10 Questions to Consider Before Starting a New Writing Group

Have you ever thought about starting your own writing group? The idea of connecting regularly with fellow writers can be incredibly appealing. Who better to share your writing journey with than those who share your passion? Collaborating with others can also provide valuable opportunities for constructive feedback that can significantly enhance your stories. To help you get started and avoid potential pitfalls, consider these 10 Questions to Consider Before Starting a New Writing Group.

Have you ever thought about starting your own writing group? The idea of connecting regularly with fellow writers can be incredibly appealing. Who better to share your writing journey with than those who share your passion? Collaborating with others can also provide valuable opportunities for constructive feedback that can significantly enhance your stories.

To help you get started and avoid potential pitfalls, consider these 10 Questions to Consider Before Starting a New Writing Group.

Read More

100 Essential Writing and Publishing Terms All Authors Should Know

100 Essential Writing and Publishing Terms All Authors Should Know

Entering the world of writing and publishing can feel overwhelming, especially with all the jargon and industry-specific terms thrown around. Whether you’re just starting your writing journey or looking to expand your knowledge, this comprehensive guide will help you understand the most important terms and abbreviations. Let’s dive into 100 essential terms that every author…

Read More

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.

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.

Read More

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.

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.

Read More

Top 7 Books to Make You a Super-Productive Writer

Looking for a way to crank out more written pages? Or wish you could find more time to write in general? Is your calendar or overly ambitious to-do list out of control? How can you write more books if you are always tired, overwhelmed, and feeling like you are always behind? Our post, 7 Best Books on Productivity to Boost Your Fiction Writing to the Next Level, can help you discover ways to reduce stress, organize your day, and make you more productive than you ever thought possible.

Looking for a way to crank out more written pages? Or wish you could find more time to write in general? Is your calendar or overly ambitious to-do list out of control? How can you write more books if you are always tired, overwhelmed, and feeling like you are always behind?

Our post, 7 Best Books on Productivity to Boost Your Fiction Writing to the Next Level, can help you discover ways to reduce stress, organize your day, and make you more productive than you ever thought possible.

Read More

How to Write a Novel with the W-Plot Template

Do you struggle with plotting? A simple, easy-to-follow template for writing a fictional story is the W-Plot, perfect for both new writers and non-plotters. The W-Plot structure allows you freedom to create yet keeps your story on track all the way to that grand satisfying end. In our post, How to Write a Novel with the W-Plot Template, we break down each step to take the frustration out of plotting and give you tips to write a story readers will love.

Do you struggle with plotting? A simple, easy-to-follow template for writing a fictional story is the W-Plot, perfect for both new writers and non-plotters. The W-Plot structure allows you freedom to create yet keeps your story on track all the way to that grand satisfying end.

In our post, How to Write a Novel with the W-Plot Template, we break down each step to take the frustration out of plotting and give you tips to write a story readers will love.

Read More

How to Find a Writing Group: Tips for New Authors

Are you eager to connect with like-minded authors and build meaningful writing friendships? Our post How to Find a Writing Group: Tips for New Authors is tailor-made for you. Writing does not have to be a solitary journey. It can be filled with friends who also aspire to take their writing to the next level. There are many groups that authors can join to help them with motivation, accountability, and guidance in their writing careers.

Are you eager to connect with like-minded authors and build meaningful writing friendships? Our post How to Find a Writing Group: Tips for New Authors is tailor-made for you. Writing does not have to be a solitary journey. It can be filled with friends who also aspire to take their writing to the next level. There are many groups that authors can join to help them with motivation, accountability, and guidance in their writing careers.

Read More

7 Tips for Writing a Story Synopsis

Ask any writer about the dreaded story ‘synopsis’ and you will most likely hear lots of moans and groans. How do you condense the plot of an entire book into just 2 or 3 pages? What should be included? How should it be formatted? How should characters be introduced? Join us as we discuss 7 Tips to Write a Story Synopsis to help simplify the process so that you can confidently and successfully write a story synopsis with ease.

Ask any writer about the dreaded story ‘synopsis’ and you will most likely hear lots of moans and groans. How do you condense the plot of an entire book into just 2 or 3 pages? What should be included? How should it be formatted? How should characters be introduced?

Join us as we discuss 7 Tips to Write a Story Synopsis to help simplify the process so that you can confidently and successfully write a story synopsis with ease.

