Unleash your creativity with movies for writers. As an author, I love movies about writers. I connect with the main characters immediately, because I understand the crazy world they live in. Here’s my list of ‘go-to’ movies for any writer: Adaptation — comedy/drama starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper…
Category: writing
Unleash Your Inner Billy Wilder
9 Tips you can use in your novel. Billy Wilder broke into films as a screenwriter in 1929. After leaving Germany, he emigrated to Paris, then the US. Among Wilder’s most notable films are Some Like It Hot (1959) and The Apartment (1960) (which won him Best Picture and Director…
The Ultimate Fiction Book Description Formula
A step-by-step guide Having trouble writing a description for your novel? It’s not uncommon. I found a great guide from Dave Chesson on the Kindlepreneur Rocket. First Sentence Hook This is the most important sentence of your entire book description. This is where 80% of your focus needs to be.…
4 Building blocks for world-building
The first thing that comes to mind, when someone says 'world-building', is science fiction and fantasy. A galaxy far, far away or Hogwarts School of Magic. But world-building starts more basic than that, and applies to all genres. The main character. Your main character, your hero, your protagonist anchors your…
Your complete guide to writing thrillers
Every genre of writing has its own rules and requirements. Here's what you need to write a best-selling thriller: Start with a common fear or desire. Something the audience can easily and quickly identify with. Thrillers are about isolation and paranoia. A clue is dropped in every scene. The thing…
Why every writer needs a hobby
April 16, 2023 I paint and take pictures when I'm not writing. Stephen King does jigsaw puzzles, plays guitar, and bowls. I used to bowl, but I threw too many gutter balls. Although it was fun. If you did some research, you could probably find at least a couple solid…
Writing a Book Blurb
For me, this was the hardest part of writing. Copy writing. I've taken courses, read books, and done everything I could to learn to write a better blurb. Here's what I've learned: The purpose of the blurb is to deepen interest and desire in the book. It's a tagline, something…
What writers learn from reading
You can find a hundred articles telling you what to read to improve your craft of writing. I certainly have my favorite books that helped me through the process of becoming a professional author. But that's not what I'm talking about now. Stephen King said, "If you want to be…
Writing a Clean Copy
Legend has it, if you stand at the crossroads of your life, embrace the Desert Rose and ask for enlightenment, you will be shown your true path and the gifts waiting there for you.
Success and happiness are only a wish away.
But beware, wishes often require sacrifice.
Writing mistakes authors make and how to fix them.
What do newbie, unseasoned writers do that give away their inexperience? They overwrite. They use too many adjectives and adverbs. Their writing is inconsistent. They don't put the time they need into characterization and plotting. Things feel confusing. They depend too much on editors. While an editor can polish and…