LitUP is one of my favorite book festivals of the year. It’s all about bringing young adult authors and aspiring teen writers together.
Tag: aspiring author
How to Organize Scrivener’s Binder for Novel Writing
Have your most important documents accessible while writing.
My #1 Publishing Secret: The Power of a Strategic Plan
Every author I know has secrets: Secret writing tips, secret favorite reads, secret marketing advice. You name it, folks have it. Granted, I’m a big believer in transparency. I wouldn’t be where I am today without other writers and publishing professionals sharing their insight with me, so I always try to give back. So what’s… Continue reading My #1 Publishing Secret: The Power of a Strategic Plan
5 Non-Writing Activities I Still Count As Writing
Writing is hard. So hard that writer's block often sneaks up on us. But did it really sneak up on us? I see lots of writers who get writer's block from one thing: Not feeling like they’re doing enough. Which is why I recommend being mindful about how non-writing activities count toward your writing journey. … Continue reading 5 Non-Writing Activities I Still Count As Writing
Why I Want to Publish My Stories and Not Just Write Them for Me
"What’s a story without a reader?" feels a lot like "If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Let's talk about it.
The Difference Between Querying in 2019 and 2022, and Why Your Well-Intentioned Advice May Be Doing More Harm Than Good.
When I signed with my first agent, it was 2019. I’d queried two manuscripts by then between 2017-2019. In 2021, my agent left the industry. I took some time off, then wrote the book of my heart, and now I’m back in the query trenches for the first time in three years. As an author… Continue reading The Difference Between Querying in 2019 and 2022, and Why Your Well-Intentioned Advice May Be Doing More Harm Than Good.
When Are You Ready to Query?
Writers who want to publish with the Big Five need literary agents. To get a literary agent, one must query. To do that, you need your entire publishing package ready. That includes your formatted manuscript, query letter, and 1-page synopsis. Let’s say you have all three of these items right in front of you. How… Continue reading When Are You Ready to Query?
I’m a Writer with Imposter Syndrome
I have imposter syndrome. For those of you who don’t know, imposter syndrome “is a concept describing individuals who are marked by an inability to internalize their accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.” At least according to Wikipedia. (And, yes, I see the humor in starting this article with a… Continue reading I’m a Writer with Imposter Syndrome
Your Story Ideas Aren’t Enough
The other day I was on Twitter and saw someone tweet out something along the lines of, “YOUR STORY IDEA DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING,” and I about had a heart attack, because WHAT. I mean, of course ideas matter. In fact, I’m one of those authors that keep lists and lists of ideas, because I believe… Continue reading Your Story Ideas Aren’t Enough
Writing in a New Genre
Maybe you hit a slump with your usual genre. Maybe you’re feeling the urge to explore. Maybe you just want to. Sometimes, authors want to write in a genre they’ve never written in before, but they don't know where to start. Well, that's what I'm here for. In fact, I recently went through this myself,… Continue reading Writing in a New Genre
