Writers in the Storm

by Rebecca Forster

Forty years ago I published my first book. I also found myself creatively tongue-tied when the publisher asked me for a back-of-the-cover biography. I had lived a full life at that point, so why was it so daunting to write about myself?

The answer is that I, like you, am a fiction writer.

The Character and the Author are not the Same Challenge

When we write our books, we reach outward, imagining our way into a fictional consciousness. The characters act at our bidding, the world in which they exist is one of our choosing. If we’re dissatisfied with any aspect of that universe, we change it.

The professional bio is restrictive, asking us to work with our history. Turning our creativity inward is awkward at best, but the reader wants to be introduced to a confident and marketable entity while we want them just to read our books.

So, we must bite the bullet and pen an intriguing introduction to ourselves. Modesty does not belong in a bio any more than hubris, and that is a fine line to walk. So what are we to do?

Turning to an Expert

After my tenth book, I knew I needed a more polished face to the public, so I turned to Robin Blakely, CEO of Creative Center of America, a branding coach who specializes in working with creatives.

One of the first things she did was revamp my bio. The next step was to help me embrace the vibrant author it portrayed. I asked her to breakdown the critical thinking behind that biography.

Tips, Tricks and a Robin Makeover

1. Hook them immediately.

Example: “Rebecca started writing novels on a crazy dare.”

Note: I have seen hundreds of bios that begin with some version of “my childhood love of writing was discovered by my English teacher.”

Spoiler alert: We were all in English class—and yes, good teachers matter—but that’s not what makes you memorable. There’s a more interesting, more unusual way to share your origin story. Find it.

2. Tell a story, not a résumé.

Example: “After earning her MBA, Rebecca spent more than a dozen years as a marketing executive before taking the leap into a full-time creative career.”

Note: That’s the setup for the author story promised in the hook.A list of accomplishments is impressive, but what matters is the arc of the character called you.

Spoiler alert: Rebecca was a successful ad exec who was dared to write a book because a client’s wife had done it. That “wife”? Danielle Steel.

3. Let credibility support the story—not replace it.

Example: “Now she is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of more than 40 books—work that the CBS Legal Correspondent calls ‘perfect…impossible to put down.’”

Note: Define who you are now in a repeatable way. Credentials should back up your story, not be the whole story.

4. Be specific enough to be believable.

Example: “Her Witness Series has remained on bestseller lists for over five years in both the U.S. and U.K.”

Note: “Success” is vague and subjective. “Five years on bestseller lists in two countries” is clear and credible. If you aren’t at that level of success yet this rule doesn’t change, but don’t inflate or generalize.

Small and specific beats big and vague every time. Maybe your debut novel reached the top 100 in its category on Amazon or maybe you have launched a series of events that start at the local Barnes and Noble. Each rung on the ladder is real success.

5. Leave us with something we’ll remember.

Example: “Rebecca lives in Southern California with her husband, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge. When she’s not writing, she’s traveling, teaching, or collecting the kind of details that eventually find their way into a courtroom scene.”

Note: This is the part where many bios fizzle out or get chaotic. Don’t empty your junk drawer of facts here. Help us understand that you know what you’re writing about.When you do, it makes us more curious to know you (and to read your work).

The Final Permission

As writers, we are often unsure of our work until it is validated through reviews or editorial approval. Even then, we second guess ourselves.

Let’s stop doing that.

Let’s shine not only through our work but through our branding because we’ve earned the right.

Consider this your permission to look inward and share your real-life, wonderful, accomplished self with humor, honesty, and above all confidence.

Rebecca Forster started writing on a crazy dare and found her passion. Now a USA Today and Amazon best selling author, Forster is known for her legal thrillers and police procedurals. Over three million readers have enjoyed her Josie Bates thrillers in the Witness Series alone. With over 40 books to her name, Rebecca had a long career in traditional publishing before becoming an indie author. Her fast-paced tales of law and justice are known for deep characterization and never-see-it-coming endings.