Read More

20 Items to Bring to Your First Writer’s Conference

Attending a writer’s conference is one of the best things you can do to either launch or advance your writing career. But what should you bring? Do you need a notebook or a laptop? Do you need business cards? How should you dress? What if you are published and need to bring books for the conference book table? Which items are beneficial, and which should you leave at home? Our post, 20 Items to Bring to Your First Writer’s Conference, offers a valuable checklist to help put your mind at ease.

Attending a writer’s conference is one of the best things you can do to either launch or advance your writing career. But what should you bring? Do you need a notebook or a laptop? Do you need business cards? How should you dress? What if you are published and need to bring books for the conference book table? Which items are beneficial, and which should you leave at home?

Our post, 20 Items to Bring to Your First Writer’s Conference, offers a valuable checklist to help put your mind at ease.

Read More

Amazon KDP for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing

We wrote this article Amazon KDP for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing to help walk authors through the process of setting up their book details page, adding their book content, book description, uploading manuscripts and book covers, and setting up their pricing and royalties. We hope that this overview of the publishing process through the Amazon KDP Dashboard will help de-stress self-publishing your book.

We wrote this article Amazon KDP for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing to help walk authors through the process of setting up their book details page, adding their book content, book description, uploading manuscripts and book covers, and setting up their pricing and royalties.
We hope that this overview of the publishing process through the Amazon KDP Dashboard will help de-stress self-publishing your book.

Read More

How to Write a Novel While Working Full Time

Writing a novel while working full time or raising small children or caring for aging parents is no small feat. So how do you do it? How do you find time to write when your schedule is already filled? How do you make forward progress without feeling overwhelmed? In our post, How to Write a Novel While Working Full Time, we give valuable tips and resources to help you balance your work schedule with your writing so you can finally finish that coveted manuscript.

Writing a novel while working full time or raising small children or caring for aging parents is no small feat. So how do you do it? How do you find time to write when your schedule is already filled? How do you make forward progress without feeling overwhelmed?

In our post, How to Write a Novel While Working Full Time, we give valuable tips and resources to help you balance your work schedule with your writing so you can finally finish that coveted manuscript.

Read More

The Ultimate Guide to Using ChatGPT for Book Title Inspiration

Are you endlessly searching for the perfect title for your new book but feeling absolutely stuck? Do you ever feel like you are struggling to come up with creative book titles to help your new novel stand out among the thousands of books in the Amazon marketplace? In our blog post, The Ultimate Guide to Using ChatGPT for Book Title Inspiration, we will cover what ChatGPT is and how you can use it to overcome writer's block and create stunning titles you never would have thought of before.

Are you endlessly searching for the perfect title for your new book but feeling absolutely stuck? Do you ever feel like you are struggling to come up with creative book titles to help your new novel stand out among the thousands of books in the Amazon marketplace? In our blog post, The Ultimate Guide to Using ChatGPT for Book Title Inspiration, we will cover what ChatGPT is and how you can use it to overcome writer’s block and create stunning titles you never would have thought of before.

Read More

Slingshot Week: How to Set New Goals for Writing in 2023

Do you need to recharge after the holidays? Are you looking forward to setting new goals for the coming year? Or at least the next 90 days? The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the perfect time to take a deep breath and reevaluate where you are at in your writing journey and where you want to be. In Slingshot Week: How to Set New Goals for Writing in 2023 we offer tips on how to use this week to your advantage to help you succeed in the coming year!

Do you need to recharge after the holidays? Are you looking forward to setting new goals for the coming year? Or at least the next 90 days? The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the perfect time to take a deep breath and reevaluate where you are at in your writing journey and where you want to be.

In Slingshot Week: How to Set New Goals for Writing in 2023 we offer tips on how to use this week to your advantage to help you succeed in the coming year!

Read More

What to Include in Your Author Newsletter

As an author, you have probably heard that you need an email list to market your books. You may have signed up for an email mailing list service and are ready to craft your first newsletter, except while staring at the blank page, you have no idea what to do. What should you write? What do readers want to hear about? In this post, we will help you brainstorm What to Include in Your Author Newsletter.

As an author, you have probably heard that you need an email list to market your books. You may have signed up for an email mailing list service and are ready to craft your first newsletter, except while staring at the blank page, you have no idea what to do. What should you write? What do readers want to hear about? In this post, we will help you brainstorm What to Include in Your Author Newsletter.

