The Proper Way to Submit to Publishers + Free Checklist
Believe it or not, there is a proper way to submit to publishers. And most of us have, at one time or another, messed up the submission process, leading to a rejection that could’ve been avoided. For some of us, landing a publishing contract with one of the big publishing houses is “the dream.” So […]
The Best Ways to Obtain New & Exciting Content Ideas
We’ve all been there. We run out of content ideas. Some people call it writer’s block, and others shrug it off as a rut and move on. Either way, you feel a cold trickle of sweat slide insidiously down your back as your mind runs in circles, looking for something, anything, to talk about. There […]
What is a Content Audit & Why Do You Need One?
I’m not going to lie. Today’s post will probably bore most of you to tears. Why? Because it’s about conducting a content audit. I mean, just the words “content” and “audit” make you want to thump your head on your desk and scream “I’m so bored!” at your computer or phone. But there is no […]
How to Set Realistic Writing Goals
Have you ever set writing goals for yourself? I hadn’t until this past year. This year my goals were to: Post frequently and consistently on my blog. ✅ Set aside time to finish writing my short story collection. ✅ Publish a work of fiction. (I published a poem instead.) ✅ Grow my blog following to […]
NaNoWriMo is Over: Now What?
National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short) is over for another year. Some of us are swimming in pride because we reached the coveted 50,000 words and others are wondering how things went so wrong. No matter what happened this past month, know that you did your best, and that’s all anyone can do. […]
Forensics: The Research Tools Every Writer Needs
A staple location in any mystery is the crime scene. You know, the one where cops and forensic scientists take photos and collect evidence. It’s that evidence that helps our detective crack the case. In other words, forensics are integral to any mystery or crime novel. The only problem is that the task of collecting and analyzing […]
How to Write a Blood-Pumping Crime Novel
The crime novel and mystery genre go hand in hand when talking about murder mysteries and detectives. But are they really? Like most literary genres, there are nuanced differences between a detective story or crime fiction. It’s not all about capturing the bad guy, but more about why he turned to a life of crime. It’s these […]
How to Write a Well-Researched Police Procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of the mystery novel. It has been around since the 1940s, and it’s based on what the police do daily. To say that this is a mildly popular subgenre is a bit of an understatement. It has infiltrated not only the mystery genre but also Hollywood. There are countless TV shows […]
A Writer’s Guide to Researching & Using Weapons
The information contained on this website is not legal advice. It should not be construed as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such.
Chekhov’s Gun: What is It & How to Use It
Chekhov’s gun is about writing with intention. It means that we shouldn’t be throwing things into our stories that serve no purpose. It doesn’t mean that we can’t have setting descriptions and what-not. We need those things to help set the mood and orient our readers to the story’s time and place. And sometimes, the […]
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