As everyone begins decorating for Halloween, planning Thanksgiving meals, and jotting down Christmas gift ideas, writers are preparing for another kind of season filled with new characters, fresh stories, and the excitement of creative goals.

World-building in fiction writing is more than just dropping landmarks on a map or naming towns. It’s about creating a place where your readers can walk through, hear, taste, smell, and maybe even feel like they’d never want to leave. The best settings help shape the story and your characters in ways that matter, just like in real life.

As you write your next protagonist or side character, move past basic backstory. Ask what they’d wear, what songs they’d replay, how they’d argue, or which dreams keep them awake. Assign a type and build from the inside out: watch how personality threads drive the story forward.

Every writer’s journey is unique, marked by wins, setbacks, late nights, and the quiet pleasure of crafting something truly one’s own. But for many, the most significant perk isn’t the acknowledgements or even the dream of awards. Instead, it’s the freedom that writing brings: the power to work when, where, and how inspiration strikes. 

Every writer starts small, like a child cross-legged on the floor, scribbling odd letters and stories only they can decipher. Over time,...

Worried your book marketing will fall flat? Take steps now to make sure your book gets in the hands of the right readers.

When you step into a character’s shoes and experience the world through their senses, you create scenes that become  more vivid and feel real.

Let’s explore The Where, The Who, The What, The When, The Why, and The How in a way that connects directly to your everyday life as a writer.

By now, it should come as no surprise that social media is the place to be if you are an author in 2025. For even the most successful or...

Here, we’ll look at two distinct writing styles: sprint writing (inspired by NaNoWriMo) and the slow and steady cross-country method.

A good book keeps a reader glued to its very last page. An even better book keeps a reader gripped by the story long after the final page...

This blog shares the writing tools I use (AI and beyond), and how they helped me develop my writing rhythm, structure my book, and keep my voice intact.

As a self-publishing author, the choices that must be made throughout the writing and publishing process are seemingly endless. Choosing to create an audiobook presents even more choices, with one of the main questions to answer being which route do I take?

While not a fad, audiobooks are currently trending in publishing and, like any trend, welcome another potential avenue of success as a writer when it comes to reaching a broader audience.

Trends are always evolving, and keeping up with what is popular might seem like a daunting or intimidating task. The good news? It is possible to engage with current trends while remaining authentic to your vision. 

When it comes to mapping out the marketing strategies for your book, libraries can offer invaluable benefits.

Have you ever wondered if writing under a pen name increases your chances of success as a published writer? This week's blog article explores the pros and cons.

When it comes to capturing the essence of your book, the overarching message reveals its heartbeat—what resonates with people and persuades them to read it.

It is a tough reality to accept: As much as we would like to escape negative feedback about our writing, it is an inevitable part of the publishing process. Learn how to navigate criticism with a healthy mindset in this week's post.

Trends are not mandated rules for success, but they are worth at least considering if you want more attention on your book.