3 things we learn through studying and writing micro memoirs, that raise the level of our craft and apply to everything we write

TAoN No. 196: Try something small. Plus Savor of the Month, and more

We can't let sloppiness win

Didn’t I say in January that I had a book I would write quickly? A book based on my travel diaries. A book that should have required a quick spit and polish, then out of the nest it would go.…

It’s one of the most common complaints online from discontented writers: the books that sell the best aren’t even good. I’m not saying it’s true, but it’s a common refrain. Quality doesn’t matter, …

By Lainy Carslaw Ever since I was old enough to pick up a pen, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I would lock myself in my room, creating stories from my imagination and journal entries about my day.…

A blog about writing, social networking and general publishing industry news

An AuDHD writer considers where her mind’s fragmentary and circular style of expression fits in a paradigm of linear storytelling.

Being in an anthology provides experience working with other authors, sometimes even allowing you to lend creative input beyond your submission.

The main reason readers turn the page is to find out what happens next. But who is it happening to? And why does it matter to them? That’s what really makes us care. How do we convey this? With int…

Some thoughts on speculative fiction, realism, reading for pleasure, the literary internet, and teaching writing.

I was teaching a masterclass at The Guardian yesterday and we were discussing characters. One of my students said this:‘I think of my characters as horses.’ To be honest, I couldn’t believe my ears…

I was teaching a masterclass at The Guardian yesterday and we were discussing characters. One of my students said this:‘I think of my characters as horses.’ To be honest, I couldn’t believe my ears. If you know me on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll know I’m rather fond of the equine breed, so when one of my students said ‘I think of my characters as horses’, I thought I was still in bed at home, waiting for the alarm.

Knitting and writing both teach us that mistakes can be instructive. Every dropped stitch, every tangled subplot is an invitation to learn.

By asking your story six Q's

Nail Your Novel: Draft, Fix & Finish With Confidence. A companion workbook by Roz Morris

Discover the pros and cons of single vs. multiple narrators in novels—and how to choose the best POV structure for your story.

How do we start a novel? So much needs to go in an opener. But some openers have been done to death. So here are 12 ways not to start a novel