Critiques: A How-To Guide

By far, one of the most useful tools in a writer’s arsenal is the critique. But what is a critique? What makes a good critique? And how do I critique for a writer who wants to trade? When I began trading work, I wasn’t sure what to do or what to expect. After three years … Read more

Cover to Cover III: Owning a First Draft

This is my third entry in my Cover to Cover series which follows a novel from inception to potential publication. It’s interesting to note since I started doing this, my novel has changed quite significantly. Most notable is that I completed a first draft last month. If you’ve ever completed a long first draft, then … Read more

5 Essential Publishing Skills

This article is by T.L. Bodine. Self-publishing can certainly seem like the easier route to take when it comes to getting your words in front of readers.  After all, there are no gate-keepers – no agents to court, no publishers to approach. With the click of a button, your book can be released into the … Read more

Should You Write a Fantasy Trilogy?

I recently came to a part in my Work in Progress (WIP) when I said, “Huh, this doesn’t look like it’s going to be a standalone after all.” While I believe there are a lot of important decisions to make about your book (awesome characters, coherent plot, enough giant roach mutants, traditional vs. self-publishing), one … Read more

Why You Should Burn Your NaNoWriMo Novel

If you’re reading this, NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is over and you have one of the following in your quivering, coffee-stained hands: A string of nonsensical words that closely resemble the ramblings of a mad centaur. 50,000 words that are mostly just alternations of “I hate this” or “Crap!” A pretty solid attempt at … Read more

Mastering Multiple POV in 6 Steps

Multiple POV storytelling has a bad rap. Sure, the practice of splitting a single narrative across multiple characters’ perspectives has a long history. And its popularity continues to expand as our society grows ever more distrustful of singular truth, in favor of individual realities. But multiple POV writing is not without its critics—and some of … Read more

The Benefits of Outlining: A Layered Approach

This article is by Steven M. Long. Everybody outlines. The second a writer imagines one scene following another, that writer is creating an outline, even if the outline is incomplete and only in their head. Referring to a novel writer as an “outliner” usually indicates someone who feels more comfortable with and sees the benefits … Read more

10 Ways to Find Inspiration for Fantasy Writing

The elusive muse. Long considered dead by some, still widely sought after with hounds, nets, and harpoons by others, the concept of “invoking the muse” still lurks out there in the writers’ ether. Inspiration can be fickle: it doesn’t always necessarily come when you want it. There are some tried and true methods for getting … Read more