Do you keep submitting your story, think it’s perfect but it keeps getting rejected? If only editors would give us some clue as to why they didn’t think it was a great fit for their publishing line up. Unfortunately, few editors will offer more than not right for us on the standard rejection form. Help…
Tag: how to write a book
More Tips for NaNoWriMo
It’s NaNoWriMo and how are you doing? I thought I’d share with you some more of my favorite tips to help you finish the first week. Take Breaks A long, long time ago, I used to be able to sit for hours and write. Now if I do that, my body tells me it was…
A Major Reason for Getting Rejected
No Tuesday guest blogger this week so thought I’d address a topic that’s been on my mind for several months. While I haven’t done as much reading over the summer as I’d hoped, I have read the beginning of many stories and chosen to pass on them. They might have been great stories but they…
How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 30 Days
Two posts in one day, but I wanted to let you know that my How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 30 Days is on sale. It’s a four week self paced course with other great resources like a Kindle publishing guide and self publishing planner. It’s on sale for just $5 because I’m taking…
Discourse, Dialogue, Monologue, Soliloquy
Welcome today’s guest blogger, AB Plum who has lots of tips about writing great dialogue… “I talk, ergo I am.” Pardon the paraphrase, but it reinforces for me that no literary device in fiction accomplishes more than dialogue. Good, well-written dialogue can: Move the plot forward Provide info about the speaker Give insight into the…
How To Be A Great Hooker
Did the title of this post get your attention? I’m guessing some people will seek this out thinking it’s about a very different topic. I could have said how to write a great opening to your story. My aim wasn’t to fool anyone but to show you how you can draw readers into a story. Or, in this case,…
Friday Ramblings From An Author-Shame Yourself and Get It Done
One thing I did over the break was look at all the work I’d started and never finished. Articles half completed, stories with just a few sentences, a book half written, and some non-fiction books started last year… The list goes on and I hadn’t realized how many unfinished projects I had. I was suddenly…
Hi Susan-Will I Ever Be a Better Writer?
It’s time for another Hi Susan post. This question was e-mailed to me by Jenny- I keep getting rejection after rejection and I’m getting to the point where I want to give up. Will I ever write a story that’s good enough to be published? Been there, had that happen, and also had thoughts of giving up….
Hi Susan, Do You Always Have to Write About What You Know?
Here’s something new I thought I’d launch on TWL, my response to questions I get sent from aspiring writers. I’m calling it Hi Susan so if you have a question about anything writing related whether it be fiction or non-fiction just leave a comment or you can send it to me via writerslifeblog@gmail.com. The first question…
Monday Motivation-One Day and One Chapter
They say if you have a big project and it seems overwhelming, break it down. Writing a book can be overwhelming especially when it’s your first try. Sometimes you start out with great motivation but then it disappears. Don’t think about writing a whole book each time you sit down. Think about writing one chapter….