The new year is upon us, so now is the time to figure out your goals for next year - or, as many like to call them, your New Year's resolutions. Why is the new year a great time to reset? It represents a chance to start over with a clean slate. You can take … Continue reading 5 Tips for Goal-Setting in 2023
writing community
What Makes Your Book Different?: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 6
Welcome to my ten-part series where we’ll be going through the ten basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ll be going over the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is more detailed … Continue reading What Makes Your Book Different?: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 6
Resource: The 4 Phases of Editing: How to Revise a Novel by Savannah Gilbo
If you’re like most of the writers I work with, getting to the end of a first draft feels both exciting and terrifying at the same time. You’ve probably been working on this story for x-amount of months (or maybe even years!) and all you want is for the story you wrote to (eventually) match … Continue reading Resource: The 4 Phases of Editing: How to Revise a Novel by Savannah Gilbo
First Cold: A boy’s first winter on an alien planet
A shiver forced Vaughn’s eyes to see reality again. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself. “I'm gonna kill Kiefer," he muttered, kicking his boot at a dark object buried halfway in the ground, which he unpleasantly discovered was a rock from the smarting in his toes. What was more interesting, though, was that the … Continue reading First Cold: A boy’s first winter on an alien planet
Not Just a Writer: Why writers must find self-worth in something other than achievements
You're a writer. Of course you are. What else could you possibly be? When it comes down to it, isn't that the part of your life that matters the most? But adopting the wrong identity is incredibly dangerous. And, despite how innocent it might seem, branding yourself first and foremost as a writer might be … Continue reading Not Just a Writer: Why writers must find self-worth in something other than achievements
A Story Without a Theme Isn’t a Story At All: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 5
Welcome to my ten-part series where we’ll be going through the basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ll be going over the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is more detailed on … Continue reading A Story Without a Theme Isn’t a Story At All: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 5
Reblog: 4 Reasons Why You MUST Wait Before Moving On Your Manuscript — A Writer’s Path
Rome wasn’t built in a day, you guys, and the plans weren’t drawn up that quickly either. Note how the header to this post says that you “must” wait before making any moves on your manuscript. Noted? Awesome. Because I used “must” for a reason. I didn’t say “should” or “it’s recommended” or anything […] 4 … Continue reading Reblog: 4 Reasons Why You MUST Wait Before Moving On Your Manuscript — A Writer’s Path
How to Give Your First Draft (and Yourself) a Break
You finish your first draft. You throw a party. You know there's still a long way to go, but you're proud of what you've achieved. And so, to keep the momentum going... You rest. How tempting is it to just jump right into the editing stage? As much as I'm a proponent of taking breaks, … Continue reading How to Give Your First Draft (and Yourself) a Break
Give the Plot a Backseat: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 4
Welcome to my ten-part series where we’ll be going through the ten basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ll be going over the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is more detailed … Continue reading Give the Plot a Backseat: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 4
Why Your Book Will Fail Without Good Characters: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 3
Welcome to my ten-part series where we’ll be going through the ten basics of storytelling as outlined in my guidebook The 10 Lost Elements of Storytelling – a book you can get for free by subscribing to my newsletter! In these posts, we’ll be going over the basics of these storytelling elements, but my guidebook is more detailed … Continue reading Why Your Book Will Fail Without Good Characters: Basic Storytelling Elements Part 3
The Story Canvas 