Category Archives: Craft

What Is Your Writing Process?

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Jenny Hansen

We’re opening the new year with a look at writing processes. Orly Konig-Lopez begins the month of the Writing Process Throwdown with A Pantser with Suspenders. Fae’s up next on the 7th. We closed 2014 out with a post from Jenny … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Inspiration | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Being Prepared for Your Writing Conference

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Jenny Hansen

With the summer conference season in full swing, we’ve got tons of helpful tips over at the new site. Since our subscriber list has moved, we’re posting solely over there. Are you subscribed over at our new digs? We’ve had fantastic topics this … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging Guests, Craft, Miscellaneous | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Novel Diagnostics: How to Tell if Your Book Might Have Terminal Problems in TEN Pages

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Jenny Hansen

By Kristen Lamb For those of you who have submitted before, ever wonder how an agent can ask for the first 20 pages and still reject your book? Did you ever wonder if the agents really read these pages? How … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogging Guests, Craft | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Margie’s Rule # 2: Write the Hard Stuff — Facial Expressions

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Jenny Hansen

by Margie Lawson, @MargieLawson If you watch NCIS, you know Jethro Gibbs, aka Mark Harmon, has rules. Fifty-plus rules. My next fifteen (or fifty) blogs will feature a different Margie-Rule for writers. [Click here for Margie’s Rule #1: Never Take … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Margie Lawson | Tagged , , , , | 73 Comments

Do You Know How To Edit AND Proofread Your Story?

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Jenny Hansen

by Jenny Hansen, @JennyHansenCA Editing and Proofreading: Two separate processes that equal one great story. Like most writers, I hang out with a boatload of other writers. Still, I never saw much of other peoples’ works in progress until I coordinated … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, WriterStrong | Tagged , , , , | 41 Comments

Want To Write Like a Best Seller? Write Naked First!

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Jenny Hansen

by Tiffany Lawson Inman, @NakedEditor There it is.  LARGE bold print peering out at me from underneath the Life and Home section….THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLERS LIST, nagging me to grab my Kindle and start downloading fabulous fiction at … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Tiffany Lawson Inman | Tagged , , , , , | 31 Comments

Character Eye Descriptions: The Window to Your Story

Posted on May 19, 2014 by writersinthestorm

By Sharla Rae, @SharlaWrites If poets are to be believed, eyes are the windows to the soul. Rather than using clichéd or common descriptions, why not use “explicit” eye descriptions to give your reader a real peek into a character’s psyche? I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft | Tagged , , , , , | 59 Comments

The No-Stress Way To Create Your Story’s Logline

Posted on May 16, 2014 by writersinthestorm

by Laura Drake @PBRWriter I love loglines. There’s no better feeling than pulling together words that capture the spirit of your book in a perfect, compelling way. I teach a submissions class for the Lawson Writer’s Academy and find that loglines … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft | Tagged , , , , , | 105 Comments

Unforgettable Writing: Use all 5 Senses to Add Emotion

Posted on May 14, 2014 by writersinthestorm

by Orly Konig-Lopez, @OrlyKonigLopez The other day I finished a book and when my husband asked if it was good, my answer was a rather drawn out, “Yeeaaahhhh.” The story was interesting and the author had a pleasant, easy style. … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft | Tagged , , , | 43 Comments

Dr. Watson, I Presume? The Importance of Killer Sidekicks

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Jenny Hansen

by Susan Spann, @SusanSpann Whether you write detective fiction, romance, historical novels or fantasy epics, a lone protagonist never receives as great a reaction as one with a well-developed supporting cast. Foils serve to reinforce and highlight the hero’s good (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Craft, Susan Spann | Tagged , , , | 43 Comments