Read More

Fiction Writing: Critique Group Etiquette & Warning Signs of a Good Group Gone Bad

Are you looking to join a critique group and wonder if it will be the right fit for you? Or have you been in a critique group for a while, but doubt whether the feedback is helpful? Worse, are you a writer who has suddenly found themselves stuck in a toxic critique group due to changes within the group dynamic? In Fiction Writing: Critique Group Etiquette & Warning Signs of a Good Group Gone Bad, we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly to help you get the best feedback on your work.

Are you looking to join a critique group and wonder if it will be the right fit for you?
Or have you been in a critique group for a while, but doubt whether the feedback is helpful?
Worse, are you a writer who has suddenly found themselves stuck in a toxic critique group due to changes within the group dynamic?
In Fiction Writing: Critique Group Etiquette & Warning Signs of a Good Group Gone Bad, we discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly to help you get the best feedback on your work.

Read More

What Authors Need to Know About ISBN Numbers Before Self-Publishing

As a new writer, you may have heard the term ISBN used frequently in the publishing world but you may be wondering, what is it? In our blog post What Authors Need to Know About ISBN Numbers Before Self-Publishing, we will cover exactly what every author needs to know about ISBNs, including why they are used, how much they cost, and where to get one for your books.

As a new writer, you may have heard the term ISBN used frequently in the publishing world but you may be wondering, what is it? In our blog post What Authors Need to Know About ISBN Numbers Before Self-Publishing, we will cover exactly what every author needs to know about ISBNs, including why they are used, how much they cost, and where to get one for your books.

Read More

How to Research Information for a Historical Novel

If you are interested in writing historical fiction, you may be wondering—how do you research a historical era? Where do you go to learn about the customs, currency, weapons, mode of transportation, style of dress? What kind of names, food dishes, or jobs were popular back then? Are there websites with this information? In our post, How to Research Information for a Historical Novel, we give you several valuable resources to find the information you need to write a realistic, historical tale!

If you are interested in writing historical fiction, you may be wondering—how do you research a historical era? Where do you go to learn about the customs, currency, weapons, mode of transportation, style of dress? What kind of names, food dishes, or jobs were popular back then? Are there websites with this information?

In our post, How to Research Information for a Historical Novel, we give you several valuable resources to find the information you need to write a realistic, historical tale!

Read More

7 Steps to Begin Writing a New Fictional Story

Are you interested in writing a fictional story but do not know where to begin? Do you start with characters, setting, research, or a plot? How do you create deadlines or calculate wordcount? How do you break an idea down into chapters and scenes? How do you set up a working manuscript? Do you wish you could see how a published author prepares to write a new book? Follow along as we discuss the 7 Steps to Begin Writing a New Fictional Story so you can start writing your own story with ease.

Are you interested in writing a fictional story but do not know where to begin? Do you start with characters, setting, research, or a plot? How do you create deadlines or calculate wordcount? How do you break an idea down into chapters and scenes? How do you set up a working manuscript?
Do you wish you could see how a published author prepares to write a new book? Follow along as we discuss the 7 Steps to Begin Writing a New Fictional Story so you can start writing your own story with ease.

Read More

Fiction Writing: How to Get a Literary Agent

If you have finished your first novel, you may be thinking about publication and how to acquire a literary agent. But are you truly ready to pitch to an agent? Do you have a website and a thriving social media platform? Have you researched which agents accept manuscripts in your genre? Do you know how to put together a book proposal? In our post, Fiction Writing: How to Get a Literary Agent, we discuss each step you should take when seeking representation for your finished novel.

If you have finished your first novel, you may be thinking about publication and how to acquire a literary agent. But are you truly ready to pitch to an agent? Do you have a website and a thriving social media platform? Have you researched which agents accept manuscripts in your genre? Do you know how to put together a book proposal?
In our post, Fiction Writing: How to Get a Literary Agent, we discuss each step you should take when seeking representation for your finished novel.

Read More

5 Common Mistakes New Writers Make

New writers often hold onto various misconceptions when it comes to writing and publishing. How do you know when your work is ready to publish? Do you really need to hire an editor? What expectations are realistic when publishing a first book? Will publishing houses help a new author with promotion? In our post, 5 Common Mistakes New Writers Make, we discuss these topics and more to help you avoid blunders and launch a flourishing writing career.

New writers often hold onto various misconceptions when it comes to writing and publishing. How do you know when your work is ready to publish? Do you really need to hire an editor? What expectations are realistic when publishing a first book? Will publishing houses help a new author with promotion? In our post, 5 Common Mistakes New Writers Make, we discuss these topics and more to help you avoid blunders and launch a flourishing writing career.