In an effort to make her work as realistic as possible, Rebecca has graduated from the DEA and ATF Citizens academies, landed by tail hook and spent two days on the nuclear submarine U.S.S Nimitz, engaged in police ride-alongs, and continues to court watch whenever possible.

Rebecca has taught at the acclaimed UCLA Writers Program and various colleges and universities. She is a sought-after speaker at bar and judges' associations as well as philanthropic groups and writing conferences. Rebecca is also a repeat speaker at the LA Times Festival of Books.

Rebecca has just released The 9th Witness, the final book in her acclaimed Witness Series, Josie Bates Thrillers. Find all her books at any online bookstore or here: https://www.rebeccaforster.com/.

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Featured photo purchased at Depositphotos.

by Ellen Buikema

Whichever genre of fiction you are writing: fantasy, historical, horror, literary, mystery, romance, science fiction, or thriller, getting the facts straight can make a difference between satisfied and disappointed readers.

A fictional story doesn’t need real-life investigation, right? But it does! Research for fiction gives writers the knowledge-base to create a story that resonates with readers and may assist the writer’s creative process—gifting them with more ideas.

Research:

Adds authenticity to storytelling

Research helps writers develop believable characters and worlds. While learning the details, you can weave facts into your narrative adding accuracy to the tale. Whether it’s the realistic depiction of a historical battle or the subtlety of a character’s job, research adds realism readers enjoy.  

Enriches the narrative’s detail and depth

Research infuses life into a story. It adds depth and feeling to your writing. It helps with sensory descriptions—the sights, smells, and sounds of a setting. This allows readers to feel a part of the story, making it more memorable.

Shines a light on inaccuracies and keeps the readers engaged

Use research to avoid errors that pull the reads out of the story. Most fictional stories require at least some willing suspension of belief. However, if you weave in some true concepts, customs, or events that really happened, your story will be more believable. That will make your readers happy.

4 Types of Useful Research for Fiction Writers

How you conduct your research is totally up to you. There is no one best method. Your exploratory work depends upon your needs. Here are some suggestions.

Character Research

Do a deep dive with this type of research. For example, you may explore a character’s cultural practices, hobbies, or profession. Understanding these details can help accurately portray character details that will make your narrative blossom. It’s a great way to create multi-dimensional characters who are believable.

If the characters are fictional be sure they feel real. For real people, their personal facts must be accurate.

Historical Research

Performing historical research helps a great deal with the culture of the time. You can find interesting events that may be woven into your story. Your characters might cross paths with a historical figure in the middle of a rebellion. Anything can happen.

This type of research can benefit all genres, not only historical fiction. Have a care though. It is easy to find oneself falling down rabbit holes, chasing topics.

Location Research

Look at the architectural and physical landscapes of the setting you’ve chosen for your story. The details of a location’s sights, sounds, and vibes carry your readers there. The setting can shape the mood of the story, much like a character does.

Technical Research

Getting the facts right is essential when your story involves legal matters, science, or technology—no matter the era. Researching helps you create a world that feels real. Learning the technical side helps you understand the basics behind these subjects.

How to Conduct Research for a Fiction Book

Define Your Goals

As a first step, decide what elements of your story need to be explored.

• Of what are you unsure?
• Do you need historical context for the story’s era?
• What about the character’s background?

Whatever you need to know, determining your goals early on will help keep you focused.

View Pertinent Materials

One of the best means of research for fiction writers involves reading. Browse the Internet for useful books, articles, and other online resources related to your needs.

Consider exploring documentaries, movies, and podcasts, for more perspectives on the subject matter. Reach out to subject matter experts, not just in an academic sense!

Contact people who may be able to give you information local to your search. For instance, I needed information about a bar in Wausau, Wisconsin for a historical fiction story. The bar, now named The Glass Hat was originally the Langsdorf Boarding House and Saloon.

I contacted the owner, and we had a lovely hour-long chat about the bar’s history. She sent me photos of ornate, copper ceiling tiles that once graced the saloon, along with several other photos. Knowing what the saloon looked like for the era of my story helped me write a better setting.

