I subscribe to more than 150 writing advice sites and gather the best posts for you every single Sunday. You can see all the previous writing advice of the week posts here and subscribe to the RSS feed for this writing advice series here (direct Feedly signup link).
Productivity, mood management, and battling the demons inside
Becoming A Writer, After Spending A Career Writing by Whitney Cubbison
This post resonated with me quite a bit, because I spent my entire professional life as a journalist, which is also a very different kind of writing from fiction writing. Whitney Cubbison is a dual American and French citizen who’s been living in Paris since 2009, and who recently switched from corporate communications to fiction writing. DiyMFA offers classes, advice articles and other training materials for writers. For more advice like this, follow them on Twitter at @DIYMFA and on Facebook at @DIYMFA or subscribe to their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link).
Video: Four Things Writers Ignore When Stuck by Becca Syme
The four things that writers often ignore when stuck are: physical needs like hunger, tiredness, and thirst; the fact that characters are real people with real emotions; the impact of real-life events and people; and their own wiring and desire for impact and influence. Becca Syme is a Gallup-certified strengths coach, author coach, and nonfiction author who’s coached more than 5,700 authors. The QuitCast for Writers is a video podcast where Becca Syme discusses what to keep, what to quit, and what to question, if you are trying to make a go of the author career.
Mood Follows Action: No Inspiration Required by Daphne Gray-Grant
Waiting for inspiration or positive feelings before writing is counterproductive. Instead, start small with achievable daily goals, scheduling a specific time for writing, and accepting that mood follows action, rather than the other way around. Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing coach, author of Your Happy First Draft, and host of The Write Question show on YouTube. Publication Coach offers books, courses, videos, and one-on-one coaching for authors. If you want more advice like this, subscribe to their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link) or follow them on Twitter at @pubcoach or subscribe to their YouTube channel.
Other motivational advice this week:
- 12 More Reasons Not To Give Up On Your Writing Dreams by theryanlanz for A Writer’s Path
- 25 Tips For Becoming A Writer by Zoe M. McCarthy for Zoe M. McCarthy
- Dealing With Self-Doubt As A Writer by September C. Fawkes for September C. Fawkes
- Do Less Than Your Best by Tiffany Yates Martin for FoxPrint Editorial
- For Better Creativity, Spring Clean Your Brain by Kelsey Allagood for Writer Unboxed
- Four Steps To Advance Your Writing Career by Edie Melson for The Write Conversation
- Getting Unstuck/Finding A New Rut by Joseph Lallo for Writers In The Storm
- How To Be An Author: Lessons In Professionalism For A Writing Career by Sarah Gribble for The Write Practice
- Masterclass Vs Skillshare: Which Online Learning Platform Is Better? by Dave Chesson for Kindlepreneur
- Partners In Writing: How To Make The Most Of Your Critique Group by Annie Rains for Writer’s Digest
- Perfectionism Vs. Procrastination: What’s Really Going On? by Savannah Gilbo for Fiction Writing Tips
- Proven Writing Strategies: 12 Tips To Use Today by Sarah Rexford for The Write Life
- Video: Stop Indulging In Writerly Guilt by Daphne Gray-Grant for Publication Coach
- The 5 Best Questions About Writing To Get You Into The “Write” Mindset by Joe Bunting for The Write Practice
- The Five Friends Every Author Needs by Julie Carrick Dalton for DIY MFA
- The Reality Of A Writer’s Retreat by C Hope Clark for FundsforWriters
- There’s No “Magic Formula” To Write A Book by Tamara Sanderson for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- Ways To Add Creative Writing To Your Day (Even If You’re Really Busy) by Nicole Pyles for WOW! Women On Writing Blog
- What Is Freewriting? 6 Steps To Unlocking Your Creativity by Jackie Pearce for The Write Life
- What Motivates These Seven Famous Authors To Write? by Lee Purcell for BookBaby Blog
- Why Fear Is A Terrible Friend … And How To Crush It by Nicki Howell for Live Write Thrive
- Why Retreats: Isn’t Writing Supposed To Be Solitary? by Amy Wallen for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- Video: Writing Lessons I Wish I’d Learned Sooner (AKA How To Stop Worrying) by Shaelin Bishop for ShaelinWrites
The art and craft of writing
Video: Victim, Soapbox, And HAITE Stories – Don’t Write Them! by Susan MacGregor
There are three types of stories that will likely earn you a rejection letter if you submit them to a traditional publisher – these are Victim Stories, Soapbox Stories, and H.A.I.T.E.s — Has An Idea, The End — stories. Why they don’t work, and if you’ve written one, what you might do to improve them. Susan MacGregor is an editor with On Spec, one of Canada’s foremost magazines for speculative fiction. Writers’ Rx is a just-launched YouTube channel dedicated to improving writing.
