Craft and process tips for authors: April 6, 2026

The publishing experts we follow have plenty of craft and process advice to offer. 

Here are the ones that we thought were can't-miss for our authors:

• Coping mechanism thesaurus — suppression: Becca Puglisi gives examples of how suppression, as a way to process and handle stress and hurt, can hold your character back (Writers Helping Writers).

• Internal vs. external conflict — the shift from projection to agency: K.M. Weiland explains that focusing too much on external conflict and, thus, on the antagonist's actions flattens your story and deprives your character of the chance to take action and grow, thus connecting deeper with readers (Helping Writers Become Authors).

• What noir can teach any author: Writer Ruth Knafo Setton believes that the noir genre is distinctive for how it turns plot into atmosphere and makes the case for incorporating that idea into all sorts of stories (Writer Unboxed).

• Self-editing and how to work with a professional editor: This excerpt from Joanna Penn's How to Write a Novel: From Idea to Book takes you through preparing your book for the varying types of editors and readers who will provide pre-publication feedback (The Creative Penn).

• Write anywhere, write everywhere: The various unexpected places (along with some of the usual suspects) in which author Greer Macallister has managed to spend even just ten minutes have absolutely added up in a good way — this is her invitation to you to at least consider doing the same (Writer Unboxed).