Congratulations! You’ve written your first manuscript. So...what the heck do you do now?
Tag: how to
Set Your Hook: Bad Beginnings and How to Fix Them
One of the best ways to stand out in the slush pile is through a good, solid hook. However, a poorly written hook is one of the quickest ways to get rejected. But why is that? Because first impressions are everything. Here is a guide to some of the five most common bad beginnings I saw and a couple of tips on what you can do to fix them to snag your audience hook, line, and sinker.
Shine in the Slush Pile: Five Pitfalls to Avoid
can’t seem to get your leg up on the competition and make your work shine? As an intern for a small press, here are five of the biggest pitfalls that cause me to reject a story from the slush pile.
The Star Sticker Method: Does It Really Work?
National Novel Writing Month is over! Every year I feel like it is the longest month of my life, and then BAM. It’s December. This year for NaNoWriMo, in tandem with the normal manners of accountability, I decided to see if I could amp up my productivity and word count by using Alexa Donne’s Star… Continue reading The Star Sticker Method: Does It Really Work?
NaNoWriMo Weeks 2 & 3: Survival Tips
Have you ever had days where you feel like you have a limited number of words in you and once you hit it, you can’t produce anymore? That is me this week. National Novel Writing Month is well under way now and I’ve been meaning to write this blog post, but since I have hit… Continue reading NaNoWriMo Weeks 2 & 3: Survival Tips
Productivity Power Up: The Star Sticker Method
Confession time. I can absolutely be motivated by star stickers. I recently came across Alexa Donne’s video about the Star Sticker Method and I sorta kicked myself for not thinking of it before. I don’t know about you, but there is just something about getting those gold stars that gives me a buzz. That being… Continue reading Productivity Power Up: The Star Sticker Method
Accelerating Growth through Accountability
Accountability is a key factor in producing results and exponential growth as a writer. Yes, sometimes it is easier just to "do your thing" and not worry about keeping track, but accountability has worked magic in my journey as a writer and I want to share my experience with you. It is my hope that… Continue reading Accelerating Growth through Accountability
Reading for Research
Reading for research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I love discovering new genres and learning what already has been done. It is exhilarating to find a new book to love, something that has happened to me on multiple occasions through this process. I have grown from the "research reading" I’ve… Continue reading Reading for Research
Book Recommendation: Million Dollar Outlines, by David Farland
I’m so excited to share with you my latest read on writing! A few weeks ago, I finished Million Dollar Outlines, by David Farland. I first heard of the book when I attended David Farland’s “Writing Enchanted Prose” class at Fyrecon last year, and bought it because I don’t have great skill in outlining. I… Continue reading Book Recommendation: Million Dollar Outlines, by David Farland
Gracefully Accepting Criticism
Criticism is a hard pill to swallow. But just as it is important to give criticism constructively, it is important to receive criticism gracefully, even when you don’t ask for it. Because criticism can be your greatest catalyst for growth, here are some ideas for taking criticism gracefully and what to look for in criticism… Continue reading Gracefully Accepting Criticism
The Plotter's Apprentice 