Mary is a young adult writer and archaeologist. By day she teaches at a local college, and by night she writes about the adventures of adolescence.
Story concept is the cornerstone of a novel. Being able to succinctly answer the question, “What is your book about?” is important. But knowing how to…
Writing emotional scenes is often trying for authors because they’re tricky to get right. You want what happens to your characters to matter. But you also…
I’m currently working on a manuscript, and I get butterflies in my stomach before I sit down at the computer every single day. Will I be…
Author platform is sometimes confused with how much a writer engages on social media. While social media might well play a role in platform, it’s about…
Much ink has been spilled about how to nail the opening of a novel. Gotta hook ‘em right away! Start in the middle of the action!…
A scene in a novel is defined as a sequence of continual action. Scenes are more than just a series of events though. They drive the…
Have you ever re-read what you just wrote and thought: gosh this is boring? Do you ever worry that your characters are flat, one-dimensional snores? Are…
A trope is a character, plot turn, setting, or device that is familiar. You’ll find tropes in many novels, TV shows, and movies because they make…
I love to laugh. Lots of us do, but I especially like comedic novels. When I have a choice between a story that will make me…
“Let’s eat, grandma!” “Let’s eat grandma!” The humble comma makes these two phrases totally different. One calls Granny to the table and the other implies she’s…