Are you a natural? You might think writing is the simplest thing in the world. Just sit down, let the words flow, and voilà—masterpiece.
If only it were that simple.
The truth is, if you find novel writing easy, you’re probably missing out on the nuances that make a novel truly compelling. Crafting fiction isn't just about typing away; it's about mastering narrative techniques, building complex characters, and creating plots that grip readers from start to finish.
The deeper you delve into the craft, the more you’ll realize there is to learn.
Join me in exploring why discovering what you don’t know can supercharge your journey in writing fiction, as we deepen our practice of The Writes of Fiction.
👉 Tap the link in my profile to go to The Writes of Fiction.
#writingcommunity #writingtips #newwriters #writersofinstagram #aspiringwriter #aspiringauthor
A book that reads like a race from one plot point to the next is all bones and no heart. It’ll get you from Point A to Point B, and you may even find a drop or two of lifeblood in a few key scenes.
But sequel scenes—the protagonist’s opportunity to reflect and arrive at the decisions that shape not only what happens next but how and why—are the connective tissue between those dry planks of plot points. Action scenes may create your novel’s plot, but sequel scenes are what turn the plot into story.
Join me in exploring sequel scenes, prologues, comp titles, and more, in our practice of The Writes of Fiction—tap the link in my profile.
#writingcommunity #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingcommunityofig #writersofinstagram #writersofig #fictionwriter #fictionwriters #newwriters #aspiringauthor #emergingwriters #newwritersofinstagram #aspiringauthors #aspiringauthorsofinstagram #aspiringwriter
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A book that reads like a race from one plot point to the next is all bones and no heart. It’ll get you from Point A to Point B, and you may even find a drop or two of lifeblood in a few key scenes.
But sequel scenes—the protagonist’s opportunity to reflect and arrive at the decisions that shape not only what happens next but how and why—are the connective tissue between those dry planks of plot points. Action scenes may create your novel’s plot, but sequel scenes are what turn the plot into story.
Join me in exploring sequel scenes, prologues, comp titles, and more, in our practice of The Writes of Fiction: https://buff.ly/3WGaSqS
Most professions work within accepted accuracy rates, and editing is no different. A 95 percent accuracy rate makes a respectable benchmark.
To gain some perspective, consider the heavy line edit I did for a first-time author on a book that started out at well over 150,000 words. The edit generated 33,310 revisions.
That’s:
✅ 15,300 insertions
✅ 17,088 deletions
✅ 112 moves
✅ 11 formatting changes
✅ 799 comments
A 95 percent accuracy rate on that number of revisions would mean I made 1,650 errors. That's definitely not the case—but now you’re gaining some clarity on the sheer scope of work in this edit and why there might be a handful of remaining issues.
Does a handful of errors in a book mean you received poor editing? Consider those 33,000+ things that did get fixed. Your conclusions may shift.
So what can you do to reduce editing errors?
📝 Know what you’re paying for. Don’t ask for story or line editing and expect the editor to fix your spelling. Find out what's included.
📝 Start with a cleaner manuscript. A cleaner start makes for a cleaner finish. You're the one who sets the pace.
📝 Work with, not against, your editor. Your editor makes revisions based on established principles, not personal whim. Talk to them about any suggestion you question.
📝 Learn how to use Track Changes. Retyping edits into your own file is guaranteed to introduce errors (and waste valuable time and effort). I offer free video walk-throughs on Track Changes for my clients. Ask your editor for help!
📝 Get proofreading. Copyediting is not enough to ensure a clean manuscript. Hire a proofreader to check the final layouts.
💻 IF THIS ADVICE HELPED YOU, get more like it in my newsletter, The Writes of Fiction. Tap the link in my profile and head to Substack.
#fictionwriting #fictionwriter #newwriters #aspiringauthor #emergingwriters #aspiringwriter #writingstrategies #writingstruggles #howtowriteabook #howtowriteanovel #writingtips #b
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Join me in The Writes of Fiction as we demystify some of the most common writing problems I see in manuscripts.
The Writes of Fiction: https://buff.ly/3HPlV8p
The fundamentals of storytelling and writing technique are something you can and should master long before you're ready for help from an editor.
These resources don't have to cost an arm and a leg. If you’re here on Instagram, they're here online for you.
That’s not to say that coaching or editing won't accelerate your progress. Come at me! I’m here for you!
But there’s a certain foundation of skills and sensibilities that you have a responsibility to lay for yourself first.
📣 If you’re not sure who to listen to among all the noise, I have some suggestions.
➡️ HIT THE LINK IN MY PROFILE to dig into my free resources.
