Not to be a stickler for organization, but it’s important when you’re embarking on a long journey. It’s helpful to think about writing a book in terms of getting a college degree. Even if you go full time and take…
How to Really Write That Book – Part 1
Yes, there are parts and I’ll tell you why. It takes more than a good idea to make it onto the NYT best-seller list. There is an old saying that goes, “If you’re going to eat an elephant, do it…
A Conversation with Renée Ashley
A Conversation with Renée Ashley, Author of Because I Am the Shore I Want to Be the Sea BF: When did you discover your love for writing poetry? Can you tell us about the first poem you’ve ever written? RA: It’s…
A Conversation with Marsha A. Moore
A Conversation with Marsha A. Moore: Author of The Enchanted Bookstore Legends Series BF: Can you describe your journey to publishing your first book? MM: I didn’t aim to be a fiction author. My path evolved to this end. While growing…
A Conversation with Nina Foxx
A Conversation with Nina Foxx: Author, Playwright and Filmmaker BF: You were already a successful author before receiving your MFA degree. What made you decide to go back to school, and what did you learn about your writing through the program? NF: I…
A Conversation with NYT Bestselling Author, Omar Tyree
A Conversation with New York Times Bestselling Author, Omar Tyree BF: According to the bio on your website, you discovered your passion as a writer while you were a pharmacy major at the University of Pittsburgh. What exactly spawned this…
A Conversation with Jaime Reed
A Conversation with Jaime Reed: Author of Living Violet BF: Your first novel, Living Violet (Book 1 in The Cambion Chronicles) released at the end of last year. How (if at all) has your life changed since being published? JR: Surprisingly,…
A Conversation with Jennifer Hillier
A Conversation with Jennifer Hillier: Author of Creep BF: Your debut novel, Creep, came out last year. It has been described as a dark and intense psychological thriller. What draws you to dark fiction? Have you tried writing in another…
A Conversation with K.M. Walton
A Conversation with K.M. Walton: Author of Cracked K.M. Walton is not only a talented writer, but she’s also an inspiration—and we’re not just saying that because she shares a literary agent with one of our coeditors. Despite years of…
You Are a Writer: Dress the Part
Some say you are what you eat, while for others it’s all about what you wear. We can achieve a lot in our fiction by how we dress our characters: clothes can indicate setting, either geographical or historical; can reflect…
Leveling Up: An Editing Technique
This week I read about a new editing technique called Leveling Up. It actually came from a colleague in teaching who uses it with his class when they do a piece of creative writing. He hands out cards with terms…
How to Reach Clarity in Your Writing
For me, the hardest part of a first draft is the middle. I start with a very clear beginning and I know exactly where the story is going. But the drift of space in the middle of the story, the…