Podcast: Writing Fiction With Sudowrite With Leanne Leeds by Joanna Penn
Leanne Leeds is the author of 27 novels in genres across contemporary paranormal, fantasy and midlife cozy mystery. She also uses AI tools as part of her creative process, which is what she’s talking about in this episode. Joanna Penn has been sharing writing and publishing advice since 2008 at The Creative Penn and is the author of Successful Self-Publishing and many other writing and publishing advice books. She also has one of my favorite writing advice podcasts, and you can subscribe to it on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. The Creative Penn offers articles, videos, books, tools, and courses for independent authors.
Podcast: Sources Of Energy by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock
In this episode, the hosts discuss energy sources and their impact on worldbuilding, exploring the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources and the ethical concerns surrounding them, as well as the technical aspects of harnessing energy for industrial use and its impact on society. Oren Ashkenazi is the speculative fiction manuscript editor, Chris Winkle is the founder and editor-in-chief, and Wes Matlock is a content editor at Mythcreants. Mythcreants is my all-time favorite writing advice site. Get their RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link) or follow them on Twitter @Mythcreants and on Facebook at @mythcreants.
Other writing advice this week:
- Video: 10 Worst Ways To End A Book by Jenna Moreci for Writing with Jenna Moreci
- 25 Romance Tropes Explained + A List Of 50 More Romance Trope Ideas For Your Next Novel by Barrie Davenport for Authority Pub
- 3 Ways To Write Better Stories With AI by P. S. Hoffman for P.S. Hoffman
- Backstory: The Most Important Sub-Plot You’ll Never Write by Matt Frick for A Writer’s Path
- Podcast: Content For Everyone: Accessibility For Authors With Jeff Adams by Joanna Penn for The Creative Penn
- Erikson’s Stages Of Psychosocial Development As A Writing Tool by Kelli McKinney for Almost An Author
- Genre Tips: How To Write Horror by Oliver Fox for Helping Writers Become Authors
- How Do Villainous Aesthetics Work? by Oren Ashkenazi for Mythcreants
- How To Self-Edit Your Novel by Nathan Bransford for Nathan Bransford
- How To Survive Editing by Daphne Gray-Grant for Jane Friedman
- How To Write A Short Story Spin-Off From Your Novel by Rayne Hall for Fiction University
- How To Write An Adventure Story by David Safford for The Write Practice
- Let’s Talk About (No) Sex, Baby: Writing Closed Door Romance by Annie Rains for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- Video: Magic Needs A Purpose by Morgan Hazelwood for Morgan Hazelwood
- More Pronoun Tips For Writers—Auntie Seedent And Uncle Fred by Crystal Bowman for The Write Conversation
- On The Necessity Of Flawed Characters by Mary Kate Pagano for A Writer’s Path
- Video: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Cherrilynn Bisbano by Jean Wise, Johnnie Alexander, and Brandy Brow for Almost An Author
- Picking A Point Of View For Your Story by Tiffany Yates Martin for Jane Friedman
- Pros And Cons Of Present Tense Versus Past by Mary Carroll Moore for How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
- Scene Writing For Purpose by Linda S. Clare for Linda S. Clare
- Short Stories: Can They Still Have Character Arcs? by Jami Gold for Jami Gold, Paranormal Author
- Six Stories With Poorly Designed Factions by Oren Ashkenazi for Mythcreants
- The Accidental Tourist: Oh, So This Is Miniplot! by Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill for Story Nerd
- Podcast: The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Does The Scene Eliminate Small Talk And Repeated Beats By Cutting Out The Beginning (Or Possibly Even The Middle)? by Matt Bird for The Secrets of Story
- Podcast: The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is One Of The Scene Partners Not Planning To Have This Conversation (And Quite Possibly Have Something Better To Do)? by Matt Bird for The Secrets of Story
- Podcast: The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is There At Least One Nonplot Element Complicating The Scene? by Matt Bird for The Secrets of Story
- Podcast: The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Is This An Intimidating Setting That Keeps Characters Active? by Matt Bird for The Secrets of Story
- Podcast: The Expanded Ultimate Story Checklist: Were Tense And/Or Hopeful (And Usually False) Expectations For This Interaction Established Beforehand? by Matt Bird for The Secrets of Story
- Video: These Questions Will Pull Readers And Audiences Into Your Story! by Stavros Halvatzis for Get Writing
- Video: Tunneling Into POV And Perspective by Desmond Hall for Writer Unboxed
- Podcast: Turning One Book Into Eight: Planning And Writing A Thriller Series — Interview With Laurie Buchanan by Lori Walker for DIY MFA
- Using The Big Five Personality Traits For Character Development by Garry Rodgers for Killzoneblog.com
- Wattpad For Authors: It’s Not Just For The Young Folks by Jane Friedman for Jane Friedman
