Jessica Strawser Mumble-mumble-cough years ago, back in my high school days, I was what you might have called a hopeless romantic—in the doe-eyed, day-dreamy way of those who have yet to actually experience romance, let alone real hopelessness. At my bedside was a faux wood clock radio, and every night after my lights were out, […]

Lisa Cron Backstory is something writers often struggle with, largely because of the writing myths out there that make it seem like something that’s best avoided. Ironic, because by avoiding backstory, writers tend to doom their novels right out of the starting gate. The surprising truth is that backstory is the most seminal layer of […]

Kathryn Craft Turning Whine Into Gold If we are ever to finish a novel there comes a point when we all must ask: is our story (yet) good enough? The question deserves a thoughtful answer. A glib “Hey, it’s better than half the crap out there” is the mindset that once defined “vanity publishing,” and […]

We've been working hard on resolutions, butt-in-chair, at the gym. Let's reward ourselves with some FUN! Share a favorite paragraph of your current WIP (work-in-progress) in the comments. Give us your title and genre, then your paragraph. Feel free comment on others' as well!   Here's Mine: Hand-Me-Down Dreams, a WF with Romantic Elements: Carly's truck […]

Today I'm thinking about the people who inspired me on this writing journey. There are the usual suspects... My mother, who encouraged my constant scribbling. The 6th grade teacher who put my essay up on the wall with a shiny gold star. Countless friends and teachers, in my home writing chapter and online. The founders and […]