Writing is tough work. Anyone that tells you any differently is probably fibbing. And the more you learn, the more you realize how much there is to learn. So I’ve built this page as a way to provide some of the resources that have helped me. You’ll find a mix of my own blog posts and links to other sites to help you out. And as I learn more, this page will grow with me.
Writing Better
Through the journey of completing manuscripts, I’ve learned more each time. Books, websites, and classes provided light bulb moments that helped me understand the craft of writing. If you are on your journey, here are the resources I found that changed my writing for good:
Finding Your Voice
Blog Series by Yours truly (that’s me)
- Can You Recognize Your Own Voice?
- Finding Your Voice: Cornerstone #1
- Finding Your Voice: Cornerstone #2
- Finding Your Voice: Cornerstone #3
Craft, Structure and Story
Save the Cat – Blake Synder – BEAT SHEET
Blake Synder wrote a book called Save the Cat — it’s meant for screenwriters, but it’s an amazing tool for fiction writers, as well. This book will help break down the structure and scene elements for your story. It is a great resource to help you get past the moment of “Well I know how it starts and how it ends…”
Storyfix.com
The day I discovered Storyfix.com [website] was a day I got nothing else done. I spent hours reading through the goldmine of posts. I suggest you read everything on this site, but this is a great place to start: Story Structure Roadmap : These posts include exercises to follow — do them. Reading these alone won’t give you the same understanding as sitting down with a few good movies and hashing out the structure just as he suggests.
- Post #1: Holy Grail of Storytelling
- Post #2: Introducing the 4 Parts of the Story
- Post #3: Five Missions for the Set-up (Part 1) of your story
- Post #4: The Most Important Moment in your Story : The First Plot Point
- Post #5: Part 2 of your story: The Response
- Post #6: Wrapping Your Head Around The Mid-Point Milestone
- Post #7: The Part 3 Attack
- Post #8: The Second Plot Point
- Post #9: Pinch Points
- Post #10: Part 4 – The Final Act
- Post #11: Epilogue – the Fine Print
Books to Read
- Goal, Motivation and Conflict : Deb Dixon
- Fire in Fiction – Donald Maass
Classes & Workshops to Take
Creating Characters
- The Secret Weapon of Crafting Effective Heroes | Larry Brooks, Storyfix.com
- Empowering Characters’ Emotions (Class) | Margie Lawson
Margie Lawson’s Academy Classes and Workshops
There is so much to be said about the classes and workshop that the amazing Margie Lawson offers. Her invaluable EDITS system, her pushes to write better, deeper and with more emotion — from character to setting to putting tension on the page, Margie’s classes are worth every minute, three times over. Over the years, I’ve taken a number of in-person workshops, including a full weekend retreat with the fabulous Sacramento Valley Rose chapter. In 2013, I was lucky enough to attend Margie’s Immersion Master class – one week at her house, immersed with 6 other writers on our work and Margie’s lessons. It was exhausting, exhilarating and taught me so much. I will be going back.
There isn’t a class of hers I don’t recommend, I highly suggest them all. You could start with Empowering Your Character’s Emotions.
You can find some of my Margie-related blog posts on my blog:
Revisions and Editing
A series of blog posts by Katrina Stonoff:
- Can you Write a Sellable Second Draft?
- Check Scenes with Golf
- Maybe You Need a SPA to edit
- Check Your Scenes with CES
Methods, Organization and Ways to Create & Edit
WIP Notebook – Plotter or pantser, no matter what way you write, there is always a need to be organized. Out of that need, I created a tool to help myself called the Work In Progress Notebook — and it was suggested to me that others might find it useful, as well.
There are lots of ways to organize, and being a bit of an organization and project management nerd, I’m always looking for new ones. So as I review different options and post about them, I add them here. Hopefully you’ll find the ways and methods that click for you.
Community
Writing is a solitary endeavor, but the communities that exist for you in your genres are a worthy, wonderful resource for support, help, and so much more.
Top Writers Blogs & Communities
There are more writer blogs out there than you could possibly have the time to read. Reviewers, writers, agents, communities… so many to choose from, not enough time. I encourage any writer to seek out all the blogs you can and check them out for yourself. Find the community that speaks to you. So I’m sharing the ones that I’ve gotten useful information and time well spent from. These are the blogs and communities I return to time and time again.
On Marketing
Establishing Your Brand — More to come here!
Book Promotion and Marketing Plan
Websites 101
- What the Published Author Needs | on Romance University
- What the Newly Published Author Needs | on Romance University
- Do I Really Need a Website? | on Romance University
Social Media
There are great ways to use social media and not-so-great ways.
- Twitter Do’s and Don’ts
- 5 Steps to Using Twitter : How to Get Started | on Romance University
- Facebook Mistakes and how to avoid them
- Using Facebook: Getting Started | on Romance University
Two great books to read:
- We Are Not Alone by Kristen Lamb
- Are You There Blog, It’s Me, Writer by Kristen Lamb
Book Videos
A workshop that walks through each aspect of a book video — whether you’re creating your own or hiring someone else to do it for you, this is information you should have.
- Day 1: Deconstructing A Book Video
- Day 2: Writing the Book Video Script
- Day 3: Imagery to Tell The Story
- Day 4: Creating The Soundtrack
- Day 5: Putting It All Together
- Day 6: Distribution of your Video
- Do you need a book video? How to decide. | on Romance University
- Going Pro: When to Turn Your Book Video over to the Professionals | on Romance University