of your journal can be a time machine, transporting you from the here and now to snapshots of your internal world, over the years.

Your book’s ending must reveal the story’s resolution. Once you know what you’re resolving, you can establish a clear path for getting there.

By spending as much (or more) time weaving a dynamic Story as you do creating a flashy Plot, readers will walk away feeling satisfied.

Here are some of the many ways that a journaling practice can serve as a laboratory for your writing, and your life.

One professor addresses common questions and criticisms about MFA programs.

Brooke Warner, founder of She Writes Press, responds to a recent UK report about unethical practices in the hybrid publishing realm.

Not only can a journaling practice sustain and inspire your writing projects—a commitment to it can inform and improve your entire life.

A social media following doesn’t guarantee sales. Building an audience that’s engaged with your work—your mission—requires more varied tools.

The publisher of the Lit Mag News Roundup discusses current trends, editor pet peeves, diversity, how to handle rejection, and more.

The more important and perennial a problem that a book addresses, the better the chances it will survive the test of time.

The imagery and symbolism in a tarot deck can help an author achieve clarity on character and story arcs, internal and external journeys.

The real reason writing groups sometimes fail us has nothing to do with the lovely people in them. The failure is due to a mismatch between what you need and what the group offers.

University presses are not just for scholars, and many are far more open-minded than you may think.

A story intro that shows internal trouble, signaling the beginning of a character arc, makes agents and editors sit up and take notice.

Flashback is a powerful tool for weaving in important backstory—but as with any power tool, using it well requires knowledge and care.

Children aren’t miniature grownups. When writing a story with a child character, take time to really listen to how kids of that age talk.

Identifying the right platform for you comes down to your personality, what you like to do and, most importantly, what you want to achieve.

You don’t need to be famous or a tech guru. All you really need is an Instagram account, a PayPal link, and something to offer your audience.

You don’t need to start strategizing newsletter content or setting a delivery schedule in order to begin building your email list.

Setting an idea or draft aside for “percolation” allows the brain’s subconscious to arrive at insights while we’re busy with something else.

THE TASTE OF GINGER author discusses challenges in her quest for publication, writing about the immigrant experience, and much more.

To survive and be happy in a creative career, focus on WHAT you’re doing and WHY—and have faith that everything will work out in due time.

For horror writers, here are some ways to frighten a reader so badly that they text someone at midnight saying, “You have to read this!”

What makes a memoir suitable for YA or middle-grade readers isn’t shying away from tough topics but approaching them with a child’s eyes.

It’s difficult yet important to develop enough confidence in your work that you’re not sunk every time someone dislikes it and says so.

Two literary agents discuss the usefulness and limits of assigning a genre to writing, and how it’s perceived by publishers and readers.

Writing sustainably about trauma requires practicing moderation, focusing on meaning, and working in ways that limit your exposure.

How to put your best foot forward, from the new book PITCH LIKE HOLLYWOOD: What You Can Learn from the High-Stakes Film Industry.

Defining your why, who, what, and how is the start of writing a powerful thought leadership book that conveys your vision and impacts lives.

For freelancers, forgoing social media can mean giving up crucial visibility. But it can also provide time to focus on being a better writer.

If you’ve been seeking external solutions to your writing problems, these internal shifts might have a more profound effect on your progress.

Writing about trauma isn’t like ripping off a Band-Aid. Here are some strategies for assessing whether you’re ready and proceeding gently.

Imbuing a character’s story with your own life experience—the good, bad, ugly and transformational—unleashes your book’s full emotional power.

One key to compelling fiction is in how details are conveyed. Not everything warrants description—only details that matter to the character.

When an author’s death leaves a manuscript unfinished, her husband tries to put together the pieces and complete the book.

One author considers the power that writing conferences have to inspire—and to discourage—their audiences.

Cause and effect plotting is every bit as important to literary fiction as to genre fiction or thriller; it’s just expressed in subtler ways.

One author shares how creation of a daily writing routine has made all the difference in attaining her goals.

When writers seek to humanize and bring their characters to life, they often fall into the “daily routine trap": they overexplain the daily or mundane actions of their characters.

Instead of resolving to make a big change in your habits, think of one small thing to do to support your writing in the new year.

What’s the difference between a story and a narrative that merely relates a series of events? The protagonist’s internal struggle.

Receiving an R&R is good news, and a great opportunity to show agents or editors your revising skills and how you accept feedback.

Giving your book a good title that captures the essence of your story is one of the most important things you’ll do.

Promotion strategy for your book depends greatly on why you’ve written it, what it means to you, and its place in the larger context of your life.

A developmental editor is like any tool in your toolbox. Knowing whether and when to use one will help you get the most bang for your buck.

Perfectionism—the fear of risking failure—is anathema to the writing process, but can be overcome by establishing a different mindset.

A literary fiction author dipped her toe into Amazon’s serialization platform Kindle Vella. Here’s why she did it, and her thoughts so far.