As an editor, I often come across books that tell a compelling story but are marred through unconvincing or monotonous dialogue. Dialogue can be a difficult thing to get right — after all, people don’t tend to speak in florid prose or with the drama fiction often...
If you’re struggling with writer’s block, you’re not alone. We all experience writer’s block from time to time, but one major cause is failing to see the rich possibilities for material in your own backyard. Some writers fear their lives are too boring, giving them...
Beware: What you’re about to read is a real-life horror story as told in The Write Life Community Facebook group. “Gone. ALL of it. Gone. Every old idea I ever jotted down. Gone. Every short story, script, chapters of multiple books. Gone. An entire universe of...
Click Here to Register Social media is woven into our lives. We don’t even think before reaching for our phones to check Facebook and Instagram. We catch ourselves scrolling through our feed or drafting the next clever tweet in our head.In a world so entrenched...
Two years ago, shortly after graduating college, I started freelance writing part-time. While I was focused on working a full-time job in media, I still contributed personal essays and listicles to a series of publications. This was a smart move because I accepted a...
Conflict is one of those aspects of writing that has caused more than its fair share of writer frustrations. Like many writers, I’ve spent countless hours creating conflict in my novels. I’ve thrown exciting obstacles in my protagonists paths, I’ve developed sinister...
You’ve just lost a freelance writing client. It sucks. You’re worried about how to make ends meet without the consistent monthly retainer you had, until now, taken for granted. Panic is starting to set in, and you can’t seem to get it together to finish the rest of...
Do you spend your weekends glued to the TV watching your favorite teams battle it out? Or, better yet, at the game decked out in the home team’s colors cheering for your sports heroes? If you’re a sports fan, it’s time to turn your love of the game into a...
When my first novel debuted last year, there was one aspect of its release that scared me stiff: Book reviews. I soon found out, I didn’t need to be afraid. Sure, the occasional bad review happens. But I was in good hands with my editor and my publisher. They made...
When you’re preparing to write an article, you’ll typically need to track down a few experts and interview them. Sometimes, an editor will assign an article along with sources and contact information. But most of the time, you’re on your own to track down the right...
