Archive:

The Writing Craft

4 Ways to Create Tension in Your Story

January 29, 2025

Guest post by Bridget McNulty   Tension is the secret sauce that ensures that “I’ll read just one more page before bed” feeling. Four ways to ensure your story has the right amount: 1. Create a conflict your characters care about Before you plan your story’s main conflicts, choose carefully. You want to create conflict […]

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How to Develop a Great Story Idea

January 29, 2025

If you jumped online to find writing prompts or story ideas, you’re in the right place. But what I’m about to tell you may surprise you. Novelists must think differently from other writers. Our aim is to create a world our readers can get lost in. But it’s easy to become overwhelmed before we even […]

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Finding the Best Creative Writing Blogs on the Internet

January 29, 2025

Regardless how many books I’ve written or sold, if I’m not still educating myself about writing, I’m stagnating. My late mother taught me the value of life-long learning. Not only was she a piano teacher into her eighties, but she was also a piano student.  One of the most powerful learning tools today is the […]

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How to Describe the Setting of a Story

January 27, 2025

Want Jerry as Your Mentor? Learn More One of the toughest nuts for you to crack as a novelist is where to start. Two-thirds of my more than 200 published books are novels, so I’ve faced this dilemma more than 140 times. Trust me, starting never gets easier, no matter how many times you’ve done […]

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How to Write a Book From Start to Finish: A Proven Guide

January 27, 2025

So you want to write a book. Becoming an author can change your life—not to mention give you the ability to impact thousands, even millions, of people. But writing a book isn’t easy. As a 21-time New York Times bestselling author, I can tell you: It’s far easier to quit than to finish. You’re going […]

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