- What Happened In This Scene? by Randy Ingermanson for Advanced Fiction Writing
- What Is “Bad Writing?” (And How Can We Avoid It?) by Janice Hardy for Fiction University
- Why Editors Reject Your Story by David Farland for MyStoryDoctor
- Why Not Listening Is Key To Writing Dialogue by Thomas Richards for Write It Sideways
- Writing How To: Piecing Together The Perfect Scene by Lori Freeland for Writers In The Storm
- Podcast: Writing Tips: Setting And Sense Of Place by Joanna Penn for The Creative Penn
The business side of writing
Video: AI And ChatGPT For Authors, Plus Goals For This Year And Recap Of 2022 by Lindsay Buroker, Joseph R. Lallo, and Andrea Pearson
My favorite show is back! This time, they’re talking about how 2022 went, their plans for 2023, and what they think about AI. Lots of useful business stuff here, like how Amazon’s categories now work. Also, lots of discussion about the mental game and motivation — and why one of the hosts quit full-time writing and got a day job. Lindsay Buroker writes fantasy and science fiction. Follow her on Facebook at @Lindsay Buroker or on Twitter at @GoblinWriter. Joseph Lallo writes science fiction and fantasy. Follow him on Twitter at @jrlallo or on Facebook at @JosephRLallo. Andrea Pearson has published over 60 titles under three pen names, including four marketing books for authors. She teaches marketing through her courses and at conferences and conventions and is an instructor for WMG’s Business Master Class for Authors 6 Figure Authors is a podcast and YouTube channel focusing on writing and publishing books, hosted by three speculative fiction authors.
Other business advice this week:
- Guest Post: Five Things To Do Before Querying Agents & Publishers by Sabrina Ricci for Digital Pubbing
- Know Your Story’s Selling Points by Paula Munier for Career Authors
- How To Find A Book Editor by Jeanette the Writer for DIY MFA
- Turning Your Author Website Into A Direct Sales Bookstore by Paul Hobday for Written Word Media
- Reviving Previously Published Books by Janet Reid for Janet Reid, Literary Agent
- Business, Processes And Efficiency With Ines Johnson by Sacha Black for Sacha Black
- Master Book Marketing Basics To Sell More Books by Sandra Beckwith for Build Book Buzz
- Generating Sales After Self-Publishing: Five Things You Must Know by Penny C. Sansevieri for Self Published Author
- Riding Lessons For Writers: Or, How To Wrangle An Agent by Michelle L. Cullen for Career Authors
- Serendipitous Marketing Ideas by Valerie Allen for Sharing with Writers and Readers
- Instagram For Authors: How To Engage More Readers & Avoid Burnout by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- Eureka! Get Noticed On Social Media by Tammy Lough for DIY MFA
- Podcast: Indie TV Streaming by Bryan Cohen and H. Claire Taylor for Sell More Books Show
- Video: What I Learned Publishing 50 Fiction Novels In 22 Years With Tim Waggoner by Chandler Bolt for Self Publishing School
- Historical Category Data: How To Find And Dominate Amazon Categories by Jason Hamilton for Kindlepreneur
- Survival Tips For Conferences by Terry Odell for Killzoneblog.com
- Podcast: The 2023 Book Launch Blueprint by Thomas Umstattd Jr. for Author Media
- Video: Can You Query A Self-Published Book? by Jessica Faust and James McGowan for BookEnds Literary Agency
- How Writers Can Generate Revenue From Their Email List by Susan U. Neal for The Write Conversation
- Podcast: How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Publishing by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- Business Musings: The Importance Of Ship Size (Yes, This Is Related To AI Audio) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch for Kristine Kathryn Rusch
- Video: Reedsy’s Amazon Ads For Authors With Ricardo Fayet by Mark Dawson and James Blatch for Self Publishing Formula
- How To Make Social Media Fun Again by Dan Blank for WeGrowMedia
- Video: Case Study: Book Sales, Audience Growth, And Earnings From An Email Newsletter by Dan Blank for WeGrowMedia
- Video: 3 Mindset Shifts To Be A Successful Author by Julie Broad for Book Launchers
- On Book Signings by C Hope Clark for FundsforWriters
- Making The Transition From Indie To Traditional Publishing by Christopher Stollar for Writer’s Digest
- How To Write For The Web: All Writers Need To Be Web Content Providers Now by Anne R. Allen for Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris
Am I missing any writing advice sites? Email me at maria@metastellar.com or leave a note in the comments below.
Edited by Melody Friedenthal
MetaStellar editor and publisher Maria Korolov is a science fiction novelist, writing stories set in a future virtual world. And, during the day, she is an award-winning freelance technology journalist who covers artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and enterprise virtual reality. See her Amazon author page here and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and check out her latest videos on the Maria Korolov YouTube channel. Email her at maria@metastellar.com. She is also the editor and publisher of Hypergrid Business, one of the top global sites covering virtual reality.