Archive:

Fiction

Castle on a distant hill surrounded by trees

How to Describe the Setting of a Story

March 15, 2024

One of the toughest nuts for you to crack as a novelist is where to start. Two-thirds of my more than 200 published books are novels, so I’ve faced this dilemma more than 140 times. Trust me, starting never gets easier, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But there are common errors to […]

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How to End a Story: 3 Secrets to Writing a Captivating Ending

March 4, 2024

You’ll find loads of advice to help you find a great novel idea, start writing, and push through what I call the Marathon of the Middle. But you may not find as much on how to end a story, though that’s every bit important. Of my more than 200 published books, more than two-thirds have […]

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How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?

February 9, 2024

Writing a book can take a lifetime. But realistically, how long should you expect yours to take?  If you’re trying to balance a full-time job, a family, or every other priority life throws in your path, where will you find the time—and how much time do you need? Your book should serve as a way […]

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Guide to christian writing contests in 2017

Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests Through 2024

January 12, 2024

Regardless where you are on your writing journey, you can benefit from entering contests. The right contest can tell you: Where you stand How you measure up against the competition What you still need to learn And you could win cash. That’s why my team researched a wide range of high-quality contests. We’ve included free […]

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woman looking at books on bookshelves

Write What You Know: Understanding this Classic Writing Advice

December 15, 2023

“Write what you know” is one of the first pieces of advice many aspiring fiction writers hear when they embark on their journey to become an author. (And if you’re a nonfiction writer, stay with me.) On the one hand, the idea of writing what you know makes perfect sense. If you’ve ever read a […]

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