An excerpt from: FROM SPARK TO STORY: Using Editorial Eyes to Draft, Revise, and Turn Your Book Idea Into a Full-Blown Novel Dialogue tags are misused ALL the time. It’s okay. You probably didn’t learn all of these in school, and if you did, what are the chances of your brain holding onto this amongst giant-sized Cokes and emotional-support dogs? Buckle up, because we’re … Read More Dialogue Tags
The Waypoint Method of plotting aims to get deep under the skin of your story so that you understand more than just what happens to your characters, you understand the WHY. Once we dig deeper into story, the plot points begin to fall together. Plot points are really just moments when your protagonist’s views or their way forward PIVOTS to something new. Know what … Read More 5 Pivot Points to Plot Your Novel
Three things to note before we jump in: ONE: there is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL, or no hard and fast ALWAYS rules in strengthening the language of your fiction. TWO: if your characterization is INCREDIBLE, strong language will most likely come very naturally. THREE: you have more leeway if you’re writing in first person and within dialogue for voice reasons. Let’s jump in. … Read More Quick Tips to Strengthen the Language of Your Fiction
The 5 Point Story Mapping Method isn’t a plotting device. It’s not a new series of beats or a reworking of classic plot tools. The Waypoint Method aims to get deep under the skin of your story so that you understand more than just what happens to your characters. It’s about setting yourself up to succeed, understanding your own motivations as well as your … Read More DIY Workbook: 5 Point Story Mapping
+ Writing
by Haley Walden
Sending an imperfect (or even *gasp* incomplete) first draft to your editor feels a little bit like getting pushed out of an airplane before you’ve psyched yourself up for the jump. I know this because I recently turned an incomplete first draft in to MY editor, Allie (in case you haven’t already seen or heard me mention this, Allie and Jo are my editors … Read More The Freefall: Letting Go Of Perfectionism During Drafting
by Jesse Perry
With the rise of social media and the internet, marginalized groups have been able to create online platforms and share their experiences. With all of this new information cycling the web, and authors wanting to diversify their casts of characters, it can be difficult to make sure that you are representing a character that is a member of a marginalized group in a respectful … Read More Writing Disabled Characters – 3 Tropes to Avoid
Ready to start querying agents and/or publishers? We got you. Nailing Your Query and Submission Packet walks you through the following: Checking the Market for the viability of your novel Creating a pitch that an industry professional can’t ignore Building a query letter to capture attention Writing a synopsis that will best showcase your story Discovering a personal bio that connects you to your … Read More DIY Workbook: Nailing Your Query and Submission Packet
Allie and Jo are passionate about helping quality stories find their place the world. We created this series of worksheets to give intermediate authors a series of questions and checklists. This resource is to help authors who: Want nothing but our most popular worksheets. Have written enough to not need detailed explanations. Want to revisit how they approach story. Are starting a new genre. … Read More DIY Workbook: Essential Story Elements
Want to get the most out of your edits and get your book noticed? The best way to make your book as strong as it can be is by learning how to edit your own words before your manuscript ever leaves your hands. No one knows your story the way you do, and no one can edit in a way that helps you stay … Read More DIY Workbook: Master Self Editor
It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your writing journey, you’ve finished one book, or your backlist is filled with titles. It doesn’t matter if you’re Independent or Traditional. Every single person we’ve worked with, or met in the writing world, has one thing in common: Occasionally, we all get stuck. We’re sometimes overwhelmed by the process, or afraid of the criticism/rejection, or … Read More DIY Workbook: Three Author Foundations
If you haven’t read them get caught up here: 4S Author | Self | Story | Support | Sales It’s easy to slip into thinking your writing is just you—the author. Your readers and those dreaded gatekeepers are way over there. In essence, it’s you alone and then everyone else you are trying to reach across some great expanse, whether real or imagined. It … Read More 4S Author: Support
Welcome back to the next S in our 4S author career series! Get caught up: 4S author career | Self | Story | Support | Sales Story is arguably the most important part of a writing career. You can be wicked confident and have a ton of money to throw at an in depth marketing plan, but if your story isn’t compelling all the hype will quickly flop. … Read More 4S Author: Story
Waypoint Authors 