Manuscripts Need Breathing Room

September 8th, 2025  |  Season 9  |  5 mins 26 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, writers, writing, writing tips

After you finish drafting a new manuscript, there are some good reasons (other than just fatigue) to let the manuscript just breathe. No. Really!

Finding Your Authorial Voice

September 1st, 2025  |  Season 9  |  11 mins 24 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, writers, writing, writing tips

You always here how there are no new stories, just new storytellers. I'm sharing notes on how to make your authorial voice distinct!

Antici...pation

August 25th, 2025  |  Season 9  |  2 mins 7 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, writers, writing, writing tips

How do you cope when waiting for news?

Loglines Versus Queries

August 18th, 2025  |  Season 9  |  3 mins 11 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, publishing, query, writers, writing, writing tips

The publishing industry uses a lot of terms, and none of them can quite agree on a definition. But, if you're trying to get published, you need to know the difference between a logline and a query letter.

Why I'm Trying To Get Traditionally Published Instead of Going Indie

August 11th, 2025  |  Season 9  |  9 mins

beta-reading, books, critique, writers, writing, writing tips

Why would someone want to be traditionally published instead of dodging the massive gatekeepers and leaning into the supportive Small Press and Indie communities?

(Of course, all this talk doesn't mean I'm not excited to work with small presses as well...)

Season 9: Trailer

August 4th, 2025  |  Season 9  |  46 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, trailer, writers, writing, writing tips

This season, I'll be sharing tips on editing, sending your work to agents, exploring tropes, and more.

How To Save a Fizzled First Draft

June 30th, 2025  |  Season 8  |  4 mins 53 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, writers, writing, writing tips

I've got one almost quick tip to get yourself sorted when you've got a rough draft that just kinda fizzled out...

Writing Rituals To Try When You Can't Get Started

June 23rd, 2025  |  Season 8  |  6 mins 37 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, writer's block, writers, writing, writing tips

Have you ever wanted to sit down and write, but your focus was shot and you just kept dithering instead? One shortcut many writers have found that works for them is the use of writing rituals.

A Writer's Two Worlds

June 16th, 2025  |  Season 8  |  7 mins 38 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, writers, writing, writing tips

In the dream world, we'd sit in front of notebooks and words would flow to the pages, never needing edits or revisions, and nothing would ever interrupt us. Unfortunately, this is the real world. Here are tips on managing to get your writing in, and ways to support your writing. Here are tips, from seasoned authors, on how to balance your personal life with a writing career.

5 Ways Stronger Verbs Can Improve Your Writing

June 9th, 2025  |  Season 8  |  5 mins 23 secs

beta-reading, books, critique, grammar, stephen king, verbs, writers, writing, writing tips

Everyone talks about the importance of "strong verbs", and Stephen King is infamously quoted as recommending getting rid of your adverbs. So, let's do a quick grammar refresher and see exactly how to do this for your writing.