As writers, we spend months—even years—within the pages of our story, and it can be lonely. But it doesn’t have to be. Throughout the years, I’ve leaned into my writing community to inspire me and keep me motivated.  I’m the writer who loves going to conferences and writing retreats with my friends to escape the daily distractions of life. This year has been especially hard, but it’s also given me...

Welcome to the second of my two-part series of tips for querying literary agents! If you haven’t read the first part, take a gander (so we’re all on the same page): Tips for Querying Literary Agents (Part 1). For debut writers looking to be traditionally published, querying literary agents is a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute you can feel on top of the world and the next could be crushing devastation....

Indie authors promoting self-published works and writing-related blog content have probably learned that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) isn’t exactly a science—but it’s certainly not intuitive, either. It’s that perfect blend of human behavior, algorithms, good choices, and luck that gets Google’s attention. Even with top-notch keyword choice and placement, you’re unlikely to rocket to the number one search result. SEO strategy isn’t a fast-paced game, it’s The Tortoise and the Hare: Slow...

“God save us from vague generalizations!” These words from Anton Chekhov speak to the enemy of great art: a lack of specificity. When we think of great writers, we often think what makes them great is the ability to turn a general concept into something distinct. You can’t read Stephen King without being struck by his descriptions and the voices of his characters. Take this short excerpt from The Stand: “He...

I’m just starting to get back to writing after a dry spell that lasted over a decade. I did write occasionally during that period of time, but I’m finding that I have a renewed sense of purpose and drive that I didn’t have before.  Because I interact with many writers, I have a feeling that more than one person reading this right now is either experiencing their own dry spell...

Querying literary agents is an exciting, nerve-wracking process for debut writers looking to be traditionally published. At times it’s also complex and down-right confusing, which is why I’ve put together some tips for querying literary agents that I’ve learned through personal experience. On July 25, 2019, I sent my first-ever query for the first book I’d ever written. I was positive it would sign in a heartbeat. Five months later, I received...

Ten years ago, I woke up with an idea. An idea I wasn’t sure how to make room for amidst other priorities. I wrote in starts and stops. Hills of progress. Valleys of neglect.  Until one day, I emerged with a 85,000-word first draft.  My process from blank page to first draft wasn’t pretty (or fast). Luckily, I learned a lot along the way. Most of which I gleaned from...

First and foremost, thanks to all who submitted to our July Worldbuilding Contest! We enjoyed reading each and every piece. Due to popular demand, we are sharing the winning entry from Scribbler Katarina Betterton with our notes. We hope you enjoy this worldbuilding wisdom! We hope you enjoy! Here is Katarina’s fantastic worldbuilding piece with our interlinear commentary: “Red liquid pools into my twelfth vial as I crouch on the...