first novels
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When you decide you can’t fail
Writers are notoriously pessimistic, and for good reason. It is effing hard to publish a book, no matter which route you take. First you spend months, years, decades even writing a novel, than you edit the hell out of it for more months, years, decades. Then you pick a publishing path and go down it Read more
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Can friends be your beta readers?
You know you can’t rely on your mom and bff to be objective beta readers. You know that your neighbor and your co-worker will not give you reliable feedback (or any most of the time). So should you even bother with giving your manuscript to the friends who request it? What purpose does it serve Read more
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Does your story have a point?
When my five year old tells me a story, so every ten minutes, they usually are structured like this: Character introduction- thing happens- thing happens – character change- plot twist – scene change – character name change – new characters introduced – total change in plot/scene/characters/everything – mommy gets a little impatient and stops listening Read more
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How to keep writing? Skip the boring parts
I am writing the first draft and I want to keep going with it, if something is boring me enough stop writing than I am going to just move on to build up or an exciting parts. Read more
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Picking an idea for NaNoWriMo that will carry you through
In order to write 50,000 words in 30 days, you certainly need discipline and determination. A plan is nice too, but without passion and inspiration, there will be little joy in the challenge. Without joy, it’s very possible you will not be able to manufacture the motivation to see it through to the end. There Read more
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Good ways to think about Bad Reviews
Being a writer who puts their work out in the world requires courage. Real courage because you are laying your soul bare to be picked at and ridiculed. No matter how thick a skin you’ve developed, no matter how humble, and no matter how much you believe in your work, you will be hurt when Read more
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Indie Book covers: how to do it right
Before I was the illustrious author I am today (haha), I worked many years as a graphic designer, and studied fine art as the daughter of an art teacher. So as far as judging a book by it’s cover, I am the worst offender, but it is a very sad and true fact of publishing Read more
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When a story writes itself
I have spent many nights glaring at a computer screen typing and deleting the same paragraph, willing my characters to move, trying to force a story to happen. Every writer has. When it happens, sometimes you might be lucky and some read-overs can compel your hands, or a google search can make the story lurch Read more
LC W. Allingham 