Writing Tips and Writerly Musings

Memoirs are not quite novels, but they are far from biographies. Here are some tips to help you prepare your memoir.

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Some writers are sprinters, some are marathoners, and some are hikers who will reach the end, someday. Finding the pace that works for you, for your current story, for your current life situation is crucial.

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Whether you’ve just decided it’s finally time to write that book you’ve been thinking about on your own or you’ve been bit by the NaNoWriMo bug, starting a novel can be intimidating!

It doesn’t matter if you’re a pantser (writing by the seat of your pants), a plotter, or something in between, there’s still stuff you can do to prepare yourself before you start writing.

Submitting short stories is a LOT different than querying a novel -- even if you're looking for so-called traditional publishing.

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The past couple of years, I’ve noticed a trend -- in myself. I’ve been wanting to stay home and not deal with going out. [Even BEFORE Covid]
But wait, I thought I was an extrovert.

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Sometimes, when you’re stuck at some writing stage for too long, it can be hard to remember why you started this thing in the first place. So, here are the 10 things I love most about being a writer.

When writing, we all strive to bring our scenes to life, but it’s easy to forget a component. Scenes need action, setting, sensory descriptions, and emotional impact.

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I almost entitled this “Beta-Reading: For Fun and Profit” but… I don’t usually profit. At least not monetarily. Anyhow, here's my technique for beta-reading that seems to keep my writing friends coming back for more.

If you’re a writer, at some point between you putting the words down and it going out to its intended audience, you’re probably going to solicit some feedback (and if you don’t, you probably should). But, once you get this feedback -- how should you use it?

There’s a writing skill that many novelists struggle with. It’s something that read-a-chapter-a-month critique groups often miss: Pacing.

We all know that you need to start off with an inciting incident — at least by the end of the first chapter. But after there, it can get a bit fuzzy.

Techniques to try:
1 - Beat Sheets
2 - Varying sentence structure

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There is a difference between an antagonist and a villain. Your story doesn’t need a villain. However, if you’re going to have one, you should have a memorable one

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Picking a POV can be tricky. The three main things you need to consider are:

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I'm a Blogger | Vlogg...

Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing.

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And I've got a pretty bad social media addiction...

I'm a Blogger | Vlogger/Youtuber

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I never thought it would happen to me. I was arrogant and short-sighted.
I thought writer’s block was censoring out bad writing (you know, like rough drafts), an inability to apply butt-to-seat, or thinking you’re going in the wrong direction but not knowing the right one.
I didn’t think the blank page could scare me until I decided it was time for me to try something new.
Now? I understand.

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No matter if your fantasy world is a shifted version of our reality or something totally alien, no matter if you're a planner or a pantser, these tips should work for you.

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Different agents and editors want different things. Take these answers with a grain of salt, because, as we all know, if you do it well enough, they'll throw their own guidelines out.

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With all the risks, why would I want a literary agent?

Well, at Balticon 52, I got to hear a variety of perspectives from published authors who’ve had every sort of agent possible. Here are the stories of Leah Cypess, Keith RA DeCandido, CS Friedman, Tee Morris, and their hunt for a quality agent.

Note: this was originally recorded in 2018, but the questions are perenial.

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I don't know about you, but these are all things I always want to know:

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If you get the opportunity to read your own work, here are some tips on how to get ready.

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Thanks for listening! I'll be back next Monday with more rambling ideas about writing.

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