How to Write a Novel

It starts with a declaration. You make it to yourself or maybe to someone else. You say, “I’m going to write a novel,” and add it to your lifelong to do list. For years, it sits there, tucked between “plant a tree” and “jump out of an airplane.” You go about your life. Then one day, your novel’s number comes up.

You’re nervous, excited, and just a little bit scared. What if the plot sucks? What if it’s a big hit? You start dreaming about agents and publishers. You try not to think about Oprah, but sometimes you wonder what it would be like, sitting in the chair next to her, talking about how yes, it’s true, you wrote the first draft in 30 days. Read more

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How to Write a Complex Villain (Writing Exercise)

When it comes to writing fiction, we each have our own unique challenges. For some of us, it’s hard to write realistic dialog. For others, it’s a struggle coming up with names for our characters.

Maybe you’re like me, and find it difficult to write a really good villain. I mean - a really bad villain. Or even just a pretty bad nemesis.

The funny thing about our writing weaknesses is that sometimes all we have to do is identify them and suddenly we start coming up with tons of solutions.

That’s what happened to me about two years ago, when I realized that I was having trouble writing a nemesis for my main characters. Time and time again, it was one of the key elements that was missing from the stories I wrote.

Once I noticed this pattern, I started seeing villains all around me - as if merely noticing their absence from my writing made them suddenly appear in my everyday life. A friend would forget to call me back and she’d become a self-absorbed boss who neglected and overworked her employees. My housemate would Read more

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10 Tips to Improve Your Fiction Writing Skills

This post was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of distance learning universities. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

Writing fiction, whether short or long, can be a very trying experience indeed.  So many writers of fiction have different processes for achieving their writing goals that it’s hard to sift through what works and what doesn’t.

Writing is a process that requires skill, determination, adaptability, and plenty of time.  Here are some suggestions for improving your fiction writing skills, gleaned from trial and error over time. Read more

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Hot off the Press!

There’s so much news this week, I can barely keep up with it all. NaNoWriMo is well underway and thousands of writers are eagerly pecking away at their novels. New websites are popping up along with exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs. It’s hard to know where to begin, so I’ll start right here at home, and announce the launch of my new website.

Scribizzy - Web Content Writing

I’ve known for quite some time that I would launch a new site specializing in web content writing. This is work that I enjoy immensely and I feel like I’m really good at it too. Now that I’ve been immersed in the world of freelancing for over a year, I felt it was time to truly establish my services as a bona fide business. Hell, call me an entrepreneur. Read more

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November News and Announcements

America the Beautiful

This is and will remain a blog about writing, for writers. But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the biggest news of November, which is that the United States has elected Barack Obama as its 44th president. It’s a historical time for America and a time when all Americans should be proud of the freedom, diversity, and hope on which this nation was founded.

There are moments when we watch in awe as history happens right before our eyes. For me, the most defining historical moment I had witnessed in my homeland were the events of 9/11, a sad and painful attack on America and all that she stands for.

Today I know what it is like to witness a national event that is joyous rather than sorrowful. Last night Americans celebrated their country and the land of liberty by dancing in the streets, cheering for unity, equality, and ultimately, voting for hope over fear. What a wonderful time to be alive! Read more

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