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A little over a year ago, I decided to create a more sustainable, zero waste lifestyle. As a writer, time at the desk is a huge part of my life, so figuring out how to create a zero waste home office was a top priority from the beginning—and, honestly, one of the easiest parts of… via… Continue reading 23 Tips for a Zero Waste Home Office — Helping Writers Become Authors

Long ago, someone gave me a birthday card that said “Fearless.” For many years, I tacked it on my bulletin board above my desk. Even now, it’s one of the few cards I’ve ever saved. 2,640 more words via How to Overcome Fear as a Writer and Embrace Your Profound Courage — Helping Writers Become Authors

Here’s how to choose the right antagonist for your story. You know “If I Didn’t Have You”—that song John Goodman and Billy Crystal belt out at the end of… 2,210 more words via How to Choose the Right Antagonist for Any Type of Story — Helping Writers Become Authors

The one thing all writers are trying to do is write a better first chapter. First chapters are do-or-die territory. We know this as writers because we know this as readers. 2,587 more words via Critique: 10 Ways to Write a Better First Chapter Using Specific Word Choices — Helping Writers Become Authors

Raise your hand if you’ve ever written in a new supporting character just because, hey, somebody had to start that tavern brawl. Creating delightfully colorful, unexpected, and sometimes just plain convenient minor characters is half the fun of writing. 1,753 more words via Supporting Characters and Theme: 6 Important Questions to Ask About Your Story —… Continue reading Supporting Characters and Theme: 6 Important Questions to Ask About Your Story — Helping Writers Become Authors

Writing inspiration—so easy to take for granted when we have it, so hard to rekindle once we’ve let the flame go out. When I was young, I never questioned the fact that my imagination was a vivid and constant companion. 3,078 more words via 3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year — Helping… Continue reading 3 Life-Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year — Helping Writers Become Authors

The Lie Your Character Believes. It’s the atom waiting to be split, the bomb waiting to go off, the change waiting to happen in your character’s life. 2,302 more words via 2 Different Types of the Lie Your Character Believes — Helping Writers Become Authors

Scenes are the building blocks of your story. As go your scenes, so goes your story. If the scenes present a solid chain of deliberate structure, that’s what your story will be. 2,038 more words via 6 Steps to Create Realistic (and Powerful) Scene Dilemmas — Helping Writers Become Authors

Some stories make me so mad. It’s not just that these stories are all technically “bad” in some way. Indeed, there are plenty of deeply bad stories I pass on by with hardly a second thought. 2,260 more words via Thoughts on How to Be Critical of Stories in a Way That Makes a Difference —… Continue reading Thoughts on How to Be Critical of Stories in a Way That Makes a Difference — Helping Writers Become Authors

These days, most authors identify with the title “authorpreneur.” In order to sell books, we have learned to wear multiple hats. We aren’t just writers, we’re marketers, bloggers, graphic designers, and more. 1,957 more words via The Professional Writing Resources I Use for All Parts of the Writing and Publishing Processes — Helping Writers Become Authors