Interested in writing and publishing quality fiction?
Welcome To Aspiring Writer Academy!
We are Darlene & Samantha, the mother-daughter team who co-founded this site to help writers improve their craft, publish their work, and build an author platform. We share our knowledge from years of experience working with both traditional and self-publishing. We also offer tech tips and how-to tutorials to help you excel at blogging, social media, and marketing.
Our Goal for Aspiring Writer Academy is to help people learn how to write quality fiction, teach them to publish and promote their work, and to give them the necessary tools to pursue a writing career.
We Believe All Authors Can Aspire to Take Their Writing to the Next Level!
Who Are We?
Darlene Teaches Everything She Knows About Writing
Hi! I love teaching aspiring writers and talking about all things writer-related. I am a multi-published author of over 16 novels and novellas, which includes both contemporary and historical romance, (and even a few children's picture books.) I have always loved to write, but my career launched with THE BET, included in bestselling author Debbie Macomber's FAMILY AFFAIR in 2012. An expanded version titled, BET YOU'LL MARRY ME, became a finalist for RWA's Greater Detroit Best Book Award. Other works include THE CUPCAKE DIARIES series and the MONTANA HEARTS series, with Avon/HarperCollins, and three historical novellas with Barbour Publishing. I teach classes at workshops and conferences and have mentored many aspiring writers to write and publish a book from start to finish.
Visit her author website at: https://darlenepanzera.com/
Samantha Covers the Tech and Marketing Side of Aspiring Writer Academy
Hey there, I specialize in helping writers promote and market their books. I have a technical arts degree in integrated multimedia and certificates in photography and photoshop but most of my knowledge and skills are self-taught from years of hands-on experience working as a graphic designer, photographer, website designer, and social media manager for many small businesses. I have spent countless hours online studying, attending workshops, and taking online courses.
I teach social media, marketing, and how to create a blog/website that can help you build brand authority and show you how to make profits in the process. I love explaining all about the latest tech and marketing tips so you can promote your books and build an author platform.
I also run a money-making travel blog called Adventure Hike Travel where I earn an income selling my own hiking clothing line in addition to earning revenue from banner ads and commissions from affiliate links promoting products that I love using on my own adventures.
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How Can We Help You?
Learn to Write Quality Fiction
More Ways We Can Help
Learn to Blog, Publish, and Market Your Work
Recent Blog Posts
How to Create a Basic Outline of a Fictional Novel with Characters, Plot, and Setting in One
Looking for a faster, easier way to brainstorm a new story idea? Wondering where to begin—characters, plot, or setting? You can start with any of these elements, but it’s essential to consider how they interconnect, as adjustments may be necessary to craft a cohesive story that works.
How to Outline a Fictional Novel with Characters, Plot, and Setting in One Day offers a set of insightful questions designed to help you create a basic outline for your new fictional story—all in a single session.
Top 10 Tips: How to Learn the Craft of Fiction Writing
Where do you go to learn the craft of fiction writing? Many writers start a manuscript without any instruction only to lose their way halfway through the novel. Even more frustrating is going to a writer’s conference that focuses on publishing and marketing more than how to write your first book.
In Top 10 Tips: How to Learn the Craft of Fiction Writing we give you links, resources, and valuable information to help you develop your skills and take your writing to the next level.
How to Create ‘Rising Conflict’ in Your Fiction Novel
‘Rising Conflict’ in a fictional novel adds tension, moves the story forward, and helps create character change. But what exactly is rising conflict? Does every book need conflict? And what is the difference between internal and external conflict?
In How to Create ‘Rising Conflict’ in Your Fiction Novel, we address each of these questions and show you step-by-step how to create rising conflict at the scene and overall story level to write a riveting book your readers will love.
Fiction Writing: How to Make Your Character’s Unique
Do you struggle to create unique characters for your fictional novel? How do you let your reader know that your main character is a worthy hero? How do you reveal your character’s personality without telling or using dialogue?
In Fiction Writing: How to Make Your Character’s Unique, we discuss the use of body language, clothing, transportation, food, drink, mannerisms, speech, physical markings, and scents & smells to help you create unique characters your readers will love.
How to Get More Done with a Weekly Writing Plan!
Do you schedule blocks of time to focus on writing your novel each week? Or is writing a hit or miss depending on your personal life? Does having a plan seem too rigid? Are you frustrated because you are not achieving the goals you set out to do weekly, in a month, 90 days, or a year?
