How to Publish Your Novel With Pride (a #StorySocial recap)

/
How to Publish Your Novel With Pride (a #StorySocial recap)

Hello, friends! Time for another #StorySocial recap. In case you're new here (or if you've just yet to hear about our chats), allow me to cue you in: #StorySocial is the weekly Twitter chat that I host every Wednesday at 9pm Eastern.

Each week we get together for about an hour to chat about a fun writerly topic. This past Wednesday, our topic was how to publish with pride.

Nowadays, writers face so much pressure to publish, to publish often, to publish as a career, or to publish in a certain way. But guess what? All of that pressure is meaningless! Because if we aren't publishing with confidence, why are we publishing in the first place–right?

Read More

How to Create a Dynamic Story That Will Blow Your Readers Away

/
How to Create a Dynamic Story That Will Blow Your Readers Away

Have you ever read a book that just fell flat?

The author didn’t necessarily do anything wrong. They created strong characters, killer conflict and a clever plot, beautiful scene descriptions, and so on. But still the book fell short for you, and you just can’t place your finger on what could have made the story more dynamic. 

“Eh, it was just a bit formulaic,” you say when a friend asks how you enjoyed your latest read.

Today, I’m here to make the case that disappointing stories aren’t the result of sticking too closely to story structure (or to any other established writing techniques, for that matter), but rather sticking too closely to the basics of those techniques. 

Read More

How to Finally Wrap Up Your Novel Project (a #StorySocial recap)

/
How to Finally Wrap Up Your Novel Project (a #StorySocial recap)

Hey, there! Did you know that I host a weekly Twitter chat for writers called #StorySocial?

It's true!

#StorySocial takes place every Wednesday at 9pm Eastern, and each week we get together for about an hour to chat about a fun writerly topic. This past Wednesday, we discussed how to *finally* wrap up our novel projects, and it was a blast.

Did you miss out? Couldn't make it? Forgot all about it? No worries, m'dear!

Read More

Read & Written: A Peek Inside My Writing Life (January 2017)

/
Read & Written: A Peek Inside My Writing Life (January 2017)

Welcome to the new Well-Storied, writers!

This is the very first blog post I've published since She's Novel became Well-Storied on January 31st, 2017. Writing blog posts feels pretty familiar, but at the same time, there's something freeing about this one in particular.

Now that I've refocused and streamlined my online presence, I feel like I'm finally creating at 100%, with all my mental energy and excitement focused on just one thing at a time. Can you smell the possibility in the air, friends?

Read More

Seven Things Editors Wish Authors Knew

/
Seven Things Editors Wish Authors Knew

As an editor, I have encountered countless authors, and they usually have the same questions or concerns. I have compiled a list of seven things editors wish authors knew, so your process of working with an editor is as smooth as possible.

 

1. Book Us in Advance

Writers frequently ask me when they should book me, and I always tell them as soon as possible. Editors tend to get booked out weeks, if not months, in advance, and you want to ensure that you are on your ideal editor’s schedule at the right time.

Also, if you have a deadline with your editor before you even write your novel, you will be motivated to finish it. There is nothing like external motivation to make sure you get your book done.

Read More

How to Regain Focus When Plot Bunnies Attack

/
How to Regain Focus When Plot Bunnies Attack

We all face doubts and distractions from time to time.

But one of the most common distractions writers face is by far those pesky plot bunnies, a.k.a story ideas that pop up when you're already working on a project. And of course, those story ideas lead you down bunny trails of possibility.

Which is why plot bunnies are both a blessing and a curse.

To know that your imagination is fired up and ready to go is always wonderful, but when too many story ideas plague you, it can be difficult to stay focused on your current project. Your brain idealizes your new plot bunnies, making your drafting and editing start to seem pretty boring.

But obviously we can't chase down every plot idea that comes our way. We'd never finish writing a book! So what do we do to overcome the plot bunny overwhelm and get back to writing?

Read More

Ten (Hard!) Truths Every Writer Should Know

/
Ten (Hard!) Truths Every Writer Should Know

It's time for pie again. And this time, you're really gonna need it.

So, friends. Last week on the blog, I shared ten encouraging truthsevery writer should know. Truths that help us banish our doubts, bolster our self-confidence, and encourage our inspiration.

But that week is not this week. No, siree! 

This week, I'm sharing ten hard truths. Truths that may not be so pleasant to hear, but that absolutely must be heard all the same. Which is why you should probably cut yourself that slice of apple pie before digging in today's post. 

Believe me, pie makes everything better. *passes you a plate*

Read More

Ten Truths Every Writer Should Know

/
Ten Truths Every Writer Should Know

Are those pies in the blog image making you hungry?

Mhmm...I could really go for a little dessert right now! NaNoWriMo is in full swing and, of course, that much writing always lends itself to snacking on a few extra sweets for motivation. Ya feel me?

Now I don't know about you, but never do my writing doubts hit hardest then when I'm trying to pursue a big goal or when I'm working under pressure–two things you're likely experiencing now that we're a few days into NaNo.

But even if you aren't trying to write 50k this month (or if you're reading from the future. Hello!), we all need some encouragement as we make our way through this crazy, messy writing life. That's why I'm bringing you 10 encouraging writing truths today!

Shall we dive in?

Read More

The Third Act: How to Write a Climactic Sequence

/
The Third Act: How to Write a Climactic Sequence

Ready to talk structure, folks?

Today, we're back with the third installment in our October mini-series on the 3-Act Story Structure. Hurray! If you need to catch up on the importance of structure and how to outline acts one and two of your story, click on these babies below:
 


All caught up? Great!

In today's blog post, we'll dive into the third and final act of our novels. Tension is thick and a huge conflict between the hero and villain lies on the horizon. Now it's time to get your readers there–and make the big moment as climactic as possible! 

But before we jump right into the climactic sequence, let's break down a few third act basics.

Read More

Have You Created Characters or Caricatures?

/
Have You Created Characters or Caricatures?

Welcome back to our mini blog series, writer!

Every Friday in the month of October, we're breaking down a topic that will help us create irresistible heroes and villains. Need to catch up on the series before we get started?

  • Click here to learn The #1 Key to Creating Relatable Main Characters!
  • Click here to learn The #1 Key to Creating Believable Villains!

All caught up? Fantastic!

In today's series installment, we're going to talk about how to create truly well-developed characters–characters that seem so real that readers often forget that they aren't.

So are you ready to say goodbye to paper-thin caricatures and hello to irresistible and unforgettable characters? Let's get started with today's tips!

Read More