Happy Pub Day to our very own Hank Phillippi Ryan! Her seventeenth thriller, MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER is out right now, and the Library Journal rave review calls it "Terrific." She's in the midst of a nationwide book tour, but took time between flights to take us behind the pages!
BEHIND THE PAGES: MOTHER DAUGHTER SISTER STRANGER Hank Phillippi Ryan
]]>Writing prompt: Write about what you’d erase if you could.
]]>by Lisa Roe I saw this great T-shirt the other day. It said, Mama Didn’t Raise a Quitter, But She Did Raise a Complainer. I’m thinking of getting one in every color because that, my friends, describes my writing journey to a, if you’ll excuse the expression, to a T. We can all agree writing […]
Why Writer Friends Are Key to Perseverance (And How to Find Them) Our Special Guest
]]>Writing a novel is like building house...Brian Andrews tells you how in this week's Career Author's Post!
]]>by Steven Barnes The very best advice I can offer to new writers is what I call Lifewriting—applying the concept of story structure to your own creative career. In other words, you are meta‑”writing a story” about a person who wants to be a successful writer. Viewed clearly, you are using the same problem‑solving tools for […]
Lifewriting: The Hero’s Journey of Becoming a Writer Brian Andrews
]]>It's National Mutt Day. Write a scene with your fave mutt.
]]>"The reader pays you the most important compliment--it's not the money spent for the book; it's the time the reader devotes to the book." --Lee Child
]]>Getting an agent can be a challenge. Agent and author Paula Munier offers up some tips to help you to capture an agent’s attention—in a good way.
]]>Write a scene with underwater action.
]]>How to avoid common pitfalls that have derailed many a hopeful, yet uninformed author on page one of their book.
First Page Peril…Mistakes to Avoid at all Cost! Brian Andrews
]]>Writing prompt: Write about finding yourself in deep water.
]]>How One Small Encounter Can Change the Trajectory of Your Author Life by Suzy England About 10 years ago, I began following fashion influencer Beth Djalali (@styleatacertainage) on Instagram. She had around 25K followers at the time (now she’s over 340K!), and followed me back. Thus, we became “online friends,” commenting on each other’s […]
]]>What happens when a historical fiction writer known for reimagining strong real-life women on the page turns her talents to classic literature and mystery? The ultimate mashup for fans of atmospheric suspense that feels deliciously familiar and wholly original at the same time. Clue meets Knives Out meets Agathie Christie meets The Great Gatsby in […]
Behind the Pages: Death Was Not on the Guest List Jessica Strawser
]]>Write a scene on a bridge crossing.
]]>These days so many bestselling novels are written in “Close Third POV.” Veteran book editor Brenda Copeland tells you what it is—and how to achieve it.
Close to You: Writing in Third Person Close Our Special Guest
]]>Readers feel emotions because they experience events through a novel's character who wants something, risks losing it, and reacts in a way that feels meaningful to them.
]]>It's National Take Your Dog to Work Day. Write about a dog at work.
]]>"My biggest tip for writing is: If you get stuck, move forward to a scene that you're looking forward to working, and that just tends to give you your joy back." --Jojo Moyes
]]>There’s a saying in publishing: First page sells the book, last page sells the next book. Which means you need to take as much care with the last page as the first page. Here are some tips from USA TODAY bestselling author and literary agent Paula Munier on how to win loyal readers when you write The End.
THE LAST PAGE SELLS THE NEXT BOOK: How to write endings that satisfy readers Paula Munier
]]>Part of succeeding as a writer is nurturing, nourishing, and celebrating your writer self. Literary agent and USA TODAY bestselling author Paula Munier shares some creative and enlightening ways to honor your writer's path.
]]>What is your main character's deepest secret? No not that one. A deeper one. No, not that one. An even deeper one. Why is it a secret? Does anyone else know it? Is THAT is your book?
]]>Early in her career, now-USA Today bestselling author Hank PHillippi Ryan learned a critical writing secret. (It seems obvious now.) On every page of a book, something has to happen. (Imagine.) But how do you do that?
Ow. Pow. Wow. Secrets to Creating External Conflict Hank Phillippi Ryan
]]>Quotes We Love: Not The Way She’d Planned Hank Phillippi Ryan
]]>If you are writing a book--fiction or non-fiction--that superfast explanation of what your book is "about" can make or break your success. How much difference can it make? The wonderful Rhodi Hawk shares the secrets of her success--and they could lead to yours.
Your Book Pitch? Not Just For Elevators! Hank Phillippi Ryan
]]>Take your character hiking... write the scene.
]]>Collaboration on a writing project is not for everyone, but if you can pull it off, it can be very rewarding to share the load with another writer. Our guest authors share strategies to navigate the most common hazards when co-writing.
Co-writing: Do’s & Don’ts When Collaborating Our Special Guest
]]>Readers aren't just migrating between genres — they're colonizing the spaces between them, building passionate communities around stories that don't fit neatly in any single section of the bookstore. Brian Andrews highlights four subgenres leading the charge.
Beyond the Shelf: 4 Subgenres Reshaping What We Read Brian Andrews
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