We’re so excited to have June Hur for today’s Author Spotlight to celebrate Asian Pacific (American) Heritage Month! I put *American* because June is Canadian and this month is for celebrating all API diaspora writers! June’s second novel, The Forest of Stolen Girls, is out now! Axie: Hi June! Can you give us a quick… Continue reading APAHM Spotlight: JUNE HUR
When I first approached the topic of this post, I was deeply intimidated. There is no facet of creative writing that could render me more self-conscious, that I devote half so much mental and emotional energy to, than prose. Every writer, published or not, has started reading a book and immediately thought “Oh no. This… Continue reading How to develop your personal prose style
The End. Small words, three letters each. But when you put them together, wow are they big. The conclusion, the finale, the denouement. Powerful, shocking, bittersweet, heartwarming. An ending can be so many things. I’m not going to say the ending is the absolute most important part of a story; beginnings are important, too, because… Continue reading Why I Love Endings (And Also Hate Them)
We’re so incredibly excited to feature our very own Amanda Foody for today’s Author Spotlight to celebrate the release of her debut middle grade novel, The Accidental Apprentice, Book One in the Wilderlore series!! AXIE: Give us a quick pitch for Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice! What can we expect to find in this book? FOODY: Wilderlore follows… Continue reading Author Spotlight: Amanda Foody and Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice!
As a mostly pantser who desperately wanted to be a plotter, outlines have long been my nemesis. I was so envious of people who would just know a whole story upfront without going through the trouble of writing the whole thing wrong multiple times. But after nearly 5 years of warring with outlines, I finally… Continue reading Outlines Are Lighthouses, Not Destinations
We’re so excited to be featuring a friend of the blog on our Author Spotlight series: Tara Sim! Happy release day to you, Tara and your newest book Ravage the Dark the sequel to Scavenge the Stars, your dark, gender-bent retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. KAT: Tara! So excited to be talking with… Continue reading Author Spotlight: Tara Sim
In the grand tradition of Writer’s Block Party, this week’s post is about a topic that I’m in the midst of trying to master for myself. And what better way to think through a writing concept than to write about it? We have talked a lot about plotting before–what is plot, how we structure it,… Continue reading Writing Subplots
Writing one book is a daunting endeavor, let alone an entire series. And after spending months or years putting the finishing touches on one novel, the prospect of plotting out another can often seem overwhelming, especially if you aren’t much of a plotter to begin with. I’ve published a trilogy, and I’m in the midst… Continue reading How much do you have to know about your sequel ahead of time?
Since February is Black History Month, I want to recommend a handful of books to pick up, if you haven’t already, that are rooted in a historical event or history. If you’re looking to tie in a historical event into your novel or interested in writing historical fiction, these titles are great entry points for… Continue reading Book Recommendations for Black History Month!
Beginnings are hard because there are so many elements to introduce. You have to consider character dynamics, point of view, pacing, world building, voice, narrative flow–and it’s incredibly hard to figure out how to balance all those aspects in a cohesive, clear, and engaging manner. While there’s no easy formula to crafting the perfect beginning,… Continue reading 3 Questions To Ask Yourself For A Stronger First Chapter
