Whether you’re writing a brooding warrior, a mischievous fae lord, or a reluctant heroine, building a dynamic character is key to making your fantasy novel unforgettable. I’ve written a lot of fantasy books—seven of which are published (two are free right now!). It’s why I teach writing classes and why I always recommend creating a… Continue reading How to Create Fantasy Characters Readers Will Obsess Over
Tag: editing
Revise and Revive: How Taking a Break Can Boost Your Revision Energy
Give yourself permission to revive while you revise. Your work will thank you for it.
Why You Should Never Call a Draft Final
Avoid naming any draft “final.” It will only lead to confusion and frustration down the road. Instead, try these shortcuts to stay organized.
A Line-By-Line Revision Tip No One Talks About
Polishing a book line-by-line is truly when a book would start to shine. Researching the details helps it shine bright.
Revising Tips for Beginners
I recently started writing my seventeenth novel. A bit mind-blowing, I know, but I’ve learned a lot over the years. Especially how to set myself up for success. To be honest, it mostly comes down to staying organized from Chapter One to The End…and throughout my various revisions. The more organized you are, the easier… Continue reading Revising Tips for Beginners
Happy Memorial Day! + Blogging News & Giveaways
Happy Memorial Day! I usually blog on the first and third Mondays of the month (and will include one if there’s a fifth), which is why I thought today might be a great time to update everyone. My blogging schedule is changing! Moving forward, I’ll be posting on the first and third Wednesday of the… Continue reading Happy Memorial Day! + Blogging News & Giveaways
How Three Different Rounds of Critique Partners & Beta Readers Help Me Revise
“How do you revise?” is a question I’m often asked when talking about novel writing, especially if I’m giving a speech to a group of writers who are approaching the end of their first draft. Writing a first draft is hard enough. But perfecting it? Well, that can feel so daunting that many writers freeze.… Continue reading How Three Different Rounds of Critique Partners & Beta Readers Help Me Revise
What Happened When I Opened an Old Manuscript that I Hadn’t Read in Three Years
Three years ago, I shelved a manuscript that I loved dearly but had to set aside in order to work on another project gaining interest in the market. It wasn’t a hard decision. At the time, I had just finished its third rewrite and, though it had recently won a writing contest, my other piece… Continue reading What Happened When I Opened an Old Manuscript that I Hadn’t Read in Three Years
Looking Back on my Pantser Novel
“Are you a pantser or a plotter?” is a common question writers hear. Why? There’s something inherently interesting about how someone turns a blank page into a 350-page novel. Sure, it's easy to say that one word after another leads to a sentence, which eventually becomes a chapter, before those chapters build a book. But there’s so… Continue reading Looking Back on my Pantser Novel
Finishing My First Pantser Novel
I finished my first panster novel. For those of you who don’t know what a panster is in publishing, it basically means you write with no plan, no outline, nothing. You write by the seat of your pants. Hence, panster. Typically, I’m an outliner. A pretty detailed one, I might add. There’s something comforting about knowing my… Continue reading Finishing My First Pantser Novel
