» A Guest Author

Profanity Isn’t a Personality: How to Make Swearing Earn Its Place in Your Writing

By Bethany Bruno I can tell within one page when a writer mistakes profanity for voice. Swearing isn’t the problem. Substituting it for craft is. After a while, it blurs. Every line strikes the same emotional note. When every exchange turns into “Fuck this,” “What the fuck,” or “Shit,” nothing carries weight. The dialogue isn’t…

Issue Six Hundred Seventy Nine

How to Ace the Rejection Game

By Mandira Pattnaik It is not advisable for the well-published authors to view the plight of newbie, emerging writers as they grapple with the onslaught ravaged upon them by editors and publishers who view them less as blood-and-bone humans and more as names and email addresses. Neither is it advisable for those said nameless and…

Issue Six Hundred Seventy Five Special Feature

The Three Lies We Tell Ourselves About Time

By Lorraine Horsley When I was kid, I wrote for the joy of it. I got A grades in English. My stories were often read out in class. I was good at writing. My report cards said so. I’d write stories for fun in my spare time. And I always found the time. Fast forward…

Issue Six Hundred Seventy Four Special Feature

Talk to Someone: How the Best Writing Is Born

By Itto and Mekiya Outini Despite the enduring popularity of the lone genius archetype, there’s no sound reason that writing should have to be a solitary vocation. Many artforms hinge on collaboration—music, theater, and dance come to mind—and while it’s true that a book can be written by one person alone, that doesn’t mean it…

Issue Six Hundred Seventy Three

How I Published in 50 Litmags in Less Than a Year: A Strategy That Works

By Itto Outini How would you feel if someone were to send you a gift that doesn’t work for you at all: a piece of clothing that doesn’t fit, for instance, or a cookbook containing only meals that violate your dietary restrictions, or a piece of memorabilia that’s wildly out of step with your home…

Issue Six Hundred Seventy Two Special Feature

Creating Chemistry Between Your Characters

By Julie Shackman Chemistry between your characters in your writing is everything. If there’s no chemistry between the two, how can you expect your readers to believe that they find each other attractive and can fall in love? But how can you achieve chemistry between your characters? Light that Spark All romance novels need their…

Issue Six Hundred Seventy

Using Origin Stories to Sell More Books

By Rachel Carrington As crowded as today’s publishing market is, a good book may not stand out. Readers have so many options in their preferred genre. An outstanding description can catch their eye and help you make a sale, but oftentimes, if you’re a newer author, it’s difficult to get your foot in the door….

Issue Six Hundred Seventy Special Feature

3 Common Mistakes Committed by Self-Published Novelists (And How to Avoid Them)

By Michael Howard Over the past couple years I have read and reviewed dozens of self-published books, most of them novels. As you can probably imagine, the quality of the writing ranges from totally incompetent to quite good. The majority fit into the middle of that spectrum. Many of the novels I review begin on…

Issue Six Hundred Sixty Nine Issue Six Hundred Sixty Six

Keep Writing Human: Why AI Is Unhelpful at Every Stage of the Process

By David Ebenbach Given the new capabilities of generative AI tools, a lot of writers are asking where and when (if at all) they should be using these tools to help them in their writing. On the one hand, AI causes an awful lot of problems, but, on the other hand, we’re being told great…

Issue Six Hundred Sixty Five

Making Quiet but Effective Moves: An Introverted Author’s Guide to Successful Marketing

By Adesuwa Egbon In today’s world, writing a great book often isn’t enough. To find your readers, you have to promote it, a daunting task for the introverted author who finds self-promotion to be an exhausting performance. The good news is that you can market your work effectively without resorting to extroversion. Reframe Your Goal:…

Issue Six Hundred Sixty

Identifying Your Book’s Target Audiences: Your Marketing Plan Foundation

By Jean Burgess I recently presented a conference workshop entitled “Creative Approaches to Direct Marketing Events.” The workshop’s first step asked participants to think about themes from their book that would appeal to their target audiences. Once the foundation was in place, the plan was to brainstorm ideas for events, organizations, interest groups, venues, etc….

Issue Six Hundred Fifty Nine Special Feature

7 Ways to Increase Your Visibility as a Writer on Social Media

By Immaculata Chidera Osuji A social media profile is a powerful tool for writers. While many writers are naturally introverted and prefer to keep a low profile, hiding your creativity can present challenges. It’s perfectly fine to be introverted, but don’t let it silence your voice. This article will show you exactly how to build…

Issue Six Hundred Fifty Seven Issue Two Hundred Eighty Three Special Feature

How to Apply (and Get In) to Writing Mentorship Programs

By Elise LeSage It’s tough out there for emerging writers. Between rejection letters, creative blocks, and the ever-shifting demands of the literary market, the hurdles we face can be downright dispiriting without a guiding hand. That’s where writing mentors come in. Mentorships are 1-on-1 relationships between experienced writers and newbies looking for feedback, craft tips,…

Issue Six Hundred Fifty Four

Promotion Commotion: How to Steer Clear of Scam Artists

By Bob Rich Wonderful! Your book is accepted by a publisher, or perhaps you self-published. In the vast majority of cases, promotion is entirely up to you. Many honest businesses provide promotional services to authors. Also, there is a highly successful robbery industry preying on authors’ dreams. Even honest businesses are not necessarily useful in…

Issue Six Hundred Fifty Two Special Feature

Heads up! from a Short Story Judge

By E. L. TenenbaumOver the last while, I’ve done a few turns as a first-round judge for a few writing competitions, most recently for short stories. Usually, entries must undergo more than one round of judging, by more than one judge, before winners can be chosen. Across the board, almost all writing competitions juggle the…

Issue Six Hundred Fifty Special Feature

Articles by A Guest Author