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
Podcast: Fixing Your Story — Time For Therapy! by Bryan Cohen and H. Claire Taylor
What to do when you realize your writer’s block is stemming from fear. Bryan Cohen is an experienced copywriter, bestselling author, and the founder of Best Page Forward and Amazon Ad School. You can find out more about Bryan at BryanCohen.com. H. Claire Taylor is a humor author and fiction strategist, as well as the owner of FFS Media. The Sell More Books Show is a weekly podcast focusing on helping new and experienced authors stay up-to-date with the latest self-publishing and indie news, tools and book selling and marketing strategies.
Video: Four Mistakes Authors Make When Stuck by Becca Syme
The top four mistakes authors make when stuck, the importance of having a plan, recognizing the impact of habits, minimizing distractions, and allowing for creative space without judgment. 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.
Other motivational advice this week:
- 5 Tips For Staying Accountable During Revision by Monica Cox for DIY MFA
- Don’t Forget To Be Brave by Carmen Amato for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- How Authors Practice Patience While Waiting To Hear News On a Submitted Manuscript by Ane Mulligan for The Write Conversation
- Jealousy and Envy In the Writing Life (Does This Happen To You?) by Mary Carroll Moore for How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
- Overcome Limiting Beliefs by Rochelle Melander for Write Now Coach!
- Stop Being a People Pleaser by Daphne Gray-Grant for Publication Coach
- The Writer’s Curiosity and the Key To Keeping Your Imagination Open by Tim Suddeth for The Write Conversation
- Why Comparing Yourself To Other Writers Doesn’t Make Sense by Meg Dowell for A Writer’s Path
- Why Empaths Experience Extreme Fear Around Writing Their Stories by Lauren Sapala for Lauren Sapala
- Why You Need a Writing Mentor: 10 Benefits That Can Transform Your Career by Sarah Rexford for Self Publishing School
The art and craft of writing
Can I Add Another POV Character To Convey Information? by Oren Ashkenazi
Adding a new point-of-view character can give readers an opportunity to see events that the protagonist, but you should be wary of adding POV characters solely to prop up unrelated plots. Oren Ashkenazi is a speculative fiction manuscript 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.
Podcast: The One Where New York Times Bestseller Daniel Suarez Talks ChatGPT, Future Tech, and What It’s Like to Get a Phone Call From the Pentagon After They Read Your Book by J.D. Barker
Guest Daniel Suarez is the New York Times bestselling author of Daemon, Freedom, Kill Decision, and Delta-v. J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels. Writer’s Ink is a podcast focusing on the business of writing.
Video: Evil Lackeys by J.P. Beaubien
How not to write evil lackeys. J.P. Beaubien’s current project is a book series named Aeon Legion. Follow him on Facebook at @authorJPBeaubien and on Twitter at @JosephPBeaubien. Terrible Writing Advice is a very popular YouTube channel where J.P. Beaubien offers only the most sincere and genuine writing advice delivered with absolutely no sarcasm at all.
The Boss Fight, Sherpas, and the Devil’s In the Details by James R. Preston
Three things that book authors can learn from video games. James R. Preston is the author of the multiple-award-winning Surf City Mysteries. Check out his website at JamesRPreston.com>/a>. Writers in the Storm is another great site for writing advice, with a group of regular contributors and guest writers who post frequently. It is very well worth following on RSS (direct Feedly signup link here).
Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Lifeless Side Characters by Moriah Richard
Tips for avoiding lifeless side characters by reframing thinking around characterization, adding depth and complexity to these characters, and giving them routines or tying them to specific places. Moriah Richard is the managing editor at Writer’s Digest. Since obtaining her MFA in fiction, she has worked with over 100 authors to help them achieve their publication dreams. Follow her on Twitter at @MoriahRichard93. Follow Writer’s Digest via their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link), on Twitter at @WritersDigest and on Facebook at @writersdigest.
Video: Why You Should Start Your Stories In Medias Res by Daphne Gray-Grant
Why starting a story in medias res, or in the middle of the action, can be an effective storytelling technique for grabbing the audience’s attention, and how to avoid unnecessary exposition. 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.
Podcast: Foil Characters by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock
Do the foil characters have to be mirror opposites, or will any differences work? Should their contrast be played up in the plot? 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.
