by Mary A. Felkins, @MaryAFelkins Conventional writerly wisdom urges us to avoid using “was” in our stories wherever possible. In its place we’re taught (ad nauseam) to select strong, descriptive verbs. Use …
6 Must Haves in a Hero
By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep I love England. Everything about it. The people. The land. The rich and lustrous history. The big hunky knights and suave aristocrats. Okay, so maybe it’s …
4 Ways to Handle Critical Feedback About Your Writing
by Heidi McCahan, @HeidiMcCahan We’ve all been there. Maybe you’ve received harshly worded feedback from an anonymous judge in a reputable contest. Perhaps your critique partner’s suggestions have left you feeling …
How to Write as a Pantser
by James L. Rubart, @jameslrubart At a conference earlier this year a conferee came up and said, “I’ve read you’re a pantser.” “Guilty.” “So how do you do it?” “What …
How to Write a Synopsis Part 1: The Overview Paragraph
by Beth K. Vogt, @bethvogt Let’s talk about writing a novel synopsis, shall we? Not a favorite topic of conversation, is it? Sometimes when writers hear the words “write a synopsis,” …