I subscribe to more than 150 writing advice sites and gather the best posts for you every single Sunday. You can see all the previous writing advice of the week posts here and subscribe to the RSS feed for this writing advice series here (direct Feedly signup link).
Productivity, mood management, and battling the demons inside
Business Musings: How Writers Fail Part 13: Success Kills Them by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Achieving a goal often kills the desire to create, especially if the creative person used that goal as a carrot to get ahead. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes bestselling science fiction and fantasy, award-winning mysteries, acclaimed mainstream fiction, controversial nonfiction, and the occasional romance. At KrisWrites.com, Rusch offers her thoughts about the publishing industry and other topics.
The Secret Schedules Of Great Authors by Andrea Lundgren
How Anthony Trollope, Jane Austen, Gustave Flaubert, Gertrude Stein and Francine Prose found time to write. For more from Andrea Lundgren, check out her website, AndreaLundgren.com. A Writer’s Path is an advice site for writers. If you want more advice like this, subscribe to their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link), on Twitter at @TheRyanLanz and on Facebook at @AWritersPath.
Other motivational advice this week:
- 4 Tips For Autistic Writers by Auden Halligan for National Novel Writing Month
- A Johnny Appleseed Approach To The Writing Life by Kathryn Craft for Writer Unboxed
- Are You Giving Yourself Writing Credit? by Jessica Conoley for Jane Friedman
- Compromise Is A Four Letter Word by Jaime Buckley for Writers In The Storm
- How To Find A Writing Group Or Publishing Partner Online by Mary Carroll Moore for How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
- I Attended My First Writing Retreat. Here’s What I Learned by Michael Woodson for Writer’s Digest
- If You Feel Like Sh*T, Sit With It by Tiffany Yates Martin for FoxPrint Editorial
- Video: My Writing Goals Kicked My Butt by Jenna Moreci for Writing with Jenna Moreci
- These Story Writing Games Can Help You Create Ideas For Fiction by Glen C. Strathy for How to Write a Book Now
- Why Can’t I Write Whenever I Want To? by Julie Duffy for Writer Unboxed
The art and craft of writing
Character Dressing by Anne Hawkinson
When your story takes place has a significant bearing on what your characters wear. Anne K. Hawkinson is an award-winning author and poet. Find out more at her website, AnneHawkingson.com The Florida Writers Association is a great resource for writers, with a very active advice blog. Follow the Florida Writers Association via their RSS feed (direct Feedly link here), on Facebook at Florida Writers Association and on Twitter at @FloridaWriters1.
The Real Problem With Passive Voice In Fiction by Janice Hardy
Passive voice can hurt our writing, but it’s not about grammar, it’s about writing a sentence in a way that gets the idea we want to convey across in a dramatic fashion that engages our readers. Fantasy author Janice Hardy has several must-have writing guides up on Amazon and you can follow her on Twitter @Janice_Hardy. Follow Janice Hardy’s Fiction University via RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link), or follow them on Facebook at @JaniceHardysFictionUniversity. Janice Hardy’s Fiction University is one of the top writing advice sites out there. You can subscribe to their RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link), or follow it on Twitter or on Facebook.
Video: How To Write A Novel In Google Docs by Abbie Emmons
Most writers don’t know this, but Google Docs has tons of hidden features that can make your writing experience fun, organized, and super aesthetic. Abbie Emmons teachwa writers how to make their stories matter. For more advice like this, check out her website, AbbieE.com. Abbie Emmons is a YouTube channel about writing from writing instructor and author of the same name.
Five Types Of Annoying Cliffhangers by Oren Ashkenazi
According to Oren, there’s no such thing as a non-annoying cliffhanger. There are only stories that are otherwise good enough for us to forgive their cliffhanger endings. Oren Ashkenazi is a speculative fiction manuscript editor at Mythcreants. Mythcreants is my all-time favorite writing advice site. Get their RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link) or follow them on Twitter @Mythcreants and on Facebook at @mythcreants.
Podcast: Mid-Story Resolution by Oren Ashkenazi and Chris Winkle
Most authors know that when a story ends, they should resolve all the plots they’ve opened. It’s the polite thing to do. But what if you’re only ending a single book in a series? What should you resolve then, and are you doomed to be written off as a cliffhanger? Oren Ashkenazi is the speculative fiction manuscript editor and Chris Winkle is the founder and editor-in-chief at Mythcreants. Mythcreants is my all-time favorite writing advice site. Get their RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link) or follow them on Twitter @Mythcreants and on Facebook at @mythcreants.
Video: How Word Choices Can Make Or Break Your Fiction by Susan MacGregor
Abstract, archaic nouns or vague and conflicting verbs and adverbs can spell the difference between an editor or reader enjoying your story, and one who sets your story aside. Susan MacGregor is an editor with On Spec, one of Canada’s foremost magazines for speculative fiction. Writers’ Rx is a just-launched YouTube channel dedicated to improving writing.
