Diving into Graphic Novels without Drowning

Do you want to let drawing become a part of your writing life, but are afraid to start? Do you long to dive into the world of books with pictures, but fear drowning? Let this article be your floaties to keep you safe in the deep end of the graphic novel pool. First, some history…. Read more »

Why Choose Indie Publishing?

A decade ago, most people perceived independent publishing (also called self-publishing) as a last option, something that was not so much chosen by the author as for him (i.e., no one wanted his work). But today a growing number of authors, including those who’ve been traditionally published, choose to publish independently for a part or… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Ways to Use Writing as Therapy

Writing usually means meeting deadlines and routinely showing up to write. Writing for an audience requires the consideration of who the audience will be, because while writers want to express themselves, they also want to impress. After all, there are books to sell, and articles that need to be read. But what if you were… Read more »

Balancing The Author Voice With Writing Modes

Our author voices are made up of a combination of modes. The four main ones being dialogue, description, action, and internal thought. Those are the most common modes balancing fictional prose. Too much of any one mode—clumps of description, trains of dialogue, pages of action, and dumps of internal thought—bogs down prose and makes it… Read more »

Ask the Editor: Five Reasons Your Revision Process is Stalled

I have a tendency to over-correct in my editing process. This is especially true when I receive feedback from critique partners, and it’s difficult to get centered enough within myself to know what’s actually working and what isn’t. Even when I’m not receiving critique, I tend to be self-critical and perfectionistic (not sure if that’s… Read more »

#5onFri: Five Easy Ways to Speed Your Reading

Reading makes us smarter and healthier. It influences the way we think and learn. It has a positive impact on your brain, encouraging mental stimulation and slowing the process of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Reading polishes our writing skills, no matter if we write academic essays, web content, or fiction. In plain English, books make us… Read more »

By Any Other Name: Voice Across Genre

I’m a long time fan of Stephen King and his particular way of telling a story. In the mid-80s, shortly after I began working at my local library, I came across the novel Thinner.  I picked up the book. As is my habit, I didn’t look at the author’s name; I only read the title… Read more »

Writing For Life

My grandmother recently passed away at 99 years old. When she was born, in 1919, the average life expectancy for a white American women (higher than that for males, or people of color) was 56 years old. As a child, the idea of a 99 year-old person, let alone her own ability to live to… Read more »