Fact-Check

Verify the accuracy of the information you’ve put together to avoid inaccuracies that undermine the credibility of your work.

This is an important step. No one wants to have legal problems. Confirm the accuracy of your research, particularly for real people.

List Questions That Come Up

While researching, make a list of questions that come to your mind. It might be about a person’s background, a particular location, technology, or machinery. This will ensure that you cover as much as possible and have a thorough investigation into all aspects of your story.

Ask the Librarians

If you are stuck, the library is a great place to go. Librarians can be wonderfully helpful for accessing information. You may come away with a plethora of information for your book. 

Obtain Firsthand Experience

If it’s possible and legal, visit locations and engage in activities similar to your story. This will help with sensory details for better descriptions. Going to great lengths for authenticity’s sake can results in a better book.

Organize Your Information

Research Log

A research log can help you track your process, preventing duplication of effort and keeps your research organized. Keep your list of search keywords and links here.

Folders and Labels

Organize your articles into folders by projects. Use labels, putting articles in categories to find them easily.

Notes

Write short summaries of each source. This helps when writing your bibliography, if needed, as well as your acknowledgements.

Depending on what works best for you, consider:

• Digital tools. Some of these are free and have additional storage for a monthly fee.
• Physical notebooks.
• Color-coded sticky notes to be used on any surface.

Whatever way you decide is best, the goal is easy access and reference as you weave researched information into your narrative.

Tips for Applying Research to Writing

Blend in findings bit by bit

Instead of info-dumping all your research into the story at once, include it gradually so it feels natural to the reader. Sprinkle details. Torrential detailing is not as effective.

Find a balance

After many, many hours researching it is tempting to include a lot of details. My editor said, “You are showing off your research. No one wants all that detail.” She was right. Use enough information to make a vivid world and relatable characters. Your readers need the space to imagine.

Be flexible

Think of your book as if it were a house. Research is your foundation, ceiling, and walls. Your creativity and imagination provide the interior and exterior details; colors, textures, sounds, scents. Use creative liberties as needed. You can enrich the feeling of a scene for readers and still be true to your research.  

Final Thoughts

Research is vital to the writing process. Even though the manuscript is your own creation, there are probably aspects of reality lurking about. A visit to your local library for research can send you further along the storytelling path and may help you find more of your writing community.

Do you use research in your books? Have you read stories that had too much detail? If so, did you have a difficult time getting through to the end of the story?

* * * * * *

About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written Parenting ... A Work in Progress, non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.

Find her at https://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon.

Top Image by Dorothe Wouters from Pixabay

by Liz Talley

Hate to break it to you, but we’re already over a third of the way through 2026.

Sound the alarm—the end of May is looming!

<cue weak knees and a frantic search for the fainting couch>

Hard to believe four and a half months have already flown by and summer is knocking at the door. Which makes right now the perfect time to stop, take stock, and adjust your goals for 2026.

Back in January, you probably stared down that shiny new year full of possibility and set some writing goals. I’m a big believer in two things when the calendar flips: choosing a guiding word for the year and creating a business plan. But even if you didn’t sit down with a fresh notebook and color-coded markers, I’m willing to bet you at least had a mental list of what you wanted to accomplish.

Maybe you planned to:

• finally finish that first draft
• revise the NaNoWriMo manuscript that’s been collecting digital dust since 2021
• start an entirely new project
• snag that elusive agent
• figure out Amazon ads without losing your sanity

Whatever your writing goal was (or still is), this is the perfect time for a gut check. Because if you want to kick butt in 2026, you need to know exactly where you stand.

Before we deal with this year, let’s take a quick glance in the rearview mirror.

How was 2025?

Did you accomplish what you set out to do? Looking back isn’t about beating yourself up—it’s about honesty. Accountability matters in a writing career.

So… what did you accomplish?