#writingcommunity #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingcommunityofig #writersofinstagram #writersofig #fictionwriter #fictionwriters #newwriters #emergingwriters #aspiringauthors #aspiringauthorsofinstagram #aspiringwriter #writingstrategies #howtowriteabook #howtowriteanovel #writingadvice #storydevelopment #bookcoach #bookcoaching #storycoach #writingcoach
New Writer Problem: Lists of books on how to plot and write a novel are a dime a dozen—except it would take a time-starved writers weeks to read and study everything on them.
Here's the plotting help you need, with no faffing about. These are the books that years of coaching have shown me help writers move their stories forward.
📚 "Structuring Your Novel" and "Structuring Your Novel Workbook" by K.M. Weiland @authorkmweiland
Start here. This is hands down the best 101-level resource for new fiction writers. Actually working through the workbook exercises is the closest you'll get to having a writing partner or outside feedback without actually getting outside help.
📚 "Outlining Your Novel" and "Outlining Your Novel Workbook" by K.M. Weiland @authorkmweiland
If you've completed manuscripts before, you may prefer this combo to "Structuring Your Novel." This set places more emphasis on putting structure into action in your own book.
📚 "Story Genius" by Lisa Cron @wiredforstory
It's hard to write a powerful story unless you understand what stories are intrinsically designed to do.
📚 "Plotting Your Novel: Ideas and Structure" and "Plotting Your Novel Workbook" by Janice Hardy
This book-workbook combo is especially useful if you're not very far into your new project yet, offering multiple approaches including outlining, summary or premise lines, blurbs, and a working synopsis.
📚 "Great Stories Don't Write Themselves" by Larry Brooks
You don't need a formula to write a book; you need to understand the form of stories themselves. Brooks's approach applies to all genres of commercial fiction.
These books don't just point you toward the finish line—theory. They provide step-by-step instructions on how to get there—practice.
🔖SAVE THIS POST for later.
👉 Or grab these books now at Bookshop.org. The link in my profile takes you straight to these books in my Bookshop. Thanks for supporting indie bookstores!
#writingtips #writing
Hey, author—are you keeping up in your field?
If you're a writer, books are your business. Here's what should be on your rotation.
1. Read the classics. You’ve heard that there are only so many stories in the world. If storytelling is your stock in trade, you should probably know what they are.
2. Read debut authors. Find out what’s working right now. What do agents and publishers want? What do readers want? You can’t find a more obvious signpost toward what gets a book published today than a successful debut novel.
3. Read “bad” authors. What makes writing good? What makes it bad? Why is Dan Brown a bestseller despite the fact that his writing routinely gets slammed? Find out for yourself.
4. Read your genre. Is it too late for you to add your oeuvre to the teen dystopia wasteland? Are Bridget Jones wanna-bes washed up? What’s been done to death? What hasn’t?
5. Read outside your genre. Cross-pollination between commercial and literary fiction can be especially ripe with potential. What ideas and trends can you steal from other genres?
6. Read literary fiction. Even if you’re known for slingshotting readers through formulaic cyberpunk thrillers, you’ll enrich your stories and add depth by spending time away from the keyboard sinking into the rich characterizations of literary fiction.
... and read the rest of this article on my website: 10 kinds of books anyone who writes fiction should be reading. Ride there from the link in my bio.
#writingcommunity #writingtip #writingmotivation
Do you spend hours building the perfect playlist for writing?
The sad truth is that listening to music forces your brain to multitask, and multitasking drains your focus.
Instead, try a sound effects app. You can choose from—well, everything: white noise, speech blockers, nature sounds, fantasy settings, meditation backgrounds, sci-fi beeps and boops, mechanical white noise, ambient music, electronic vibes, acoustic grooves, and so much more.
- Match the mood of your scene or writing task
- Mask distractions
- Cue your brain that it's time to write
It's all about building habits. Before long, as soon as you hear one of your favorite working sounds, you'll automatically fall into the groove. I choose a track for each project, and hearing that book's soundtrack instantly places me back in the scene.
I started out using @noisliapp, but now I'm hooked on the sheer variety (plus hints of melody) at MyNoise.net.
#authorlife #writingcommunity #mynoise
Bite-Size Editing
Authors, I got you! I’m opening as many slots as I can for affordable, bite-size editing services, now through summer. My goal: keeping your novel afloat during these uncertain times
#amwriting #amwritingfiction #amediting
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Authors, I got you! I’m opening as many slots as I can for affordable, bite-size editing services, now through summer. My goal: keeping your novel afloat during these uncertain times.
Details: https://buff.ly/2yy7PrT
