Writing for YA
Writing Diverse Mental Health Themes in YA Fiction
If you’ve queried in the past five years, you’re familiar with the plea for diverse books. Publishers and readers…
May 27, 2020-
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Romancing Your StoryLocation. Location. Location.
When I first visited upstate New York several years ago, I kept getting the feeling I’d been there before,…
May 23, 2020 -
History in the MakingDecoration Day: The Joy of Remembering Ancestors
Decoration Day! It looks like an entry in a day planner, and visions of Christmas, a birthday, or a…
May 20, 2020 -
Devotional/Christian LivingGotcha! How to Write a Compelling Devotional Hook
A short form devotional has three sections: a hook, a Bible passage connection, and a connection to the life…
May 19, 2020 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspenseContests—Pretty or Prickly
Your opening scene has edge-of-your-seat tension, your characters are witty and full of life, the description of your setting…
May 17, 2020 -
Mastering Middle GradeReal talk: When to submit your manuscript
Writing a book is the literary exercise equivalent of taking a cross-country road trip. No matter how beautiful the…
May 16, 2020 -
Magazine and Freelance5 Tips to Make Your Editor Smile
It’s confession time. I’ve been a magazine editor for nine years. During those years I’ve worked with more than…
May 14, 2020 -
Fantasy-Sci-FiTropes: How to Make Them Credible, Not Cliché
You could probably name tropes from your favorite books and movies without hardly thinking about it. There’s the Reluctant…
May 7, 2020 -
Screenwriting
Elevator Pitch
If you think the Coronapocalypse has the US economy down, imagine the effect it is having on Hollywood. Most…
May 4, 2020 -
Writing for YA
Why Your Beta Stopped Reading Your Manuscript
Finding a reliable and dependable beta reader can be a challenge. They often bail on you. Why? This topic…
April 27, 2020 -
Romancing Your Story
When All Seems Lost
The Black Moment. The Crisis. The Breakup. There are many titles for that moment when all seems lost. No…
April 23, 2020 -
Kids LitWhich Hat Shall I Wear Today?
In January, I had the privilege of speaking about being a writer at a large private school near…
April 21, 2020 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Why Write Mysteries, Suspense, and Thrillers?
Why do you write fiction? Why cloak your story in the mystery, suspense, or thriller genre? The right answers…
April 17, 2020 -
Mastering Middle Grade
A Conversation with Rebecca Balcárcel
I had the privilege of meeting award-winning children’s author Rebecca Balcárcel through my local chapter of the Society for…
April 16, 2020 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
World Building: What publishers Want
There’s something immersive about opening a fantasy or sci-fi book and feeling like there were hundreds of pages of…
April 7, 2020 -
ScreenwritingLog lines
In the business of screenwriting, everyone dreams of getting a big sale with their passion project, projects they worked…
April 4, 2020 -
Writing for YA
Researching and Authenticity in Fiction: Interview with YA Author Felicia Bridges
I’ve always loved books about far flung places. It’s a wonderful way to expand horizons. I decided to talk…
March 27, 2020 -
Romancing Your Story
How Do You Write Characters of the Opposite Gender Realistically?
This was a question I saw in the Twitter writing community and realized it is a challenge, especially in…
March 23, 2020 -
History in the Making
Inanimate Objects as Characters
Using inanimate objects as characters can add a powerful, interesting element to your story. I cried when Wilson, a…
March 20, 2020 -
Devotional/Christian Living
More than Motivational: 3 Ways to Make Your Writing a Ministry
Christian Living and Devotional writing falls under the umbrella of non-fiction writing. In general, non-fiction writing informs and motivates…
March 19, 2020 -
Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Escalating Conflict
Sit down with a good book and hope for a relaxing evening. The opening sentence immediately captures your attention,…
March 17, 2020 -
Mastering Middle Grade
CHECKING in with YOU
This blog has been such fun. I’ve truly enjoyed writing it, reading what others on A3 wrote, and occasionally…
March 16, 2020 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Three Ways to Use History to Build Your Fantasy
Margaret Atwood is well-known for her novel The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian first published in 1985. Her novel covers…
March 7, 2020 -
Screenwriting
High Concept
Recently, I was motivated to start work on a new screenplay, one that has been a passion project of…
March 4, 2020 -
Romancing Your Story
When Romance Writers Read and Create
In my opinion, anyone who says they don’t have time to read might as well say they don’t have…
February 28, 2020
