How To Beta-Read: One Writer's Style

August 30th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  7 mins 53 secs

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

I almost entitled this “Beta-Reading: For Fun and Profit” but… I don’t profit. At least not monetarily. Anyhow, here's my technique for beta-reading that seems to keep my writing friends coming back for more.

1 Method For Incorporating Feedback

August 23rd, 2021  |  Season 3  |  7 mins 42 secs

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

If you’re a writer, at some point between you putting the words down and it going out to its intended audience, you’re probably going to solicit some feedback (and if you don’t, you probably should). But, once you get this feedback -- how should you use it?

3 Techniques for Fixing Your Pacing

August 16th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  5 mins 23 secs

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

There’s a writing skill that many novelists struggle with. It’s something that read-a-chapter-a-month critique groups often miss: Pacing.

We all know that you need to start off with an inciting incident — at least by the end of the first chapter. But after there, it can get a bit fuzzy.

7 Tips for Writing Better Villains

August 9th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  6 mins 21 secs

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

There is a difference between an antagonist and a villain. Your story doesn’t need a villain. However, if you’re going to have one, you should have a memorable one

3 Tips For Deciding What Point-Of-View To Use

August 2nd, 2021  |  Season 3  |  6 mins 50 secs

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

Picking a POV can be tricky. The three main things you need to consider are:

1. What are you most comfortable with?
2. What are the genre expectations? and
3. What feels right for the story?

Welcome To Writing Tips and Writerly Musings -- Season Three!

July 12th, 2021  |  Season 3  |  44 secs

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

I'll be back in August with more writing tips and writerly musings. Plus, a little more.

Writer’s Block – Intimidated By The Blank Page

July 5th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  6 mins 41 secs

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

I never thought it would happen to me. I was arrogant and short-sighted.
I thought writer’s block was censoring out bad writing (you know, like rough drafts), an inability to apply butt-to-seat, or thinking you’re going in the wrong direction but not knowing the right one.
I didn’t think the blank page could scare me until I decided it was time for me to try something new.
Now? I understand.

5 Writing Tips for Making Fantasy Feel ‘Real’

June 28th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  5 mins 41 secs

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

No matter if your fantasy world is a shifted version of our reality or something totally alien, no matter if you're a planner or a pantser, these tips should work for you.

Agents and Editors Share–Pitches We’re Sick Of!

June 21st, 2021  |  Season 2  |  14 mins 50 secs

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

Different agents and editors want different things. Take these answers with a grain of salt, because, as we all know, if you do it well enough, they'll throw their own guidelines out.

What Good Is An Agent? Answers From Writers.

June 14th, 2021  |  Season 2  |  12 mins 16 secs

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

with all the risks, why would I want a literary agent?

Well, at Balticon 52, I got to hear a variety of perspectives from published authors who’ve had every sort of agent possible. Here are the stories of Leah Cypess, Keith RA DeCandido, CS Friedman, Tee Morris, and their hunt for a quality agent.