Mastering Middle Grade
Summer Reading Research
School is out, and summer reading programs are gearing up in public libraries everywhere. Summer months are the perfect…
June 15, 2018-
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Magazine and FreelanceBuild Your Platform with Magazine Articles
Last week I taught several workshops at a Christian Writers Conference and also met one on one with numerous…
June 13, 2018 -
ScreenwritingSound Off!
While brainstorming for this post, I remembered the song that inspired the climax for my first screenplay over a…
June 9, 2018 -
Fantasy-Sci-FiThe Myths Behind Your Fantasy Work
Fantasy stories come in all shapes and sizes, from modern-day tales to historical adventure. One way to give your…
June 7, 2018 -
SongwritingUnderstanding Songwriting Structure
If you have been following my articles on songwriting, perhaps you’re ready to write your first song. There are…
June 3, 2018 -
Mystery/Thriller/SuspenseMystery, Suspense, and Thriller Subgenres—What’s the Difference?
Are you writing a mystery or a thriller? Do you know how to tell the difference between suspense, thriller…
May 31, 2018 -
Copywrite/AdvertisingWhat It Is Like to Copywrite for Your Own Clients
I broke into a cold sweat when I read the email. Could it be true? I reread the email.…
May 27, 2018 -
Romancing Your StoryCrafting the Hero––Part IV
We’re crafting both our romantic heroine and our hero. Our heroine is Tovah, a Jewish rabbi who fears rejection…
May 23, 2018 -
Child's CraftUnderstanding Early Readers
A few weeks ago I started typing a new manuscript. I thought it was going to be a picture…
May 22, 2018 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Three Things I Learned in Wimberley, TX
This past month I packed up my little bag, tucked my insecurity into the glove box and drove south…
May 15, 2018 -
Magazine and Freelance
Writing for Magazines Provides Variety
Does your writing have a lot of variety? Or do you feel like you are writing the same type…
May 13, 2018 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Realistic World-Building
The trend within the fantasy and sci-fi genres is to push for more detailed world-building within our stories. While…
May 7, 2018 -
Screenwriting
Moving On
We’ve all seen bad movies before. Films we couldn’t wait to see after watching a brief two or three…
April 29, 2018 -
Copywrite/Advertising
What It’s Like to Write for a Digital Marketing Agency
Since I became a copywriter, I have written for my own clients and for digital marketing agencies. Each arrangement…
April 27, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part III by Donna L.H. Smith
Nobody’s perfect, right? True. Neither can your romantic hero be perfect. Choose a character flaw that will irritate your…
April 23, 2018 -
Child's Craft
Revealing Your Character’s Character
In her book The Art of Characterization Fay Lamb proposes that writers “use the other elements of storytelling to…
April 21, 2018 -
Mastering Middle Grade
Preachy or Peachy
My critique group says my MG fiction is preachy. Now what? First let me say that I love my…
April 15, 2018 -
Magazine and Freelance
Start Your Article With A Bang
Imagine yourself in a race and the gun is ready to begin the race. The Starter Gun goes, BANG!…
April 13, 2018 -
Fantasy-Sci-Fi
Breaking Down the Worlds of Science Fiction
Which world, or sub-genre, does your novel belong to? Bookstores have general genre sections in which to categorize their…
April 7, 2018 -
Copywrite/Advertising
Seven Steps to Get Started or Get Better At Copywriting by Holland Webb
This month marks my one-year anniversary as the copywriting guy on Almost An Author. Have I convinced you yet…
March 28, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part II by Donna L.H. Smith
[bctt tweet=”Judah is going to be the man for Tovah. A romantic hero should be handsome and strong, sweet…
March 23, 2018 -
Child's Craft
Crafting Characters Readers Will Love Part 1 by Jean Hall
According to Elaine Marie Alphin (Creating Characters Kids Will Love p. 2) “Kids read because a magical closeness springs…
March 21, 2018 -
Mastering Middle Grade
The Time is Now By Kell McKinney
I had grand aspirations for this month’s post, involving a poll, some original photography and maybe even a snappy…
March 15, 2018 -
Magazine and Freelance
How to Give Editors What They Want by W. Terry Whalin
When the slick full-color magazines arrive in your home, many writers would like to write for those magazines and…
March 13, 2018 -
Dear Young ScribesHow to Create a Marketing Plan for your Book—Before it’s Contracted
Marketing isn’t exactly an author’s favorite job. After all, aren’t writers supposed to keep producing books and rely on…
March 9, 2018
