I do a lot of coaching of emerging writers and lately, I've heard from several of them that the proliferation of people using AI to write stories and books make them want to give up their dream of becoming an author. The reasoning? If people can simple use AI to write stories, what’s the point in pouring your heart and soul into your own work?

This breaks my heart for a lot of reasons.… keep reading

Here's how to write your novel with a little support along the way.

There are many ways to approach critiquing, with marked differences compared to beta reading (although the terms are sometimes interchanged). While beta readers can be pure readers or simply friends or fans, you and your critique partner(s) should all be writers who understand the good (and not-so-good) that comes with… keep reading

People often have complex relationships with their bodies. Our bodies, our bodily functions, illnesses, injuries, scars—these things often define us to other people. People make snap judgments about others based on their bodies because of their weight, age, visible disabilities, and so much more. 

Humans can have strong feelings about their bodies for a lot of reasons, and tapping… keep reading

You’ve determined which characters should have some sort of character arc, and it’s time to start writing. But wait. What if you aren’t sure what types of arc each character should have? What if you don’t know yet how your characters are going to change throughout the story? 

That’s okay. 

Here are a few simple ways to determine how, why, and where you want your… keep reading

Characters are arguably the most important part of any work of fiction. A good character has depth—they live and breathe on the page. I’ve long said that I’ll forgive almost any plot hole as long as I’m invested in a character. Your reader becomes invested in your character when they want to know what’s going to happen to them, when they care if your character succeeds. 

Reader… keep reading

You’ve found a writing partner and you’re ready to start a collaborative project. Congratulations! This could be a delightful blending of creative talents. If you’re lucky, all the pieces will fall into place and the next few weeks, months, or years will bring ongoing delight. We want that for you, we really do. But human relationships are complicated, so if you’re not willing to leave your… keep reading

If you’ve read about the benefits of collaborative writing and you’re ready to get started, the first thing you need to do is find a writing partner. This is the most crucial part of the process because if you choose a person who isn’t compatible with your style, your commitment level, or your vision, the partnership will be more work than joy.

Ensuring your find the right partner for a… keep reading

You may have heard about some dynamic duos writing books together. Stephen King and Peter Straub, Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, Will Ferguson and Ian Ferguson. Collaborative writing can be an excellent way to merge creative minds and bring new excitement to the writing process.

Why would you consider writing with a partner? After all, you’re full of ideas and your words are precious… keep reading

As writers, we write because it's what we love to do. We feel passion and excitement when we think about the stories we want to put on paper, the creation of characters, building worlds, crafting perfectly planned plot points. And it’s true; most of us can speak easily about how much we love (or feel compelled) to write.

However, no matter the enjoyment we feel or the passion we have for… keep reading

Have you thought about creating writing goals to help keep your writing on track?

Maybe you have story ideas and some characters and settings for your novel but you want accountability to make sure you take action. Maybe you just need to set a single goal to write a certain number of words each day or put aside scheduled time to stay focused.

Writing goals don’t have to be formal… keep reading