Don’t worry if you don’t make money on your first short story. Getting a byline and gaining confidence is the key. In your early career, don’t say no to a publication printing your story for just a contributor copy and no money. Hold up that publication and say, I’m an author.
Tag: authors
Monday Writing Tips-Keep Writing
Even if you don’t feel like it, write. It could be just a few lines or a page, but get in the habit of writing each and every day.
Monday Writing Tip-It’s Fiction
Sometimes life doesn’t make sense but your story has to. Names have to be consistent, timelines have to be accurate etc. Remember this when you do your final edit and before you hit the send button to an editor or agent.
Accept the Challenge-Raindrops or Bubbles?
Week two of our spooky challenge and here’s the image. Are these raindrops or bubbles or maybe something alien? Have fun and happy writing.
Monday Writing Prompt-You Can Do This
I have lots of students who tell me that they don’t think their writing is good enough, it can’t compete with bestselling authors. Don’t ever compare yourself with anyone else. Always remember that even bestselling authors were once beginners.
Accept the Challenge-Spooky
It’s October, another month, another set of challenges and it’s spooky season. Each Thursday in October, the prompt will be a mysterious photo and your challenge is to create a story based upon it. Here’s the first one. Have fun and happy writing.
Monday Writing Tips-The Writer’s Notebook
My first tip to students is always the same. Carry a notebook with you at all times. You never know when you’re going to get an idea for a story, a character or even a location. Jot down anything that comes into your head. Believe me when I say, one day you’ll use it in…
Book Stop Tour-Helen Gillespie author of The Goodbyes
Please welcome author, Helen Gillespie on her book tour for her latest book, The Goodbyes… TWL-Why and when did you decide to become an author? Although writing a novel took many years, I had previously written many newspaper articles that centered on personalities and their achievements. I found myself on this trajectory when I signed…
Accept the Challenge-Changing Color
It’s week two and your character needs to use the following line in your story “I saw the first of the leaves had changed color.” Have fun and happy writing.
Monday Writing Tips-Writing is Drama
Something has to happen in your story. No one wants to read about a character who faces no challenges. What’s standing in the way of your character’s goals? Who and what is stopping your character from being happy? Figure that out and you have the beginning of a great story.