I’ll wait.

drumming fingers…

Still waiting.

more dramatic drumming…

Okay, got it?

Maybe you’re thrilled with how last year went. Or maybe, like many writers, you didn’t quite get there. Maybe last year’s goal became this year’s goal.

That happens.

Life gets messy. Doubts populate like dust bunnies. The publishing industry does what the publishing industry does. Rejections pile up. Family needs you. Health takes you on a detour. But, whatever happened in 2025 is done.

Finished. Finito. In the books.

Forgive yourself. Then move on.

What now?

At this point, some of you are thinking, “Well, it’s too late to make a plan now."

Um… no.

No, it is not.

We still have nearly two-thirds of the year left.

That’s seven and a half glorious months to:

• draft a manuscript
• revise a manuscript
• write a query letter
• research agents
• build a website
• learn social media strategy
• finally figure out what the heck Amazon ads do for you

That’s not “too late.” That’s opportunity.

So pick the goal that matters most.

Here’s the key: don’t try to do everything at once. Pick the goal that absolutely needs to get done.

For me? It’s drafting a new book.

Is that doable with the time left in 2026?

Yes.

So that becomes Priority One.

Now comes the important part: making the goal actionable.

Right now, I have the tiniest spark of an idea. Before I can send a synopsis to my editor for approval, I need to flesh out the story.

That means:

• brainstorming with trusted writing friends
• drafting three chapters to find the story’s voice
• creating a three-page synopsis
• getting all of that done by mid-June so I have six full months to draft an 80–90K manuscript.

Once the project gets approved, I can reverse-engineer the writing schedule and calculate exactly how many words I need to write each month.

See what happened there?

I created a deadline.

Okay, sure. Setting deadlines is easy. Keeping them? That’s where the rubber meets the road. Because ultimately, you have to honor the timeline you create.

One of the tools that helps me stay on track…

A business plan.

Every year, I sit down with a few trusted writing friends and walk them through my goals. That accountability makes all the difference. Something about saying your plans out loud and then pinning them to the bulletin board in your office makes them real.

(Download the Sample Business Plan above by clicking here.)

For me, the top priority is always writing new material or revising a book. Always. But the secondary goals matter too. Because modern writers aren’t just writers. We’re marketers. Brand strategists. Social media managers. Website coordinators. Networking professionals. Occasional emotional support humans.

It’s… a lot.

My secondary goals for 2026 include:

• building a website for my new pen name
• hiring a branding consultant
• researching publicists
• getting updated headshots
• requesting blurbs
• developing a social media strategy

Honestly? It all feels a little overwhelming. But overwhelming goals become manageable when you assign deadlines.

Of course, setting deadlines can feel a bit like chasing a Slinky down the stairs. Remember those? One minute you’re motivated. The next minute it’s three weeks later and somehow you’re looking for your escaped slinky instead of writing Chapter Five.

That’s exactly why timelines matter. And why writing friends who lovingly hold your feet to the fire are priceless.

Final Thought

Creating a business plan and setting measurable goals can feel about as appealing as sticking your hand into a hornet’s nest. I understand. I am not naturally organized. Not even close. But I do believe visible, actionable goals help writers finish projects and move forward.

So let’s do a check-in.
What’s your big goal for 2026? How’s it going? Have you drifted off course? Do you have deadlines in place? Are you ahead of schedule?
(Or are we all collectively pretending May isn’t happening?)
Tell me where you are down in the comments!

About Liz

Liz Talley is the USA Today best-selling author of over thirty heartwarming stories. A finalist in both Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart and Rita Awards, Liz has published with Harlequin, Hallmark, and Montlake where she reached number one in Kindle romance and was named to Publisher’s Weekly mass market bestseller list. Her stories are set in the South, where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot, and the porches are wide. In 2023, she also added screenwriter to her accomplishments, co-writing an adaptation of her novel The Wedding War, which landed in the Top 20 of the Louisiana Film Prize.

Find Liz Talley's books here.

Featured image purchased from Depositphotos.