When you need to write, it can be frustrating to hit a wall. If you're feeling stuck, try implementing some of the tips that I've listed here in order to get your writing moving. If you're still stuck, it might be time to reach out for professional help in order to reach the coveted end of your manuscript. 

The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference features a book fair, panel discussions, and offsite events. This was my first time at AWP and if you've never spent much time around the literary community, buckle up because I have some thoughts. As an attendee this year, my primary objective was to seek out the latest information regarding the publishing industry, writing craft, and MFA programs. I constantly debate whether or not I am going to go back to school to finish my MFA, so part of my mission at this conference was to talk to some of the writing programs to see if they interested me. 

It's an author's most dreaded question, "what's your book about?" A million thoughts race through your head as you try to capture the heart of your novel in just a few simple sentences. What if you could avoid this panicked moment by instead writing a killer synopsis of your novel in just one sentence? You might think it too good to be true, but the purpose of loglines is exactly that-- to pitch your novel in short form. 

This methodology was developed by Shawn Coyne, a 25-year veteran of the publishing industry, and published in his book The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know in 2015. This book has a (key) spot on my bookshelf as an editor as it provides a useful framework for analyzing story structure, genre conventions and obligatory scenes, and the theme of your novel.

Everybody loves a love story. Adding romance to your novel is a popular choice among authors, whether you are writing a straight-up romance novel or a romantic subplot to a science fiction or fantasy novel. If you’re trying to write a book that readers can’t put down, adding romance to your novel can elevate your story by adding another layer of conflict and tension for the characters that adds a new dimension to your story.

Yes, developing your secondary characters can be the difference between a good novel and a great one. Your story is about your protagonist’s arc of change as they navigate the external plot. They are, after all, the star of the show. However, this doesn’t mean that your novel is all about them.

A distinct cast of secondary characters is a key component in bringing your manuscript from boring to unputdownable.

There is more to world-building than just writing a cool premise. While that is part of hooking your reader, world-building can be another tool to help your protagonist learn the theme of your novel. In a previous blog post, I talked about the flawed belief aka the lie that your character believes. The opposite of this lie is the lesson that your protagonist must learn. Everything in your story is moving simultaneously to achieve this goal including your world-building.

What’s in a world? Dreaming up a world for your novel might feel like standing at the bottom of a mountain and looking up. It can be terrifying figuring out where to start and the road ahead seems arduous. Don’t fret, you are not alone. Every writer must build the world of their novel to some extent, even those who are not writing speculative fiction.