You’ve heard it before, I imagine, that “the villain is the hero of their own story.” Tattoo that on your novel crafting brain. As writers everywhere gear up for NaNoWriMo, plots are being hatched on everything from brightly-colored sticky notes to the invisible neuro-pathways of a pantser’s wildest schemes.

As writers, we are the creators of entire worlds, whether realistic or entirely imagined. We must create compelling, engaging texts that cause our readers to feel dazed when they put our stories down. One way to explore this is to think of yourself as a designer.

I hate facing that blank screen. It mocks me. Some days writing comes easy. Some days it doesn’t come at all. And then there are most days, where I manage to trick myself past the blank screen and get some solid words on the page. How do I do that? Science!

Writing is hard. Writing during a pandemic, amidst social unrest, is even harder. Read on to find out how the muse can help.

How can you connect with the writing world while still maintaining those six feet of separation? Read on for a few ideas.

We’re really excited to announce our new partnership with alternative history podcast Twilight Histories!

Who doesn’t love Moira Rose from sitcom Schitt’s Creek? She’s fashionable (in her own way), possesses a vocabulary even a dictionary can envy, and has one killer wig collection. Let’s take a look at five instances where her reactions are perfect for calling us out on our writerly *peccadillos*.

All reading is an auditory experience, be it aloud or in silence, poetry or prose.

I attended a children’s writing conference given by our state’s Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) chapter, and one of the guest speakers was an editor who now works for a major publisher and has his own imprint. At the time, he said that if you are submitting YA, it better be in first-person POV and MG better be in third. Is this a rule that can be broken?

Much-acclaimed sitcom Schitt’s Creek may have come to an end recently, but the wisdom of character David Rose lives on. He’s opinionated and outspoken, traits that are just right for calling us writers out on our bad habits. Let’s take a look at five instances where David’s memorable reactions were a perfect match for our writing offenses.

We might not think that creativity has a place in this topic or style. But I’m here to tell you that creativity in business writing isn’t only possible, it’s essential if you want your business book to stand out.

We look at how choosing what to capitalize is no simple matter.

Working alone was lonely. The question was, what did I want to do?

Running low on the mental energy to write? Reading a craft book can help spark your creative fire. Here's a list of our favorites.

The books that reach your heart are not necessarily the best ones critically, but they spoke to you when you were feeling something.

Introducing "petite critiques." Our brand-new critique services give you access to savvy editorial professionals at an economical rate.

Writing in a time of crisis can be hard. It can be impossible. And that's okay, Denise Santomauro writes.

What happens when the safety of our home offices, couches, and dining room tables is no longer the refuge?

So you’ve found a way to make your characters’ speech sound natural and unrehearsed. But are you really making the most of your dialogue?

For many writers, getting involved in a writing community is the single most important thing they can do to boost their career.