Tips to ensure you get the feedback you need By Megan Amato Sharing your work is scary—terrifying, in fact. However, the old adage about collaboration breeding innovation also holds true in writing. You may want to keep your book baby close to your chest, but sending them out into the world will help grow andContinue reading “How to Get the Most from Beta Readers”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Your Book is Ready to Query… Now What?
A Guide to Starting the Traditional Query Process By: Mariah Prouse Your book is ready to query! Congratulations! Beta readers and critique partners have read through your manuscript. You can’t remember how many times you’ve read it, edited it, analyzed or agonized over the world building, characters arcs and all those little (or big) plotContinue reading “Your Book is Ready to Query… Now What?”
On Writing Unique Retellings
5 Tips to Help Your Retelling Stand Out By: Lindsay Fortin From reimagined myths to twisted fairy tales, retellings are a hot ticket item these days. Taking a story you love and turning it into something that’s uniquely your own can be daunting, especially if you’re worried that it might be overused, or just notContinue reading “On Writing Unique Retellings”
Critiquing Your Writing
The Value of Other Readers in the Editing Process By Mariah Prouse It’s not a clear fact but I assume that, like myself, many writers wish they didn’t have to share their work with others. Instead, they would prefer someone edited it before going out into readers’ hands and then they only ever hear theContinue reading “Critiquing Your Writing”
Autism Acceptance Month
Some Quick Tips, and Why Autistic People Belong in Publishing By: Lindsay Fortin Hi! I’m Lindsay, one of the bloggers with the Secret Writers Guild, and I’m autistic. April is the annual Autism Acceptance Month. You might see it referred to as Autism Awareness Month (or day) as well. I didn’t think I would everContinue reading “Autism Acceptance Month”
Writing Urban Fantasy
How To Layer Myth Into Your Urban Landscapes By Megan Amato I love all things fantasy—the imaginative worlds, high stakes, magical beings and monsters, and the heroic characters who manage it all in their own way. One of my favourite genres to read and write in is urban fantasy. It was the first genre IContinue reading “Writing Urban Fantasy”
How to Edit When You’re Not an Editor
By: Mariah Prouse I am not an editor. Yet, I cannot deny that I edit and revise my novels to the best of my ability. So, I guess I am just in denial. Anyone else? But editing is a part of the process that leads towards a completed novel. After all, the first draft isContinue reading “How to Edit When You’re Not an Editor”
I struggle with finishing first drafts. What can I do about it?
By: Lindsay Fortin I love to write, but I have a difficult time finishing first drafts. Oftentimes I get caught up in the prose, the planning, the details… One time I spent a year and a half on a project and only got to the 22,000 word mark. That’s fine, by the way, if that’sContinue reading “I struggle with finishing first drafts. What can I do about it?”
Improving Your Prose
7 Tips to Help You Gain Mastery Over Words By: Lindsay Fortin Prose is one of my favourite parts of writing. I love finding just the right words and weaving together a tapestry that makes up a larger story. I love the different story elements and putting together plot and character as well, but IContinue reading “Improving Your Prose”
Make Best Friends Out of Your Characters
Tips to help you create dynamic three-dimensional characters that feel real to your readers. By Megan Amato A story is nothing without its characters. Even in plot driven novels, readers can feel something lacking when a character isn’t properly developed or fleshed out. Beautiful prose, complex plot and magical world building withstanding, it’s the charactersContinue reading “Make Best Friends Out of Your Characters”
Secret Writers Guild 