Tag: writing
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5 Mistakes First-Time Writers Make
This past month I’ve gotten inspiring emails from all sorts of new writers, from high school students to retirees. One thing is clear: you’re never too old (or too young) to write a novel. If you’ve been thinking about writing a book — and who hasn’t? — remind yourself that the best day to start…
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Your Name on the NYT List: Secrets of Bestselling Authors
Who doesn’t want to write a bestseller? While no one can tell you exactly how to get onto the New York Times list, we can always ask the people who have already made it. Here are a few pearls of wisdom I’ve been given by bestselling authors I’ve interviewed over the years. Ignore them at…
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Lorem Ipsum: The Extremes of Good and Evil
Have you ever seen the phrase “Lorem Ipsum” and wondered where it comes from? I have, ever since ye dayes of olde when I did typesetting with rub-transfer Letraset sheets. For obvious reasons, we always ran out of the letter “E” in ye goode olde tymes. But seriously, ever since the 16th century, printers have…
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How to Get Published in Any Economy
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally The recession might officially be over, but it’s still harder than ever to get published. If you’re struggling to write a novel, you might find yourself wondering if the odds are stacked against you. What are the chances of ever getting published? Are literary agents and editors just itching for…
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Get Readers Talking with the Hey Mabel Effect
Your book can live or die in seconds. Years ago, I used to be among the people who chose its fate on a daily basis, and by doing just one single thing, I could make someone 60% more likely to buy your book. In a moment, I’ll tell you what that one thing is —…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Win NaNoWriMo in 10 Minutes
Believe it or not, how you spend the next ten minutes of your writing time might determine whether you win or lose National Novel Writing Month. I’m not kidding. There’s one single thing that you absolutely must do if want your novel to have any chance of seeing it through to “The End.” And you…
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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…
LAURENCE MACNAUGHTON 