Other Writers

Note: while Anne is dealing with some health issues, some friends of the blog have stepped up to keep the blog going. This week we have a fun post from one of our favorite authors, Melodie Campbell, “Canada’s Queen of Comedy.” by Melodie Campbell I like to get in the mood, […]

Taking the time to choose the right setting for each scene is one of the best ways to ensure our writing has impact. Why? Because the setting touches everything. It can characterize the story’s cast, evoke mood, generate conflict, shape the plot, and even use symbols and […]

Fantasy is my first love, full stop. You need to know this, because otherwise you might think I sound a bit cranky. Many elements are in play in a well-written fantasy novel, but I’m going to focus on some potent DO-NOTs (the potentially cranky-sounding part). But trust […]

In my last post, I discussed why chapter endings can be tricky (because they provide a natural stopping point for readers) and how to counteract that. By using a variety of endings—cliffhangers, something unexpected, a goodbye, comforting closure—you can end a chapter in a […]

Standard Manuscript Format for Writers Last month, I shared my tips for How to Use Scrivener (Without Anxiety). But as I mentioned in that post, the industry standard for publishing is Microsoft Word. So if you just can’t get on board with Scrivener, I’m back with some tips […]

  by Anne R. Allen Guest blogging is still one of the best free book marketing strategies. Even though blogging has lost some of its luster, visits to some well-chosen blogs can get your book and name in front of a lot of eyeballs, and jumpstart your sales. But in order to land […]

Want to win editorial feedback and take your storyfrom good to great? Well, my writerly friend, you’re in luck! It’s time for our monthly Phenomenal First Pages contest. In this draw, you can win… Editorial feedback on the first 5 pages of your MG or YA. This contest is […]

Your character’s voice is the reader’s guide through your story. Readers hear your character in their head before they see them in their mind’s eye. A well-developed character voice stays with the reader long after they finish your book. When the voices aren’t unique, […]

I’m reading a novel right now. It started out okay, but somewhere around chapter five, I noticed I was skimming—just moving my eyes across the page as fast as I could, trying to get to the next thing. And here’s what I know about myself as a reader: when I’m truly hooked […]

When I tell writers how much I love using Scrivener to write my novels, I often get some version of “I bought it, but I’ve never used it because it’s so complicated/confusing/frustrating.” If that sounds familiar, this is the post for you. Scrivener is a word-processing […]

  by Anne R. Allen It’s great for writers to make friends on social media. That’s why we’re there. Networking with other writers is essential to a writing career these days. But it’s good to be aware that, like people on the rest of the internet, writers on social media […]

Have you ever gone to a new restaurant, ordered a burger, and discovered it has some sort of luscious, zippy sauce that elevates the entire meal into the ecstasy zone? Amazing, right? Well, Becca and I call conflict a story’s “secret sauce” because it does the same thing […]