For the first time in my writing life I have pressed the SEND of no take backs and no returns. My book has received its final edit and is o...

You've been working on your manuscript for weeks... months... maybe years. You've gone through bags of Godiva chocolate and endless...

Would you believe this is the final installment of our self-editing checklist series?! Whew, we've crammed a lot into our brains, but ho...

"Cinderella woke up one day and decided she wanted to be a princess. So she went to the prince's ball, danced with him, and fell in...

Most writers have a basic visual in their minds of the story's setting and the main characters. Case in point, this picture is the hero ...

Gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, pulse-pounding fiction. We writers like to make our readers squirm, don't we? Two weeks ago, I talked a...

In my limited experience as a contest judge, I'd say there's one common mistake among all beginner writers: Too much internalizati...

Grab any fiction book off the shelves, and you'll see characters talking (Well, not literally. If you do, you might want to seek help). ...

Do you ever find yourself repeating the same things over and over? Do you ever find yourself repeating... Okay, I'll stop. All writers...

Plot vs. character. Character vs. plot. The debate could give writers a headache the size of War and Peace . Lucky for all of us, I'm no...

Do you ever have too many characters talking in your head at once? It's time to take charge and make them wait their turn. This week w...

No, we're not talking about that period in elementary school when Freckle-Faced Freddy brought his ant farm and let the little buggers l...

If you've been following along in this series, hopefully your scenes are taking shape with purpose and consistency . This week we'l...

No, I'm not giving away dynamite...That might get me arrested. But I am offering a fabulous giveaway for people who want to propel thei...

You've got a completed manuscript and you're ready to self-edit, right? So now the big question: Where do you start? My answer: a se...

Does the word edit make you shudder like a mom with a pet snake on the loose? Or does the process of moving words around excite you? It see...