A warning. This observation might go against the word on the market. The advice of the traditional publishing market is to choose a genre and stick to it for the sake of that market … And also, they say, for the sake of the readers … but mainly, I believe, it is for the sake […]
7 Inspirational Stories on Kindle Vella
With the soft launch of Kindle Vella this week, it is a surprise that there are already thousands of stories available to read. The question is, if you’re looking for an inspirational story on Kindle Vella, where should you look? But first things first … What is Kindle Vella? Kindle Vella is a new reading […]
11 Things Every Writer Should Know about Kindle Vella
If you are an aspiring or established writer, and especially if you are a self-published author, you’ll want to know all about Kindle Vella. It’s a new publishing platform on Amazon where you can publish serialized stories one episode at a time. In April of this year, I received an email from Kindle Direct Publishing […]
Nine Steps to Being a Miserable Writer
I don’t know who originally came up with this “writing advice” … But it’s all true, and useful suggestions to help you on the path to becoming a better writer. Because you have enough difficulties in life without growing miserable because of choices you are making in the realm of writing. Let’s look at the […]
Tips on Writing Strong Characters in Fiction (And in Life Too)
Strong characters. Every story needs them. A book can have the most plot-driven story line in existence, but if the readers can’t relate to the characters, they’re going to put the book down without finishing it. When we, as readers, love a character, it keeps us glued to the story, flipping the pages, not noticing […]
16 Tips on Tightening Your Writing
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects […]
Five Ways to Develop a Creative Community
These days, it is easier than ever before to access a creative community. We interact with others online via social media pretty much on a daily basis. But in spite of all the interactions, the posts and comments, do you struggle with really connecting with others? I’d venture to say we’re at risk of losing […]
Four Ways to Find Inspiration for Writing
I have to admit, throughout much of 2020, it was a challenge to “feel” creative and inspired to write. Of course, there’s a balance to be found between … waiting on the muse to descend, and starting to write whether you feel inspired or not But (for me, at least) that muse hid pretty well. […]
13 Tips on How to Become a Better Writer
Here is the shortlist on ways to grow into a better writer:
Read Widely
Read Deeply
Conduct Research
Seek a Writing Community
Interact with “Better Writers”
Teach Someone Else about Writing
Don’t Stop at the First Draft
Give Your Writing Time to Grow
Get an Editor to Improve in Your Writing
Don’t Completely Rely on an Editor to “Fix” Poor Writing
Educate Yourself about the Craft of Writing
Find Your Writing Rhythms
Have Fun Writing!
How Do You Know When Your Work in Progress Is Ready?
How do you know when your book is done? How do you know when your work in progress is ready? I admit, it can be hard to make that call. Just recently, I’ve gone back to a deep revision (aka substantive edit) of my work in progress, a nonfiction narrative on the names of Jesus. […]
Bonita Jewel 