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Read to Write
When I give my school presentations to young, aspiring writers I always tell them that in order to write, they must read. In fact, I say the three most important things they need…
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Show Me, Don’t Tell Me in Writing
Who likes to be told what to do? Think? Does anyone like to have everything explained to him or her? The answer is no. An emphatic no. As humans, we like to interpret…
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Writing a Scene
A novel consists of scenes. The way that you string your scenes together determines your plot, which is simply the events that happen to your characters. All fiction must have scenes. Without scenes,…
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Name that Character
How do you name your characters? Some popular authors have created unique names for their characters, while others have used common names. JK Rowling uses names like Dumbledore, Romilda, Lovegood, and Nymphadora. Stephenie…
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Credibility in Writing Fiction
Credibility in your writing is crucial if you want readers to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in your story. You have to take the time to do your research and make sure any…
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The Query Letter
If you want to publish your book traditionally, that is through a publisher instead of self-publishing it, you’ll need to become very familiar with the query letter. Query letters may seem scary, but…
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Manuscript Submission Cover Letter
You’ve written your book, had it critiqued and edited, and now you’re ready to submit it. Take a little time to celebrate–you deserve it! Writing a book, any book, is hard work and…
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Writers Write
Do you really want to write? That’s a question we all need to ask ourselves. If the answer is no, then you should find something else to do with your time. If the…
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Understanding Publishing Contracts
Writing can be invigorating and satisfying, but it can be daunting at times. Writing a book is hard work. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s easy. It takes time, effort, and lots of…
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Writing for Kids: What You Need to Know
When people think about writing for the children’s market they generally envision picture books. While picture books are a large segment of the children’s market, there are other categories as well. Don’t make…