In How to Get More Done with a Weekly Writing Plan, we show you how to create a flexible plan to help you write more, track your progress, keep you accountable, and celebrate your success.
Fiction Writing: When to Start a New Paragraph?
Do you know when to start a new paragraph in your fictional novel? Did you know that paragraphing can be different for popular fiction than if you are writing non-fiction, literary fiction, or a story for English composition class? That is because popular (or genre fiction) is designed to hook the reader and entertain, often by utilizing stylistic effects.
In Fiction Writing: When to Start a New Paragraph? we discuss 10 times you should be indenting the text for maximum story impact.
How to Use Setting “Props” to Intensify Your Story
What exactly is a “prop” in a fictional story? How can you use props to spice up a particular scene or increase the conflict on the pages of your novel?
In our post, How to Use Setting “Props” to Intensify Your Story, we discuss 3 ways you can use items in the setting to write vivid description, reveal character, and elevate the conflict.
How to Write Your Very First Fiction Novel
Have you ever thought of writing a book? Do you need help coming up with a story idea or creating a working outline? How do you create a cast of characters? Do you need a villain? What is a simple way to plot if you do not have any experience?
What are the basics you need to know to get started?
In our post, How to Write Your Very First Fiction Novel, we go over the first steps you need to take to turn your story idea into a working manuscript that you can be proud of.
How to Plot: One Central Storyline
When others ask what your story is about, do you have trouble coming up with an answer that does not take fifteen minutes to explain? Can you condense the main plot down into a single sentence? Is there a focused theme? Do the subplots relate to the core idea of your novel, or do they go off in a million different directions?
How to Plot: One Central Storyline helps you avoid ‘the eyeroll,’ polite nod, and ‘glazed look’ of agents, editors, and readers so they are excited to read each page.
How to Protect Your Novel from the Black Screen of Death
Imagine happily typing your fictional novel when all of the sudden the computer screen goes blank. What just happened? You stare at the screen in disbelief. Where did your story go? It is possible you may have lost hours of hard work, some of which you may not be able to replicate.
In our post, How to Protect Your Novel from the Black Screen of Death (and other tech problems), we offer helpful tips to keep this nightmare scenario from happening to you.
A Beginner’s Guide to the Top 10 Genres for Popular Fiction
Would you like to write a book? Have you started writing but aren’t sure where your novel fits in the marketplace? If you are new to writing, you must first decide—What kind of story do you want to write? Thriller, fantasy, mystery, romance? Each genre (category) of fiction features different kinds of characters, setting, plot, and yes, even story resolutions.
In A Beginner’s Guide to the Top 10 Genres for Popular Fiction, we help you decide what kind of story is best for you.
How to Use ‘The Hero’s Journey’ to Plot Your Novel
If you are writing a novel for the first time or are confused by 3-Act Structures and Plot Points, you may want to use the steps of The Hero’s Journey, first outlined by Joseph Campbell, as a guide. Learn how to take your characters on an epic 12-stage journey of transformation as they overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
In How to Use ‘The Hero’s Journey’ to Plot Your Novel, we explain each step, allowing you to plot a stronger, emotionally satisfying story from beginning to end.
Top 10 Fiction Edits to Make Your Story Better
Are you searching for simple editing tips to elevate your fictional novel from good to great? Do you wish you had a checklist to guide you through the process? If you’re new to self-editing and don’t know where to begin, we’ve got you covered.
In our post, Top 10 Fiction Edits to Make Your Story Better, we delve into the ten most effective edits that will help transform your writing, creating a novel that is strong, concise, and captivating to your readers.
10 Tips for Using Flashbacks in Your Fictional Novel
A flashback in a fictional novel is a scene that happened in the past to show characterization, motivation, or explain a facet of the present story. But how do you transition in and out of a flashback scene? How many are too many? Are there rules to writing flashbacks?
In 10 Tips for Using Flashbacks in Your Fictional Novel, we discuss how to write clear, concise, plot-driven flashback scenes that will strengthen the story and hook your reader.
How to Use Framing Techniques in Your Fictional Novel
The term ‘Framing’ or using ‘Bookends’ refers to a technique in novel writing where the author creates similar passages at the start and finish of a story, or individual chapter or scene. Similar, but different. It is the tiny changes that give your story that exciting twist, satisfying closure, or added meaning.
In How to Use Framing Technique in Your Fictional Novel, we show you how to use framing on three levels to improve your writing skills, enhance your story, and thrill readers.
