Writing Advice

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.

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

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

Wanting to leave your writing group doesn’t make you a jerk. Departing with grace is an act of kindness that furthers your development and the friendships you cherish.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

To achieve writing success—especially commercial success—requires an inner drive that pushes you forward no matter what feedback you receive.

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.

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.

Applying craft techniques—like complexity and telling details—is crucial to bringing our parents, and their humanity, to life on the page.

This author is living proof that neither age nor lack of experience writing fiction are barriers to becoming a novelist.

Will you tell your story in a linear, chronological manner, or use a more complicated structure? Here’s how to decide what might be best.

Character arc—a protagonist’s internal journey—is less obvious than the events of the plot, but it’s what makes a story meaningful.

Your memoir’s structure can reveal itself later, once the primary elements are in place. In the meantime, concentrate on scaffolding.

For writers who prefer to work without a roadmap, here are some tips for reaching your NaNoWriMo goals.

Envision your inner critic as an adjustable dial: turn it lower to let ideas flow freely, and higher when it’s time to analyze and revise.

Your story’s adversary might come in many shapes or sizes. Most important, ensure that the conflict they present has a reason for existing.

Just as coaches help athletes, writing coaches can help authors be more productive, proficient, and proud of what they accomplish.

Only a fraction of participants reach the finish line. Setting your sights on the more compact novella form might help you go the distance.