Though it can be confusing, right? I’m here to guide you through the process. Let’s start! Both. Neither. One at a time? Most writers won’t even consider marketing a book that doesn’t exist yet. Cart before the horse, etc., right? How can we market something that doesn’t exist? Eh, not…

I never thought I’d ever use any of them. — So, 2020. Wow, right? This year has been intense. For everyone. On earth. We all have our own 2020 stories, so I’m not going to spend a lot of time dwelling on what made this year crazy intense for me personally (beyond the standard pandemic/crazy ass election cycle/global warming stuff.) …

July 2020 — I’m not huge on subscription boxes. Most of the time, I think I’d be happier making my own choices. But I was drawn in by an unboxing I watched on Youtube for the Scribbler box for writers. July’s box showed up today and I’m happy to report I was totally…

How to take a break that doesn’t turn into giving up. — When you are tired . . . is it better to take a proper break (day or two off) or should we train ourselves to push on through and keep writing? Because what if you’re tired every day? This is my life: I live in a house full of people…

You’re a rock star! Now what? — After I finish writing my book, what should be my next step? I’m very new to the process, so an in-depth answer would be very helpful. There is something really special about writing a first draft of a book. Especially your first book. It shifts something in your psyche. …

This is how you figure out where to start your story. — I’m working on (building my book’s) ordinary world, and I’m struggling with the opening image. I’m not sure if this is just the physical landscape or do the characters come into play in this part? Where I (can) find an example? Have you ever seen a picture of a story…

Understanding what Show Vs. Tell really means is your key to inviting your reader into your story. — Of all the fiction-writing rules, “show don’t tell” might be the most ubiquitous. Every writer knows it’s a thing — but it can be confusing and frustrating trying to figure out exactly what it means. I’m here to help! Let’s start with a couple of definitions. Show Writing that ‘shows’ is…

The challenges and joys of publishing on your own “Don’t self-publish, whatever you do. It’s where your book will go to die,” an older gentleman advised me just the other day on Facebook. …

An exercise to help you plot a path through your story. — Novels are generally thought of as having three-act structures. They’ve been called ‘three act plays’ since ancient times. It would feel wrong to call them anything else. But the truth is that the three acts aren’t exactly equal. Every story is a little different, of course, but generally the first…