Add an animal to your novel

Posted on 03/06/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Animals aren’t just for children’s books. Writer’s Digest editor Moriah Richard says that as long as the four-legged friend serves...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer's Digest

Give just enough backstory in your novel's beginning

Posted on 03/05/2021 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

You’ve heard the reasons to limit how much back story opens your novel, but as Susan DeFreitas once heard it...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative

11 ways to rephrase a cliché

Posted on 03/05/2021 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We love seeing the tongue-in-cheek writing advice to avoid clichés like the plague. And we also empathize with the struggle...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Editing, Writing advice

The five stages of editing (and why each is important)

Posted on 03/04/2021 at 02:36 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Readers may still pick up your book and even forgive it if it has an odd cover or underwhelming blurb....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: David Gaughran, Editing

How to plan a book launch that doesn't stress you out

Posted on 03/04/2021 at 11:21 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

There’s so much to keep track of when it comes to launching a book — and keeping its momentum going....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Marketing, Penny Sansevieri

Craft tips for writing crime fiction

Posted on 03/03/2021 at 04:09 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A retired police sergeant recently shared his advice on writing crime fiction. And if you read that post, you’ve checked...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Writer's Digest, Writing advice

How to make a beautiful book graphic if you're not a designer

Posted on 03/03/2021 at 11:30 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Chances are you have to create your own social media graphics, at least on occasion. And if you’re not blessed...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Marketing, Social media and websites, Writer Unboxed

A retired police sergeant's advice on writing better crime fiction

Posted on 03/02/2021 at 12:54 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

When we came across Joanna Penn’s interview with a former police sergeant who now advises writers on accuracy in crime...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Joanna Penn, Writing advice

ALLi’s audiobook roundup

Posted on 03/02/2021 at 11:30 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The controversy over how Audible pays out and reports royalties has certainly not subsided, and it’s also inspired other conversations...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors), Amazon, Audiobook, Licenses, copyrights, and other legalese

The secret to writing a strong first chapter

Posted on 03/01/2021 at 10:39 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

You’ve been warned about and have likely internalized just how important it is to have a strong opening chapter for...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: First lines and first chapters, Jane Friedman