In preparation for this post, I read query letters until my brain went numb. I looked for the letters marked “successful” — those that garnered agent’s attention. After days of reading, certain constants emerged. A successful query often includes a combo of: A strong voice Suspense Delightful characters References (to known authors or one’s own […]
Revision is painful. When I sit down to revise, I find I would rather be doing anything else: scrubbing the toilet, doing taxes, scooping my own eyeballs out with a spoon — whatever. Anything to avoid the act of revisiting the first draft. I dread revision because it’s an overwhelming process. There’s so much to […]
I love podcasts for writers. Why? Because I can learn about my favorite author’s writing process while I’m folding towels, and get great advice about creating characters while commuting. Below I’ve categorized my favorite 42 podcasts for writers into five categories: Writing Craft The Business of Writing Revising and Editing Genre Podcasts Author Interviews I’ve […]
There is a certain magic in a well written ending. It must be both satisfying and surprising, unexpected and also perfectly fitting. But where do you stop? Which sentences are the last sentences? In this post, we’ll look at 100 ending lines from a diverse group of authors, both novelists and short story writers. We’ll […]
Literary devices aren’t something you learn in English class and then forget about for the rest of your life. They’re a beating, thumping heart of the fiction writer’s toolbox. If you don’t know these literary devices below, you’re probably using some of them already. But if you learn by reading the examples, you’ll be better […]
