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Join us with a cuppa and settle in for expert writing advice, writing and publishing tips, book reviews, and your questions answered!

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How do I write enemies to lovers?

"I don't know if there's already an article about this, but how should I go about an enemies to lovers type side plot? My two protagonists are in a situation where they are trapped together for a long time, and they are fighting on opposite sides of a war, so...

4 Reading Tips That Will Make You A Better Writer

Writing is a skill that takes practice, but there is more to being a great writer than simply putting words on a page. Reading is an essential skill for every author, no matter what stage of the writing journey you’re on. There’s so much to learn from the work of...

How do I write a character backstory?

“How do I write a unique character backstory effectively?” Backstory can feel like quicksand. If you take one step in too deep, you’ll find yourself suddenly drowning in family trees, childhood pets, and three pages about a summer camp no one needs to read. It’s so...

How to Create a Plot Outline in Five Easy Steps

I’ll happily admit that I’m not a plotter. I have story ideas, but I find sitting down to actually map those ideas out into a manageable form to be a chore. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool pantser, and always have been. With that said, however, it’s not always practical or...
5 Editing Tips to Revise and Strengthen Your Dialogue

5 Editing Tips to Revise and Strengthen Your Dialogue

I recently revised a story from almost a quarter century ago. As I dug through this monument to writers' past, I was pleased with the quality of the prose, excited by the cohesion of the story, but dismayed by the sheer volume of dialogue. There was just so...

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How do you write a good metaphor?

How do you write a good metaphor?

"I struggle with writing metaphors. I can come up with similes easily, but metaphors? Not so much. Any advice?" If you can write a simile, you're already halfway there! Seriously. The hard part is making connections between different things, and if it’s something...

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What can I do when I get stuck on a scene?

What can I do when I get stuck on a scene?

“I’m stuck on a scene. I know what needs to happen, but every time I try to write it, it stalls. What can I do to get unstuck?” Every time I get one of these questions, I’m shocked at how relatable they all are! This is such a common thing that affects all writers....

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How do you come up with good character names?

How do you come up with good character names?

"I've been struggling with naming my characters for weeks now. I keep second-guessing every name I choose, worried it's not meaningful or unique enough. How do you come up with good character names? And how do you know when you've found the right one?" I feel this...

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