We’re all hunters here, searching for the elusive, nearly mythical creature known only as the Good Beta Reader. The feeling of finding a good beta reader is a lot like what Japanese marine researchers felt when they caught the first image of the giant squid in 2013. Read about it here because it’s just so …
Category: Writing Tips
Jul 27 2018
Readers Crave Stories with a Twist: Tips for Writing Great Plot Twists
When it comes to stories, everyone LOVES a good twist. Whether this is in a movie, short story, or a novel audiences LOVE to be fooled. Twists and misdirection can not only cultivate passionate fans, but they’re crucial elements that keep any story from the dreaded label…”formulaic.” Who wants to spend precious time with a …
Jun 18 2018
Five Things Your Editor Hates About You
Harsh, I know. Alas, sometimes tough love is necessary for the greater good. Cait Reynolds here today, and what I’m about to reveal is the secret heart’s cry of pretty much every freelance editor (at least the ones that don’t just run manuscripts through Grammarly). Having worked as a freelance editor for many years, I’ve …
May 30 2018
Self-Sabotage: How & Why We Writers Are Our Own Worst Enemies
There are SO many reasons why being a professional author is TOUGH. Much of what authors do is counter to human nature. It is NOT natural to sit still and write a 100,000 words. It’s human nature to avoid stress, pain, and trauma, while an author’s job is to inflict as much suffering as possible. Good …










