Tag: Story Editor

  • How to Set Up and Run a Critique Group

    Teaching yourself how to write a novel is tough.  Doing it without any kind of feedback is nearly impossible.  Because writing is a solitary occupation by nature, you can sometimes feel like you’re operating in a vacuum.  But you’re not.  There are people all around you who are going through the same experiences you are,…

  • Romance Writers: Break Through Writer’s Block

    Q: I read an article that you wrote for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers about beating writer’s block and I have a follow-up question.  You start out by determining who the story is about, but in your article it’s only about one protagonist. My novel has strong romantic elements so it’s really about two people…

  • How to Win NaNoWriMo Like a Pro

    To win National Novel Writing Month, you have to write 50,000 words in 30 days.  Sound impossible?  Not if you break it down to a daily word count of 1,667 words.  Heck, bump it up just a couple hundred words more and you can take Sundays off. Is it easy?  No, but then again, I…

  • Writer’s Piggy Bank of Story Ideas

    Insert story ideas here. Not too long ago, I sat down to start writing a brand new novel. Always a pulse-pounding moment. Except this time, I was ready. Coming up with story ideas on the fly can be simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. Luckily, I’ve learned a trick to keep the excitement level high while still…

  • How to Be Your Own Book Editor

    Last time, I talked about how to get (and handle) constructive feedback on your novel without losing your mind.  If you haven’t read that post, go back and check it out.  (Hey, why not?  It’s free!)  Now, here’s how to be your own novel editor and rewrite your book manuscript like a pro.  Ready? 1) …

  • How to Get a Novel Critique and Love It

    Anyone who has ever gone through the pain and joy of publishing a novel can tell you that writing a novel is just the first step.  It might be the hardest part, but even after you type “The End” there’s still a lot more work to be done.  You need to revise and edit your…

  • Beat Writer’s Block in 6 Simple Steps

    Q:  I’m about five chapters into writing my first novel and I’ve reached a total impasse.  I flat-out don’t know where to go from here.  Everything started out so well, I had lots of story ideas and the pages were coming fast.  But now I’m stuck, and I don’t know what to do.  Should I…

  • 5 Fast Ways to Stop Editing Yourself

    Write a novel on an AlphaSmart.  Why not? Q:  When I’m writing a novel, how do I stop myself from going back and fixing things?  As I write, I’m afraid to even look at the screen because I’ll hate what I wrote.  I keep my eyes focused on my desk instead, or on objects that…

  • How Do I Finish My Novel?

    Q:  Hi, I’m trying to write a novel about two people who meet by accident and then discover that they share an element of their two dark pasts.  I have a few general story ideas, but nothing concrete.  I know where I want to start my novel and where I want it to end, but…

  • Your 3 Writing Personalities: the Surprising Truth

    Can the E-Myth show you how to write a novel? In The E-Myth Revisited, bestselling author Michael Gerber doesn’t breathe one word about how to write a novel.  But the priceless wisdom in these pages might change how you think of yourself and your writing process. In a nutshell, the E-Myth puts forth the idea…