9 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Editor (by a Professional Editor)
By Jessica De Bruyn, Professional Editor As an editor, one of the most common questions I get is, “When should I hire an editor?” This is not a question with one concrete answer that is going to work for everyone or fit every book project. If you’re trying to get the advice of an editing professional,…
Find Your Literary Agent
By Emily Potter When querying time arrives at last, the thought of plunking “agent” into a search engine and firing off a letter to anyone with a published email address can seem enticing. We all know that the competition for agents is a fierce one and getting your letter in front of as many eyes as…
An Interview with Literary Agent & YA/Kidlit Expert Ali McDonald
For this post we interviewed literary agent Ali McDonald. She’s the lead agent specializing in YA (Young Adult) and children’s literature at literary agency The Rights Factory in Toronto. So You Want to Write?: So first question, why don’t we dive right in? Do you have any tips for choosing the right literary agent? Ali McDonald:…
The Top 10 YA Tropes & How to Avoid Them
No time to read this article? Download it as a PDF checklist! Download this Checklist! By Michael Pietrzak The Young Adult (YA) genre has been overrun with tropes that just aren’t working for readers anymore. In the same way that groundbreaking songs spawn 100 imitators, too many YA authors keep going to the same dry…
How to Get Unstuck During NaNoWriMo by Emily Potter
The halfway point of NaNoWriMo has come and gone and, if the writing gods happen to be smiling upon you, you are sailing into the home stretch with plenty still left in your head to pour out onto paper. But the writing gods are especially busy in November and there is always a chance that…
NaNoWriMo Self-Care Tips by Brian Whitmore
1. Eat healthy! 2. Get regular exercise! 3. Take regular breaks! 4. Get sleep! 5. Work out a high level plan for your story ahead of the heavy writing! With these tips you can maximize your NaNoWriMo experience and have a better written product at the end of the month! Follow Brian Whitmore on Twitter
Why You Should Participate in NaNoWriMo – By Karina Kaushal
This article original appeared at karinakaushal.com You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment on November 30th after you finish writing your book, (or at least 50,000 words of it). You’ll surprise yourself with how capable you are and you’ll realize anything is possible. (I bought a Super Woman shirt and wore it every time I sat down to…
“Still” by Mary Jo Garrido
“Joe, Joe!!!” That’s mommy’s voice calling daddy. I was sleeping and it woke me up. My heart knocks on my chest. She sounds like when Melissa got lost in the mall. Melissa is my big sister; she got lost because she didn’t stay near mommy or daddy as they told us. She’s eight and I…
Falling out of Love in Stalingrad by Michael Pietrzak
We survived only to find the dream dead. Yes, she loves Another.
Voyage into the Unknown by Brian Whitmore
Gale force winds tore the mainsail from the mast, leaving it in tattered shreds. A cabin boy was knocked out by a swinging boom and his pruned body was carried overboard by a wave that swept over the deck. But Columbus wouldn’t let mere weather shatter his resolve. He made his way across the deck…
