Right now, I am in the process of killing my darlings. A common phrase used in the writing world, and yet many writers have different definitions for it. Recently, it seems many writers take "kill your darlings" literally and they kill characters. While that technically counts, "kill your darlings" is a reference to eliminating any… Continue reading Trusting the Writing Process When You Must Kill Your Darlings
Tag: writing
How to Organize Scrivener’s Binder for Novel Writing
Have your most important documents accessible while writing.
How to Fast Draft Chapters
Writing quickly and effectively is a skill. Here's some tips to get you started!
Is Your 18+ Protagonist Young Adult, New Adult, or Adult?
What makes a book young adult or new adult? What about adult?
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
Enemies to Lovers vs Rivals to Lovers: Meeting Readers’ Expectations
There’s been a lot of talk about tropes and readers’ expectations, mainly enemies-to-lovers versus rivals-to-lovers, and while there is some crossover, there’s also distinct differences that writers and readers should keep in mind. So what makes these tropes successful? How do they stand apart from each other? Enemies-to-lovers: As it sounds, the love interests of… Continue reading Enemies to Lovers vs Rivals to Lovers: Meeting Readers’ Expectations
Why Similar Ideas Shouldn’t Deter Your Writing Journey
As aspiring writers, it's not uncommon to find ourselves overwhelmed by doubt and hesitation, especially when we stumble upon a book that seems eerily similar to our beloved WIP. In fact, this happened to me recently. I had 20,000 words of a story written and a full outline when I started reading a book that had… Continue reading Why Similar Ideas Shouldn’t Deter Your Writing Journey
A Sneak Peek of the Free Writing Classes I’m Teaching This Spring
I’m teaching two free, virtual writing classes this month! I know how signing up for an educational event can feel daunting…or just plain time consuming. Which is why I thought I’d give you all a sneak peek of what’s coming up. That way, you can make a more informed decision on if the content is what you’re looking… Continue reading A Sneak Peek of the Free Writing Classes I’m Teaching This Spring
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.
