by: Shannon Redmon @shannon_redmon As a former healthcare professional for over twenty years, I often focus on the medical scenes in many books, television shows and movies. When hospital visits or emergency room drama is included in manuscripts, authors sometimes write these scenes incorrectly. I’ve rolled my eyes on more…

By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin As I meet writers at conferences and speak with them, the majority are focused on publishing a book. It makes sense most people speak to me about books since I’ve been an acquisitions editor at a New York publisher for the last ten years. There are…

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson A writer’s life is one filled with ups and downs. Some days the words flow and it seems that you have a pipeline from Heaven to the computer screen. The words swirl and dance with a life of their own. At other times the sentences start…

By Leilani Squires When I edit novels, the two comments I most commonly make are, “All the characters sound the same” and “The dialogue is too stiff.” To solve these issues, try using some screenwriting techniques:  Listen You experience a movie through what is seen and heard. Our ears have…

By Amy Bright @AmyBrightwriter You’re involved in world building even if you aren’t writing sci-fi/fantasy, the genres we usually associate with the term “world building.” Your fictional universes may parallel our “real world,” but they’re always written through your mind and heart.  For many authors, being a “sub-creator” is a…

By Darlene L. Turner @darlenelturner Authors begin a new story by creating and building their characters—the hero, heroine, and villain, but shouldn’t we also consider the setting as a character? How can we do this effectively? Here’s what I’ve learned on this subject. Setting is where your story resides. Could be…