How and why to use a motif in your novel

Posted on 08/15/2022 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A discussion of motifs in literature might bring back memories — too many — of literature classes. But just like...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Writing advice

Fiction within fiction: When characters keep secrets ... and lie

Posted on 08/15/2022 at 10:55 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Most of us at least fib from time to time, even if we don't outright lie. And all of us...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Writer Unboxed, Writing advice

The week's highlights from Writer's Digest

Posted on 08/12/2022 at 08:38 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

It's been a pretty busy week at Fussy, and we've fallen behind on sharing posts from Writer's Digest. So here's...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Romance, Thriller, Writer's Digest, Writing advice, Young adult literature

Business questions that writers should ask in times of uncertainty

Posted on 08/11/2022 at 09:07 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Kristine Kathryn Rusch wrote a business musings post on the US economic uncertainty at the end of July. And as...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Kristine Kathryn Rusch, The business of writing

Updates from the Simon & Schuster-PRH trial and more

Posted on 08/10/2022 at 10:38 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The Alliance of Independent Authors has a lot of news that will likely make your eyes roll in its weekly...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors), Apple, Contests, Lawsuit, Publishing

Tips on writing that believable, yet unexpected, plot twist

Posted on 08/09/2022 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Believable, yet unexpected, is the gold standard for plot twists. But that, like many features of good writing, is easier...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: C.S. Lakin / Live Write Thrive, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

How authors can crowdfund for longer periods of time

Posted on 08/08/2022 at 04:46 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Author Brandon Sanderson got all the crowdfunding attention earlier this year with his record-smashing Kickstarter. But that's not the only...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors), The business of writing

The Kindlepreneur's guide to 11 important story structures

Posted on 08/08/2022 at 12:39 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

A few weeks ago, the Kindlepreneur blog shared a handful of tried-and-true story structures in separate posts. We shared those...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Dave Chesson (the Kindlepreneur), Plot / narrative, Writing advice

Ask yourself these questions to help wrap up your nonfiction book

Posted on 08/07/2022 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Writing a book can feel like a never-ending task. (Not to mention the revising — but that's a whole 'nother...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Nonfiction

How to make middle-grade fiction feel realistic

Posted on 08/06/2022 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

"Write what you know," if taken at face value, would deprive us of so much beautiful fiction. But making a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Middle-grade fiction, Writer's Digest, Writing advice