Blog
Stacey Damiano: EVERY bit of feedback is helpful, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time
Stacey Damiano is, by day, a massage therapist, esthetician, Reiki practitioner, and meditation teacher. She has always loved to write––fantastical stories as a child and angsty poetry as a teen and young adult. Currently, she has a professional blog that she faithfully neglects. She is a member of exactly zero professional writing guilds, clubs, associations, or groups.
Stacey lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, a chocolate lab, and a rotating number of cats. She enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and general merriment of all sorts.
Mastering Dialogue: How to Make Your Characters' Conversations Shine
Dialogue is the heart of a story. It’s where characters reveal their personalities, where conflicts bubble to the surface, and where the pacing of your narrative can quicken or slow to create tension or intimacy. Mastering dialogue is one of the most crucial skills a writer can develop, yet it’s often one of the most challenging. In this post, I’ll explore practical tips and techniques to help you craft engaging, authentic dialogue that brings your characters to life.
Mastering the Craft: Strengthening Plot and Structure in Your Novel
As a professional book editor, my mission is to help authors refine their manuscripts into compelling, cohesive narratives. One of the most crucial aspects of this process is strengthening the plot and structure of the story.
What Are Zombie Rules and Why You Should Know Them?
Despite being declared incorrect, these rules may persist in popular usage or be mistakenly taught in some educational settings. The term "zombie rule" highlights the idea that these outdated rules continue to "haunt" discussions about grammar even after being debunked.
Crafting Tone & Mood: How to Set Your Story’s Atmosphere
Setting the atmosphere of your story is just as crucial as having an engaging plotline, relatable characters, and an immersive experience.
Literary Devices: How to Craft Rich Narratives with Artful Tools
In storytelling, literary devices serve as the brushstrokes that transform a narrative into a masterpiece. How can metaphors, similes, symbolism, and more add depth and layers to your writing?
Elaine Evans: Never stop learning and growing. Your future books will thank you.
Becoming Mallory is Elaine’s debut novel and it certainly won't be her last. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring her other hobbies of reading, cooking, and photography. But more than anything, it is the role of wife, mother, and dog mom to her black Pomeranian, Vinnie, that she cherishes the most. Outside of the home, Elaine works in a children's hospital as a pediatric Medical Assistant, a job she loves. Ohio is her home, and it's there that she enjoys her quiet life with her family and, of course, Vinnie.
Tom McAuliffe: There are too many great stories that need to be told.
Tom Patrick McAuliffe is an author living on Florida’s Emerald Coast with his wife Sharon and cat Gigi. He is a former photojournalist with the US Navy’s Combat Camera Group and a graduate of the DOD’s Mass Communications program at Syracuse University.
A magazine editor and writer with more than 25 years of by-lines, he has written several books telling the story of remarkable people, among which the champion armless golfer Tommy McAuliffe, teacher astronaut Christa McAuliffe, and Detroit Tiger and World Series champion Dick McAuliffe.
The Art of Proofreading: How to Catch Errors in Your Manuscript
As an indie author navigating the intricate world of self-publishing, the art of proofreading holds unparalleled significance in presenting a polished and professional manuscript. Self-editing is a skill every self-published author must master to ensure their work is free from errors that could detract from the reader's experience. In this guide, we will explore effective proofreading techniques and strategies tailored for indie authors engaged in the self-publishing journey.
Plotting Your Novel: A Step-by-Step Guide
A well-structured plot serves as the backbone of a compelling story. In this comprehensive guide tailored for self-publishing indie authors, I'll explore the intricacies of novel plotting, story structure, and plot development.
Jane Maguire: There’s No Single Right Way to Become a Successful Author
Jane Maguire is a Canadian author whose lifelong passions for history, writing, and love stories inevitably led her to begin penning historical romance novels. While her love of historical fiction spans all eras, she focuses her writing on high society in the regency period. She enjoys crafting stories with lots of angst, which makes giving her characters their happily ever afters all the more satisfying.
Author Branding 101: Building a Strong Author Identity
In the dynamic world of publishing, a strong author brand is your passport to recognition and success. As a book editor committed to supporting independent authors, I understand the significance of author branding, especially in the realm of self-publishing.
KJ Davis: If you are drawn to writing, then do it!
KJ Davis is a working neurodivergent matriarch, military vet spouse, small business owner, and descriptive fantasy/sci-fi writer who values Kindness as a cornerstone of her life.
Character Development: Creating Memorable Protagonists
Creating memorable characters is vital for an engaging and successful story. The protagonist plays a crucial role in driving the narrative, and their development can make or break a reader’s connection to the story. In this article, I will explore the art of character development, the role of a protagonist, and the different types of character arcs to help you craft a compelling story.
Stefanie Chu: Delete the cringe, revise, and repeat!
With her award-winning debut novel Knights of the Alliance, Stefanie proves that she's not just an enthusiastic connoisseur of Japanese cuisine and all things lavender but also a talented writer celebrated by the literary world, garnering nine book awards.
Creative Writing: Brainstorming
Before you embark on the writing journey for your self-published book, it's essential to harness the power of brainstorming. Brainstorming is a creative technique that allows you to generate ideas, explore possibilities, and discover the heart of your story. Here are some effective brainstorming strategies to kickstart your writing process.
Theo Bennett: Being a Writer is a Personal Journey
Meet Theo, a brilliant writer whose words transport you to a world where the echoes of ancient battles still resound and the indomitable spirit of a fallen Spartan warrior lives on. With a gift for weaving narratives steeped in the warrior's code and virtues, Theo's storytelling brings to life the honor, discipline, and unwavering resolve that defined these legendary warriors of old.
How to Create Realistic Characters in Fiction Writing
Creating and developing compelling characters is crucial for engaging fiction writing. Here's some advice to help you craft well-rounded and memorable characters.
Annie Fauve: Sometimes the Biggest Challenge is Finishing the Damn Book
Annie Fauve writes, edits, and reads in the swamplands of Louisiana. When she isn’t writing or reading, she’s kayaking in the local bayou & naming the baby alligators. Annie is proud to be writing empowering, celebratory Romance novels.