(And 10 things you can do about it) Kelly Simmons Time and again, through my writer’s mentoring nonprofit work and pitching ideas to writer’s conferences, I hear the same thing:  writers of all levels not only struggle with plot, structure, and craft – but with productivity issues. Why?  Because what works for one writer, simply […]

Tiffany Lawson Inman A lengthy list of components must come together to create well-written action and fighting in fiction. One of the most important components is believability. Believability in writing action and fighting is something that trips-up many authors and editors. I am including editors because I have read too many published books with out-of-place […]

Susan Spann This is the third in a subsidiary rights series. If you missed one of the posts, click to read the first or the second article.  In publishing, “merchandising rights” refers to the right(s) to create, market, and sell merchandise (products) based on a book or its characters and settings. “Jurassic Park” T-shirts and Bertie Botts’ […]

James Preston Tips for doing Bad Things to Your Characters. As I write this I am watching an old episode of CSI. Ray Langston, (Laurence Fishburn) is testifying in the trial of a psychotic who stabbed him. It is an excruciating series of scenes, definitely not for the faint of heart. As a child when […]

Jaye Wells When I started writing, I was a stay-at-home mom in need of a hobby. During naptimes and after bed time, I’d run to my laptop and get carried away. It was my escape hatch. Something that was just for me that also provided a creative outlet. But then something miraculous happened--I got published. […]