by DiAnn Mills @diannmills Characters, like people, need a place to escape tension, stress, and conflict when life’s challenges threaten to steal their optimism. A writer uses a character’s happy spot to add a slice of real life to a three-dimensional character. The character knows where this place is and…

by Alycia W. Morales @AlyciaMorales Writing a manuscript is an exhilarating journey, but just because we've typed The End doesn't mean we're finished with our manuscript. Not. Even. Close. What comes next is rewriting. This is where we try to make our writing better. We fix our soggy middles. Deepen…

by DiAnn Mills @diannmills A novel’s first page is critical to the success of a successful novel. Here, the writer must hook the reader into the story by doing the following: Establish genre Introduce a sympathetic character. Initiate a bond between the protagonist and the reader. Build a setting. Create…

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel “Think before you speak!” is good advice. What about “Think before you write?” Not a bad idea either. And I would add to that, “Pray before you write.” I’ve seen far too much writing launched out into the world these days with nary a thought…

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson Saving for a rainy day isn’t just good financial advice—it’s good writing advice. We all have those times when inspiration doesn’t choose to shine on us. But if we’ve been storing valuable things, we’ll be able to continue to make progress. [tweet_box design="default" float="none" inject="- @EdieMelson…

by Cindy Sproles @cindydevoted “I have a memoir.” An excited conferee sat across from an acquisitions editor. An awkward silence seeped across the table. The editor tinkered with the manuscript. “We aren’t looking for memoirs.” “But your site says you publish them.” “We publish memoirs if you’re Brad Pitt, George…