Category: For Writers
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The Simple Secret to Fixing Ugly Story Problems
It happens to every writer: you’re writing along when suddenly you need to go back and change some fact or detail. Because if you don’t fix it, the story won’t make sense. Should you stop writing at that moment to go fix it? Nope. That could kill your momentum. Here’s a better idea. It’s called…
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Should You Self-Publish Your Novel?
Which is better, self-publishing or a traditional publishing deal? If you’re a hands-on, DIY type of person with an entrepreneurial mindset, then you might be better suited to self-publishing. If you’d rather focus on the writing and not deal with the rest of it, you might prefer traditional publishing. I’ve done both. Here’s the truth:…
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How I Make a Living as a Writer (And You Can Too)
I’m proud to say I’ve built a full-time career around writing, as both a novelist and a copywriter. That means splitting my time between the two. Usually I spend the morning writing novels, then spend the afternoon writing marketing and advertising copy for business clients. (“Copy” is just fancy ad agency shorthand for “words that sell…
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How to Plan and Write A Novel
I’m often asked what my writing process looks like. How do I write a book? It’s pretty simple, actually. (Not easy. But simple.) First, I start with the basics: Who are the good guys? What are they trying to do? And, especially, why? Who are the bad guys? Where does this take place? Then I…
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How to Never Get Writer’s Block. Ever.
Let me tell you the secret to getting rid of writer’s block forever. I’ll admit, I’ve certainly had days where I feel like I don’t know what to write, or I worry that everything I write is terrible. Some people call that writer’s block. I call it “Monday.” :-) But seriously, what most people call…
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What an Editor Really Does — and Why You Need One
I first met Anita when she worked with my literary agent, Kristin Nelson. Anita is a freelance editor who helps writers bring out the very best in their novels. She was kind enough to share her editing insights, including why you should never let a rejection letter get you down, and why joining a critique…
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I Should Be Writing podcast with Yours Truly
Attention writers: You’re missing out. If you aren’t already listening to Mur Lafferty’s, “I Should Be Writing: The Podcast for Wannabe Fiction Writers,” you need to drop what you’re doing and go listen. In every episode, Mur talks about the writing process, problems every writer faces, and how to solve them. The unstoppable Mur was gracious enough…
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How do I get inspired to write?
Everyone has a unique way of getting inspired. I spark ideas by doing tons of research. The world we live in is so weird, it’s impossible not to get inspired. Before I wrote about the crystal magic in IT HAPPENED ONE DOOMSDAY, I went to plenty of lapidaries (rock shops), which are all over the…
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How to Create the Perfect Writing Soundtrack
Before I became a full-time writer, I thought music was too distracting to play while I was writing. I thought I needed absolute silence. Then I got a job as a staff writer, and suddenly I couldn’t hear myself think. Stuck in the middle of a bustling open-plan office, I quickly discovered that if I…
LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON 