Tipsday: Informal writerly learnings, June 5-11, 2022

June 14, 2022June 12, 2022 / Melanie Marttila

Monday’s in the rear-view and we’re one day closer to the weekend! Celebrate with some informal writerly learnings.

K.M. Weiland helps us understand the adventure world of a story’s second act. Helping Writers Become Authors

Richelle Lyn explains how to build an online portfolio. Kris Hill: doom, hope, and ten candles. Manuela Williams wonders, what is confessional poetry? Then Ashley Christiano returns with part 2 of her tarot for storytellers series: from tarot spread to novel outline. DIY MFA

Start writing your book. Reedsy

Louise Harnby explains how to use parentheses (round brackets) to convey simultaneity in fiction.

Beth Harvey considers the lure of literary symbolism. Then, Tiffany Yates Martin explains how tension and microtension keep your readers hooked. Kathleen McCleary walks the Camino as a creative reset. Then, Kathryn Craft wonders whether to challenge or concede to copy edits. David Corbett is weaving a life: the three levels of dramatic action. Writer Unboxed

Shaelin explains how she got her literary agent. Shaelin Writes

Penny C. Sansevieri shares four ways non-fiction authors can succeed in the “age of free.” Then, Colleen M. Story shares her top seven places to find people to write great blurbs. Piper Bayard helps you write believable driveway crime: carjacking and kidnapping. Writers in the Storm

Meghan Harvey wonders, is hybrid publishing ethical? Then, Kris Spisak says that if you’re looking for beta readers, turn the question around. Jane Friedman

How ancient mythologies defy the gender binary. Fate & Fabled | PBS Storied

Elizabeth Spann Craig defines who we’re writing for.

The war genre: honor and dishonor in pro-war, anti-war, and kinship stories. The society genre: stories of power and impotence. The status genre: stories of success and failure. Story Grid

Lisa Poisso offers three ways to infuse character voice. Then, Drew Hubbard helps you avoid writing LGBTQ+ stereotypes. Writers Helping Writers

This story is about rabbits, but it will still change your life. Tale Foundry

Nathan Bransford wants you to avoid aimless stage direction.

Tiffany Yates Martin reveals the best character tool you may not be using. Fox Print Editorial

The brainy brunette trope. The Take

Kristen Lamb explains why mastery should matter to authors.

Chris Winkle explains how to make your character sympathetic. Then, Oren Ashkenazi analyzes six important story elements introduced too late. Mythcreants

Danielle Daniel draws on her ancestors’ past in debut novel Daughter of the Deer. CBC’s “the Next Chapter” with Shelagh Rogers

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, and I hope you took away something to support your current work in progress (whatever stage it’s at).

Until Thursday, be well and stay safe!

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz, April 4-10, 2021

April 13, 2021April 11, 2021 / Melanie Marttila

It’s Tuesday again! Time you get your fill of informal writerly learnings.

Janice Hardy lists six problems your query letter reveals about your novel. Then, Laurence MacNaughton lists three powerful ways pros create character conflict. Fiction University

Word choice, diction, and syntax. Shaelin Writes

K.M. Weiland continues her archetypal character arc series with part 9: the maiden’s shadow archetypes. Helping Writers Become Authors

Karen DeBonis espouses the value of becoming. Then, Ellen Buikema explains the roles of secondary characters. Writers in the Storm

Will-o-the-wisp: monstrous flicker or scientific phenomenon? Monstrum | PBS Storied

Amy Ayres is writing humor as a funny introvert. Then, Carol Ven Den Hende explains what an author brand is and how to craft yours. Gabriela Pereira interviews Chuck Wendig: you can do anything, magic skeleton! Jaclyn Goldis helps you write multiple timelines set in the same place. DIY MFA

The gay best friend stereotype. The Take

Barbara O’Neal wants you to keep your notebook. Donald Maass: novelty and the novel. Kathryn Craft wants you to make your protagonist an actor. David Corbett: the criminal as hero. Later in the week, Desmond Hall drops some writerly wisdom on us. Writer Unboxed

The angry woman trope, explained. The Take

Catherine Baab-Muguira tells you what every writer needs to know about email newsletters (they’re not going away). Then, Barbara Linn Probst tells you everything you always wanted to know about hybrid publishing. Jane Friedman

Becca Puglisi advises that if you want a stronger manuscript, read it out loud. Writers Helping Writers

Chris Winkle shares five problems caused by tone mishaps and how to fix them. Then, Oren Ashkenazi analyzes how three book series kept their readers interested. Mythcreants

Kimberly Kessler helps you craft your story spine using literal and essential wants and needs. Story Grid

Thank you for taking the time to visit. I hope you found something to support your current work in progress.

Until Thursday, be well and stay safe, my writerly friends.

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz, Sept 8-14, 2019

September 17, 2019September 15, 2019 / Melanie Marttila

I present this week’s batch of informal writerly learnings 🙂

Daryl Rothman visits Helping Writers Become Authors: how to write stories that matter with writing’s secret formula.

Jim Dempsey wants you to give useful criticism. Kathryn Craft studies showing through exposition. Juliet Marillier considers publicity and the introvert. David Corbett is turning a terrible truth into compelling fiction. Kathryn Magendie is living the dreamy dreamland. Writer Unboxed

Shaelin explains how to write a scene. Reedsy

Jami Gold considers what’s stopping our characters: avoiding change. Writers Helping Writers

Kris Kennedy returns to Jami Gold’s blog for part three of her avoid infodumping by making backstory essential series.

Nathan Bransford lists seven reasons your characters feel flat. Then, Nathan lays out your options in hybrid publishing.

Manuela Williams explains how to use Pinterest to create an author brand board. DIY MFA

Fae Rowan shares ten more f-words for writers and their characters. Writers in the Storm

Sophia Jeppson explains how to make time travel logical. Oren Ashkenazi considers five ridiculous organizations from popular series. Mythcreants

Robert Lee Brewer explains the difference between prophesy and prophecy. Then, he tackles the difference between allude and elude. Writer’s Digest

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you found the information you need to move forward with your current work in progress.

Until Thursday, be well, my friends!

Tipsday2019

Always Looking Up

Melanie Marttila, BA, MA, #actuallyautistic SFF author-in-progress.

hybrid publishing

Tipsday: Informal writerly learnings, June 5-11, 2022

Tipsday: Writerly Goodness found on the interwebz, Sept 8-14, 2019

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