Read More

Fiction Writing: Office Supplies to Help You Prepare to Write Your Next Novel

Are you new to Fiction Writing? Have you wondered which office supplies might be helpful when preparing to write your first novel? Or are you a published author preparing to write your next book? In our post, Fiction Writing: Office Supplies to Help You Prepare to Write Your Next Novel, we give you a handy checklist of supplies for writing, plotting, setting up your office, and for creating a Story Binder that keeps all your templates and brainstorming ideas in one place.

Are you new to Fiction Writing? Have you wondered which office supplies might be helpful when preparing to write your first novel?

Or are you a published author preparing to write your next book?

In our post, Fiction Writing: Office Supplies to Help You Prepare to Write Your Next Novel, we give you a handy checklist of supplies for writing, plotting, setting up your office, and for creating a Story Binder that keeps all your templates and brainstorming ideas in one place.

Read More

23 of the Best Free Stock Photo Sites Every Writer Should Be Using

Many authors who have just started a blog or need graphics to market their books on social media often ask where they can find high-quality images to use on their posts. There are so many copyright laws and finding high-quality images to legally use can often be difficult. I hope that in our post, 23 of the Best Free Stock Photo Sites Every Writer Should Be Using, we can make it a little easier for you to find images, graphics, and videos to use for all of your blogging and marketing needs.

Many authors who have just started a blog or need graphics to market their books on social media often ask where they can find high-quality images to use on their posts. There are so many copyright laws and finding high-quality images to legally use can often be difficult. I hope that in our post, 23 of the Best Free Stock Photo Sites Every Writer Should Be Using, we can make it a little easier for you to find stunning images, graphics, and videos to use for all of your blogging and marketing needs.

Read More

Learn to Plot Fiction Writing Series: Story Analysis of “Beauty and the Beast”

Many writers believe they can just sit down and write whatever pops into their head. However, most Popular Fiction contains specific components or “Plot Points” that serve to move a story forward from beginning to end. In our Learn to Plot Fiction Writing Series: Story Analysis of Disney's “Beauty and the Beast” we will show you how to recognize each element and provide you with a Free Plot Template so you can draft satisfying, high-quality stories of your own.

Many writers believe they can just sit down and write whatever pops into their head. However, most Popular Fiction contains specific components or “Plot Points” that serve to move a story forward from beginning to end.

In our Learn to Plot Fiction Writing Series: Story Analysis of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” we will show you how to recognize each element and provide you with a Free Plot Template so you can draft satisfying, high-quality stories of your own.

Read More

The Ultimate Book Signing Checklist: What to Bring to Your First Book Signing

Book signings can help promote books and generate more sales, but have you ever wondered what an author should bring to such an event to make it as easy, efficient, enjoyable, and engaging as it can possibly be? As a multi-published author of both traditionally published and self-published books, I have attended numerous book signing events and hope The Ultimate Book Signing Checklist: What to Bring to Your First Book Signing helps you prepare for a successful book signing event of your own.

Book signings can help promote books and generate more sales, but have you ever wondered what an author should bring to such an event to make it as easy, efficient, enjoyable, and engaging as it can possibly be?
As a multi-published author of both traditionally published and self-published books, I have attended numerous book signing events and hope Book Signing Checklist for Authors helps you prepare for a successful book signing event of your own.

Read More

50 Top Resource Books for Fiction Writers

Aspiring Writer Academy recommends these 50 Top Resource Books for Fiction Writers. While there are numerous books available in bookstores and online that offer fantastic teaching, inspiration, and advice about the writing and publishing industry, we have narrowed the options down to help you boost your fiction writing career. #Writing #writingfiction #WritingAdvice #writingtip #writingtips #GetPublished #writingbooks

Aspiring Writer Academy recommends these 50 Top Resource Books for Fiction Writers. While there are numerous books available in bookstores and online that offer fantastic teaching, inspiration, and advice about the writing and publishing industry, we have narrowed the options down to help you boost your fiction writing career.

Read More

22 Great Tools and Resources for Writers

Hey writers! Right here we have gathered together 22 Great Tools and Resources for Writers. Many of these awesome tools and resources we use ourselves on this site and other websites we manage. We only share tools that we trust and believe are helpful for aspiring writers. I hope that some of these tools and resources will help you with your writer journey! What tools and resources do you love using? Drop a line in the comment box below.

Hey writers! Right here we have gathered together 22 Great Tools and Resources for Writers. Many of these awesome tools and resources we use ourselves on this site and other websites we manage. We only share tools that we trust and believe are helpful for aspiring writers.

Read More