Editing Software Compared

Editing Software Compared

A key tool for all writers is editing software. Grammarly, ProWritingAid, perfectest, SmartEdit—which one do you buy (or subscribe to)? I’ve spent the money and time and tried each one of these, but I would highly recommend that you at least spend the time to test out...
Everyone’s a hero

Everyone’s a hero

I’m sure you’ve heard that every character in your book considers themselves the hero of the novel. It’s why you need to know the goal, motivation, and conflict of every character (or certainly the primary and secondary characters). But can every...
Revelations about book sales

Revelations about book sales

The trial concerning the potential merger of Simon and Schuster and Penguin Random House has drawn to a close with some incredible revelations. Joanna Penn, in her podcast, The Creative Penn, talked about three major points made by Jane Friedman in her Hot Sheet...
Prioritizing

Prioritizing

So what are you doing today? It’s the question my husband asks me every morning as we’re getting up, having coffee and beginning to think about the day ahead. Usually, I’ve got a list of things I need to get done—I’m a strong believer in To Do lists. I keep a weekly...
Stepping back for a broader view

Stepping back for a broader view

It’s never too late to analyze your book. In fact, despite the fact that I’m a die-hard plotter, I find it incredibly useful to plot out the story structure and character arcs of a book after it’s finished. It doesn’t matter how detailed my plot it, when I actually...