While on Twitter the other day, writer A.J. Forrisi asked an amazing question! https://twitter.com/AjForrisi/status/928268520458260482 P.S. Give A.J. a follow! My quick answer? Take notes on your first book, so that writing the sequel isn't as difficult. (And definitely do a read-through. ) I keep a character bible and chapter summaries for each book in a series.… Continue reading Take Notes While Writing a Series
Tag: Publishing Advice
How Writing Conferences Can Surprise You
Today, I am attending a writing conference. (In case you’re wondering, I’m at the Middle of the Map Conference in Overland Park, Kansas.) While prepping last night, I began thinking about how much I love conferences—and about how many writers are on the fence about attending them. I always tell writers to attend conferences if they… Continue reading How Writing Conferences Can Surprise You
Burning Out on Your Fav Genre
Before every YA fantasy writer in the world loses their mind, I want to start out by saying that I, myself, am a YA fantasy writer and reader. Again, try not to lose your minds. This isn’t a personal attack. There’s some AMAZING YA SFF coming out right now. My most recent fav was Warcross… Continue reading Burning Out on Your Fav Genre
Should You Revise & Resubmit?
Querying can be terrifying. Whether you’re searching for an agent or applying directly to an editor/publisher (or even your own agent), sending your work out there is a nail-biting experience for nearly everyone, including established writers. In fact, most writers will tell you that rejection is a constant part of the publishing process. No matter… Continue reading Should You Revise & Resubmit?
Authors Who Give Up
As writers, we discuss lots of ups and downs. Writer’s block, in particular. But what about something stronger than writer’s block? What about feeling like you want to give up? “Giving up” is hard to define. Quite frankly, the definition will be different for every writer. One author might feel like giving up writing altogether,… Continue reading Authors Who Give Up
Choosing the Next Book to Write
If you’re a writer, you probably have more than one piece in that head of yours that you want to get out now, but we’re only human. There’s only so much we can do with the time that we’re given. So how do you choose which project to prioritize? Honestly, I have more than one… Continue reading Choosing the Next Book to Write
Writers, It’s Okay To Log Out
Social media is a must for writers today. Connecting with readers through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms is easy and welcomed, but it can get overwhelming. With the myriad of ways we have of posting information—sometimes live—it’s easy to succumb to publishing pressures. Personally, I still struggle to figure out where my balance is… Continue reading Writers, It’s Okay To Log Out
Podcasts for Writers, SFF, & More
I love podcasts. Since I spend most of my day on the computer, I’ve fallen in love with listening to podcasts while I’m off the computer. It helps me rest my eyes, while also giving me a chance to continue my research—whether it’s for publishing or writing in general. Below, I’m including my top three… Continue reading Podcasts for Writers, SFF, & More
#MondayBlogs How To Find Beta Readers
Beta reader (n): an avid reader/critique partner/superhero who looks over your novel/baby/everything before anyone else sees it in order to improve language/characters/grammar/basically the whole package. Okay, but really, beta readers are necessary, because they are an extra set of knowledgeable eyes on your work. They’ll see those plot holes you understand (but accidentally forgot to… Continue reading #MondayBlogs How To Find Beta Readers
#MondayBlogs When NaNoWriMo is Over
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is a lot of fun for many writers, and it can be that stepping stone that forces you to sit down and finish that draft you’ve been trying to complete for years. Whether you hit that 50,000-word milestone or not, I want to congratulate you, because—guess what??—you sat down,… Continue reading #MondayBlogs When NaNoWriMo is Over
