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Best AWP Conference 2023 Sessions for Fantasy Writers
With only two days until the start of the 2023 AWP Conference & Bookfair, you (like me) might be trying to decide which of the hundreds of sessions you want to attend. The options are a bit overwhelming! (In a good way.) I’ve been poring over the conference schedule for days to create my schedule. Here, I want to highlight the sessions fantasy writers and YA writers don’t want to miss. As an added bonus, I also compiled a list of conference sessions about the publishing process at the end, which are always great to attend as you look to a future in writing. All descriptions courtesy of the official…
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Myers-Briggs Character Sheet for Writers
One of the hardest parts of writing a book is creating believable characters. Enter the Myers-Briggs Character Sheet. It’s easy to write from our own perspectives. Our feelings, experiences, and personality are familiar to us. If you’re on a first draft, you might notice a lot of your characters sound the same or have very similar personalities. That’s fine for a first draft, but ultimately, you’ll need to develop your characters into their own unique people to create a story others want to read. Writing Believable Characters Readers want diversity. They want characters that jump off the page and feel real. They want characters who have weird quirks, fatal flaws,…
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20 Unique Gifts for Writers and Authors
It’s the holiday season, and if you’re here, there’s a writer in your life that you’d love to delight with an awesome, unique gift. This list of unique gifts for writers and authors includes things both tangible and intangible, cheap and expensive, personal and impersonal — and hopefully, a gift for any situation. I hope you find what you’re looking for! (Note: I have not been paid to endorse any of these products. I’m just a writer who loves unique writerly things.) 1. A signed copy of their favorite book Price Range: $20+ All writers have idols. What could be more special than giving them a book that’s been…
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20 Motivational Memes for Writers
Writing is hard work, and sometimes we need a little motivational boost to open that document and keep plugging away at ye olde novel. After all, writers become authors by motivating themselves to write every day. These beloved characters are here to look us in the eyes and tell us to keep writing — through 20 motivational memes for writers. 1. Professor Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter is proud of your words. Who doesn’t love this iconic moment? 2. Maybe you’re more of a Snape fan. Here he is to tell you to get back to writing. Just imagine the look of disgust he’d give you for your lack of focus…
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Preptober: How to Prepare for NaNoWriMo 2022
Whether you’re a planner or a pantser, here are 10 ways Preptober (prep in October) can set you up for a successful November National Novel Writing Month in 2022! Are you one of the 400,000 writers about to dedicate the month of November to writing a novel? Let’s get excited! As a seasoned NaNo veteran, I wanted to bring you some Preptober tips and tricks to help you prepare for this novel-writing marathon. Disclaimer: this is not your run-of-the-mill “plan your characters, develop your theme” sort of list (though I do list some of my favorite resources near the end of the article). Instead, this Preptober list is all about…
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Writing Your First Novel: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated
“The beginning is always today.” — Mary Shelley Writing your first novel can be overwhelming. You want to have the shiniest characters, the most innovative plot, and absolutely gorgeous language — and you want to have them now. But the reality is that writing a novel, especially your first novel, is a long, involved, often frustrating process that requires discipline and sheer determination to get through. If you’re wondering where to even begin, you’re in the right place, because I’m going to share the 5 essential steps I took (other than writing) to turn an idea into 70,000 words in only 4 months. Step 1: Make a promise Commit.…
