The weather is warm here in the United States if not downright scorching, many people are regaining a bounce in their step, and you might be thinking about getting your writing going.
In lieu of a new post this week, I thought I’d include a mini “greatest hits” that might be helpful to read or revisit as you press forward with a new project.
Don’t forget that I’m still offering discounts to my newsletter subscribers on coaching, as well a special discounted “jumpstart your writing” editing package, so subscribe here!
If you need some help getting going…
- How to choose an idea for a novel
- How to get started writing a novel
- The 8 essential elements of a story
- Do you have a plot?
- All about perspectives in novels
- Third person omniscient vs. limited vs. head jumping
- What is a character arc?
- How to find a writing style that works for you
If you’re dusting off an old manuscript…
- How to return to writing after a long break
- How to diagnose big picture problems in your novel
- How to edit a novel
- Novel revision checklist
- When editing, start with the problems before jumping to solutions
- How to know what to cut from a novel
- The most common mistakes writers make
- Does your novel have enough conflict?
- Do you suffer from one of these writing maladies?
If you want to sharpen your craft…
- How to write clear physical description
- Don’t start a scene without these four essential elements
- Watch out for empty gestures in your novel
- Clear out the clutter around your verbs
- Weave exposition naturally into the story
- Be careful with the “VERBing, character(s) VERBED” sentence structure
- Don’t fear repeating pronouns
- Let the reader diagnose your characters
- Are you creating a mystery or just being vague?
- Everything authors need to know about dialogue tags
If you want to freshen up your characters…
- Do you (and your readers) know what your characters want?
- Why protagonists need to be active
- Shy characters don’t have to be passive
- How to use hopes and dreams to make a character come alive
- 7 reasons your characters feel flat
- 9 ways to spice up characters
- How to craft a dynamic relationship between characters
- 6 ways to build intimacy between characters
- How to spice up relationships in novels
- 5 ways to make a character more sympathetic
- A list of character strengths and weaknesses
- Make characters interesting through contradiction
- Only show characters crying when they’re truly at their wits’ end
If you want to get your writing more organized…
- How to outline a novel
- My plot framework
- How to organize a chapter
- How to craft a good climax
- Give your protagonist a mini-quest before the main plot kicks off
- Everything you need to know about inciting incidents
- Listen to your characters, but don’t let them run away
If you’re feeling stuck
- How to get over writer’s block
- How to set meaningful goals
- Increase your productivity and happiness with extreme calendaring
- Turn off your phone notifications. All of them.
- Try this trick when your novel is stuck
- How to regain your concentration
- Five ways to stay motivated while writing a novel
- Unlocking creativity through meditation
- The solution to every writing problem that has ever existed
If you need a pick-me-up…
- Ten Commandments for the Happy Writer
- The publishing process in GIF form
- Prioritize yourself
- Your writing matters
- Don’t ever ask somebody whether you should keep writing
Need help with your book? I’m available for manuscript edits, query critiques, and coaching!
For my best advice, check out my online classes, my guide to writing a novel and my guide to publishing a book.
And if you like this post: subscribe to my newsletter!
Art: Charles Sprague Pearce – Reading by the Shore
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