All posts by Our Staff

12

Oct'16

Masterful Writing Advice from Stephen King (Infographic)



There is a lot of writing advice in the world. Sometimes it’s difficult to figure out who to listen to and who to ignore. I can say with absolute certainty that On Writing by Stephen King is full of advice to take to heart. This book is always on my packing list. I can’t say for sure where my toothbrush is, but my copy of On Writing is on the top shelf of my bedroom bookcase, fourth book from the left.

If you haven’t read it, check out this infographic by Marko Saric. And then buy, steal, or borrow a copy because, honestly, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to write. ...

Read More

28

Sep'16

5 Keys to Crafting an Elevator Pitch



What is an elevator pitch? It’s a proposal that can be delivered in about 60 seconds verbally or in a single written page of text. The term is standard in marketing. A great elevator pitch novel writers can use to sell their novels should have at least the following 5 features. ...

Read More

14

Sep'16

Tips on Writing Better Villains (Video)

Your hero is well-developed and believable. You know him or her inside and out, have created character profiles and conducted interviews, have written and rewritten the perfect backstory until your hero’s author headcanon is as long as the manuscript itself.

So why would you settle for a bland, cookie-cutter villain? A strong, believable villain is crucial, and in her YouTube video, Shade gives fantastic tips for fleshing out your villain and making him or her a true antagonist, in the best sense. ...

Read More

03

Jun'16

The Two Worst Things to Do in a Fiction Story

Today we have for you the second Runner Up winner in our 2016 Writing Contest. Stay tuned for next week's final award-winning piece, our Editor's Pick.

The Two Worst Things to Do in a Fiction Story

Writer rules are everywhere—coming out of the woodwork—sometimes making me paranoid enough to think they're just invented so I can't make it as a writer ("make it": being paid well for your writing so you can live comfortably). Yet, when I think about it, I know that isn't true. Like the charge that a writer can't put an object in a story if it doesn't mean something later, these rules are created to help us write better tales.

I'm going to talk about two rule-breakers I've heard will get you an instant rejection. ...

Read More

03

May'16

20 questions and a selfie: A day in the life of Patti Clark, author and inspiration trailblazer

For this installment of “20 Questions and a Selfie,” we catch up with Patti Clark, the San Francisco-born, New Zealand-based …

Read More

27

Apr'16

20 questions and a selfie: A day in the life of Barbara Stark-Nemon, author, blogger, essayist and artist

For this installment of “20 Questions and a Selfie,” we catch up with Barbara Stark-Nemon, author of novels, short stories, …

Read More
stuff-writers-like-favicon-white © Stuff Writers Like Terms | Privacy
feedback_mix.png