I recently became a slush reader for freeze frame fiction and it has already been a far more enlightening experience that I’d thought it’d be. I’m an experienced and published writer, so I like to think that I know how to push past the slush pile. But it surprised me to see the comments of … More From a Slush Reader: Why You’re Getting Rejected
This review is for writers and contains huge spoilers. You’ve been warned! Marissa Meyer achieved the goal all traditional-bound writers pine for. She wrote her book, agonized over her query letter, submitted to her dream agents, and landed a Big 5 book deal on her first agent. More on Marissa’s Query and publication history at the end … More The Query Letter that Landed a Dream Agent & Big 5 Book Deal : A Book Review of Cinder for Writers
As we approach the summer months, there will be a few Twitter Pitch contests opening up. These are amazing opportunities to get professional feedback on your work. A lot of people enter these contests with the intention of winning some sort of lottery and landing an agent, and while that can happen, it’s better to … More 4 Tips to a Stellar Twitter Pitch
I’ve discovered the most wonderful drug. You must have heard of it. Books, literature, the written word? One taste of “prose” and you’ll be gone for hours, maybe even days, only coming out of your stupor with drool running down your face and a jolt of lucid awareness that’ll have you asking for more. Should … More Satire Post: Warning, Books are Drugs!
A fantasy and post-apocalyptic novel published by Simon & Schuster, written by New York Times Bestselling author Kresley Cole offers insight to writers, analyzed by AJ Flowers. … More 5 Lessons Learned by Analyzing a Big 5 Novel: Poison Princess
Today I’m going to focus on a critical story flaw that’ll get stories rejected, including mine. This is when your MC (main character) is considered “passive.” A passive MC is when he or she does not influence the story development, and rather outside sources, circumstances, or coincidences drive the story instead. A good rule of thumb … More 3 Sneaky Mistakes That’ll Get Your Story REJECTED!
I had one of those enlightening moments recently that highlighted the power of expectation. I began a new level of Japanese classes and have a new teacher. This is one of the intermediate level courses and she’s a lot tougher than what I’m used to, but I’m excited about it because I know I’m going to be … More How Japanese Class Improved my Writing
Being a writer can often feel like a synonym for being a “rule-follower,” at least if you want to be read by the masses. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books that praise the “rules,” and usually, I’m a staunch supporter. But today I’m going to turn the tables and indulge in the authors … More 5 Modern Bestsellers that Broke the Rules
This is an excerpt from A Guide to Writing Your First Novel As an active member of Scribophile, an online critiquing community, I’ve had my share of new-author exposure. I’ve decided to compile a list here of some of the most common mistakes I see over and over again. I’ll avoid mentioning prose structure or … More 5 Mistakes of Aspiring Authors
Reblogged from Self Publishing Advice Center Hey guys. Sometimes I share helpful articles on my blog. I strongly suggest you check this one out! Alliance of Independent Authors Self-Publishing Predictions 2017
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Tales from our writers' journeys to publication
Books! Where are the great books?
A.J. Flowers 