Don’t Quit Now
Remember why you started that book you haven’t yet finished. You don't have to open it again right now, or even tomorrow. But let's make a promise not to forget about it. Set a date to start again. You're an author, and the world needs your story.
No Conflict vs Unnecessary Conflict: How to spice things up
Ask yourself what your characters really care about. Who do they want to become at the end of the book, and what will help them get there? Add some tests for your character, and let them have some failures. Check in on your characters and make sure they’re not always saying and doing the right thing. People make mistakes all the time. Let them.
No Conflict vs Unnecessary Conflict: How to prevent the unnecessary
If the conflict has an easy solution that readers will be able to predict, cut it or change it.
Perfection is Boring
No one can relate to the girl in a YA book whose biggest problem is being “too beautiful,” or the girl in a fantasy book with “too much” magical power. And in a plot with no stakes of any kind, what are “perfect” moments even worth? Less perfection means more struggles, emotion, development, and growth.
How Many Rounds of Editing Does Your Book Need?
So many times you lose count. Check different aspects on different rounds. Read silently and out loud. Read on your computer and in print. Always give it one more round of edits.
Save everything… EVERYTHING.
It’s easy to toss out old material because it’s embarrassing. But keep your old notebooks, because not only will you enjoy reading them someday for nostalgia purposes, but there might be the seeds of brilliance in there somewhere. Also, it’s the perfect base to return to whenever you feel stuck.
Always remember your Three Golden Rules: Read a lot, write a lot, and be persistent!
Remember why you started that book you haven’t yet finished. You don't have to open it again right now, or even tomorrow. But let's make a promise not to forget about it. Set a date to start again. You're an author, and the world needs your story.
No Conflict vs Unnecessary Conflict: How to spice things up
Ask yourself what your characters really care about. Who do they want to become at the end of the book, and what will help them get there? Add some tests for your character, and let them have some failures. Check in on your characters and make sure they’re not always saying and doing the right thing. People make mistakes all the time. Let them.
No Conflict vs Unnecessary Conflict: How to prevent the unnecessary
If the conflict has an easy solution that readers will be able to predict, cut it or change it.
Perfection is Boring
No one can relate to the girl in a YA book whose biggest problem is being “too beautiful,” or the girl in a fantasy book with “too much” magical power. And in a plot with no stakes of any kind, what are “perfect” moments even worth? Less perfection means more struggles, emotion, development, and growth.
How Many Rounds of Editing Does Your Book Need?
So many times you lose count. Check different aspects on different rounds. Read silently and out loud. Read on your computer and in print. Always give it one more round of edits.
Save everything… EVERYTHING.
It’s easy to toss out old material because it’s embarrassing. But keep your old notebooks, because not only will you enjoy reading them someday for nostalgia purposes, but there might be the seeds of brilliance in there somewhere. Also, it’s the perfect base to return to whenever you feel stuck.
Always remember your Three Golden Rules: Read a lot, write a lot, and be persistent!
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