Other writing advice this week:
- Video: 12 Steps Of The Hero’s Journey Explained (Episode 9: The Reward Or Seizing The Sword) by Claire Fraise for Write with Claire Fraise
- Being Respectful When Writing About Others by Amy Winters-Voss for Writers In The Storm
- Deciding What’s Possible In Your World by Ann Gordon for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
- Deciding Who Lives And Who Dies In Fiction by Matt Cost for Writer’s Digest
- Dream Up Strong Story Ideas by David Farland for MyStoryDoctor
- Get That To-The-Bone Feel For Your Characters by James Scott Bell for Killzoneblog.com
- Give Your Story Meaning With Inner Conflict And Theme by Rayne Hall for Fiction University
- Video: Handcrafted Vs AI Writing And Art by Dan Blank for WeGrowMedia
- How Do I Create Surnames For Characters? by Chris Winkle for Mythcreants
- How Do You Move Beyond The Three-Act Structure? by Tiffany Yates Martin for Jane Friedman
- How Long Does It Really Take To Write A Novel? by Kathleen McCleary for Writer Unboxed
- How To Define Character Goals by Linda S. Clare for Linda S. Clare
- How To Edit Your Story Like A New York Publisher by Pamela Hodges for The Write Practice
- How To Go Big In Your Fiction by Steve Alcorn for Live Write Thrive
- How To Inform Readers About Faraway Events by Chris Winkle for Mythcreants
- Podcast: How To Use ProWritingAid To Improve Your Writing With Chris Banks by Joanna Penn for The Creative Penn
- Mood Words: 4 Ways They Transform Writing For The Best by Sarah Rexford for The Write Life
- Mundane To Magical: Using Clichés, Metaphors, And Similes by Janice Hardy for Writers In The Storm
- Nothing New Under The Sun? Why Originality Is Always Possible by Roz Morris for Nail Your Novel
- Point Of View In 2023: Third Person Omniscient Vs. Third Person Limited Vs. First Person by Joe Bunting for The Write Practice
- Seven Cool Tricks For Beating Your Novel’s Maddening Middle by Holly Lisle for Insecure Writer’s Support Group
- Podcast: The Pitfalls Of Soliciting Feedback From Friends And Social Media by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- Tips To Find Your Writing Voice – Learning To Be You On The Page by Cindy K Sproles for The Write Conversation
- Tom Swift And His Forgotten Techno Optimism by Philip Athans for Fantasy Author’s Handbook
- Understanding Act Structure In Stories by September C. Fawkes for September C. Fawkes
- Using Poetry To Explore A Character’s Voice In Fiction by Kelley J. P. Lindberg for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
- What Novelists Can Learn From Disney Princesses by Nathan Bransford for Nathan Bransford
- Why All Writers Need To Avoid The Mistake Of Over Writing by Edie Melson for The Write Conversation
- Video: Wield The Power Of Archetypal Stories! Here’s How by Stavros Halvatzis for Get Writing
- Worldbuilding: Who, What, Where, Why & How by Craig Leyenaar for The Novelry
The business side of writing
What Is Your Author Brand? by Steven Spatz
You might not be a multi-national corporation, but as a self-published author, you still need to develop and nurture a consistent author brand. Steven Spatz is a writer, marketer, and the president of BookBaby. BookBaby bills itself as the nation’s leading self-publishing services company. For more advice like this, subscribe to their RSS feed (directly Feedly link here), or follow them on Facebook at @BookBaby or on Twitter at @BookBaby.
The Creative Success Pyramid by Dan Blank
This pyramid is actually a comprehensive marketing and promotional strategy for book authors. It starts with defining your identity then moves on to finding your audience, developing your channels, outreach, marketing, and creating sustainable systems. Dan Blank is a marketing expert who’s worked with thousands of writers and creators over the past ten years. At We Grow Media, Blank offers one-on-one marketing consulting to help authors grow their platforms, create meaningful connections with readers, and prepare for big book launches.
Other business advice this week:
- What To Do If You Don’t Know Your Book’s Genre by Jessica Faust and James McGowan for BookEnds Literary Agency
- Why You Need An Editor For Your Book by Lauren Davish for BookBaby Blog
- Mastering Amazon Ads One Tweak At A Time: One Author’s Success Story by Wendy Raebeck for Build Book Buzz
- Possibility Planning by Brian Jud for Self Published Author
- Heart-Centered Book Marketing by Beth Barany for MyStoryDoctor
- Do You Need A Strong Web Following To Get A Publishing Deal? by Amanda Winstead for Almost An Author
- How To Serve Your Facebook Group Without Sharing Your Book’s Content by Patricia Durgin for Almost An Author
- KDP Advertising: The Category Ad by Lori Culwell for Book promotion, marketing, and advertising for authors
- KDP Advertising: Addressing The ‘No Impressions’ Problem by Lori Culwell for Book promotion, marketing, and advertising for authors
- How To Market A Book With 10 Proven Effective Strategies by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- Books PR And Marketing Questions Answered Part XII: Take Inventory by Ann Marie Nieves for Writer Unboxed
- Podcast: Kobo Plus, Writing Sprints & Optimizing Author Pages by Bryan Cohen and H. Claire Taylor for Sell More Books Show
- Video: Mind Your Mindset: How To Think Like An Author With Michael Hyatt by Chandler Bolt for Self Publishing School
- An Author’s Guide To Stock Photos For Book Covers by Jonathan Green for Kindlepreneur
- Video: A Starter’s Guide To Social Media: TikTok, Reels, And YT Shorts by Morgan Hazelwood for Morgan Hazelwood
- Podcast: How To Convince Readers To Read *Your* Book Next by Thomas Umstattd Jr. for Author Media
- Video: KDP Book Marketing Services For $150??? Book Promo Case Study by Dale L. Roberts for Self-Publishing with Dale
- The Blogging Writer: Why Running A Successful Blog Benefits Every Writer by S. E. Reichert for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- How To Communicate With Your Designer To Get The Best Book Cover Design by Vasalysa Zaturets for Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris
- A Simple Guide To Book Advances And Royalties by Gary Smailes for A Writer’s Path
Am I missing any writing advice sites? Email me at [email protected] or leave a note in the comments below.
MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist, writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality. See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and check out her latest videos on the Maria Korolov YouTube channel. Email her at [email protected]. She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.