Doling Out Information During a Scene by Chris Winkle
The article provides advice on how to effectively incorporate exposition into writing, including choosing the best way to convey information, selecting only the necessary details, and transitioning smoothly into exposition. Chris Winkle is the founder and editor-in-chief of 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:
- 10 Examples Of Author Intrusion In Deep POV, How To Fix It by Lisa Hall-Wilson for Writers In The Storm
- 3 Tips For Writing Character Dynamics by Morgan Hazelwood for Morgan Hazelwood
- AI Technology: Friend Or Foe To Writers? by Nicole Pyles for WOW! Women On Writing Blog
- Podcast: Anticipation Is More Than Just Making Us Wait by Howard Tayler for Writing Excuses
- Are Writers Obsolete Yet? by Debbie Burke for Killzoneblog.com
- Betas, ARC Readers, aAnd Critique Partners by Elizabeth Spann Craig for Elizabeth Spann Craig
- Book Coaching 101 by Richelle Lyn for DIY MFA
- Einstein and the Epiphanal Moment by Steven Pressfield for Steven Pressfield
- Every Story Is a Love Story by Rachel Dempsey for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
- Genre Tips: How To Write Mystery by K. M. Weiland for Helping Writers Become Authors
- Getting Slick With Your Novel’s Theme by C. S. Lakin for Live Write Thrive
- How To Acknowledge Uncomfortable Facts When Writing Historical Fiction by Lynn Cullen for Writer’s Digest
- How To Get Emotion On the Page: 2 Most Critical Tactics by Susan Defreitas for Jane Friedman
- How To Introduce Characters In a Screenplay by Stavros Halvatzis for Stavros Halvatzis
- How To Make Your Characters Memorable by Karen Cioffi for Writers On The Move
- How To Start a Story: 5 Tips On Opening Strong by Rose Atkinson-Carter for A Writer’s Path
- How To Write a Thriller Novel by Joslyn Chase for The Write Practice
- In Medias Res: Definition and Examples To Start a Story In the Middle by Liz Bureman for The Write Practice
- Mystery Clues: The Ultimate Guide To Clues and Red Herrings by Joslyn Chase for The Write Practice
- On Magic and Spirituality In Story by Vaughn Roycroft for Writer Unboxed
- Scene Writing: Keep a Scenic Rhythm by Linda S. Clare for Linda S. Clare
- Video: Short Story Openings Part One by Susan Macgregor for Writers’ Rx
- Star Trek’s Mediocre Antagonistic Species by Oren Ashkenazi for Mythcreants
- Video: Subtext Is the Buried Treasure In Your Story. Here’s How To Mine It! by Stavros Halvatzis for Get Writing
- The 5 Turning Points Of a Character Arc by Janice Hardy for Fiction University
- Three Common Revision Mistakes and What To Do Instead by Stacy Frazer for DIY MFA
- Tips For Using Scrivener On the Second Draft Of Your Manuscript by Lynn H. Blackburn for The Write Conversation
- Tips On Writing Difficult Characters Your Readers Will Love by Sarah Sally Hamer for The Write Conversation
- Using Tropes To Lift Your Plot by Laurence O’Bryan for #PublishingReinvented
- What’s In a Name? by Kay DiBianca for Killzoneblog.com
- Why You Should Embrace Extreme Editing by Julia Kelly for Writer’s Digest
- Worldbuilding 101 For Writers: Writing People Groups and Social Circles by A.C. Williams for The Write Conversation
- Writing Rules To Make You Shine, Not Whine by Margie Lawson for Writers In The Storm
- Your Step-By-Step Guide To Writing a Story Outline by Barrie Davenport for Authority Pub
The business side of writing
Podcast: Publishing Trends For the Future With Clayton Noblit by Sacha Black
The trends are new channels for authors, direct sales — and, of course — AI. Guest Clayton Noblit is senior marketing manager at Written Word Media, which publishes the biggest author survey each year. Sacha Black is a fantasy author and writing coach, with several writing advice books including 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains. Follow her on her website, Sacha Black, on Facebook at @Sacha Black or on Twitter at @sacha_black. Sacha Black is a site that offers writing advice, courses, and podcasts. Follow the site via their RSS feed (direct Feedly link here).
Podcast: How To Build a Seven Figure Book Business Selling Direct To Readers With Pierre Jeanty by Joanna Penn
Guest Pierre Jeanty is a poet and inspirational author, publisher and entrepreneur. 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.
How To Build Your Author Brand Part 2 by Brian Andrews
Five steps to build a brand, including creating a catchphrase, personalizing it with meaning, outreach, merchandising, and becoming a subject matter expert. You can also read part one, Do you Need an Author Brand, here. Brian Andrews is a best-selling thriller author. Check out his website, BrianAndrewsAauthor.com or follow him on Twitter at @lexicalforge. Career Authors is one of Writer’s Digest top 101 websites for writers and helps authors write better, get published, and sell more books. For more advice like this subscribe to their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link), on Twitter at @CareerAuthors and on Facebook at @CareerAuthors.
Other business advice this week:
- Video: Our Top Tips For a Strong Query by Jessica Faust and James McGowan for BookEnds Literary Agency
- The Nuts and Bolts Of Becoming An Independent Editor by Stuart Horwitz for Jane Friedman
- How To Use 100 Printed Books To Promote Your Self-Published Title by Steven Spatz for BookBaby Blog
- Curious About Book Funnels? Here’s (Almost) Everything You Need To Know by Sandra Beckwith for Build Book Buzz
- Get Shelved: 5 Tips For Being Stocked By Bookstores by Outskirts Press for Self-Publishing News for Self Publishing Authors
- The Future Of Books: 3 Audacious Predictions For the Next 20 Years by Lauren Sapala for A Writer’s Path
- Podcast: How To Make the Most Out Of Every Single Win by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- The Definitive Author Guide To Creating a Reader Magnet by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
- Get Paid To Read Books You Love: 10 Viable Options You Can Pursue Today by Sarah Rexford for Make a Living Writing
- Video: Ten Ways To Sell Books Through Media Appearances With Steve Harrison by Chandler Bolt for Self Publishing School
- Business Musings: The Research Part One — AI Audio by Kristine Kathryn Rusch for Kristine Kathryn Rusch
- Spotlight On Networking: The London Book Fair by Katy Segrove for Pick Up Your Pen
- Video: Simple Ways To Connect With Others by Dan Blank for WeGrowMedia
- Podcast: How To Successfully Market a Children’s Book by Thomas Umstattd Jr. for Author Media
- Video: I Ran a BookBub Featured Deal – Was It Worth It? by Jenna Moreci for Writing with Jenna Moreci
- The Art Of the Pitch by Jeff Herman for National Novel Writing Month
- I Published a Book At Sixteen and Here’s How I Did It by Claire Fraise for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- How To Successfully Hand-Sell Copies Of Your Book by Bonnie McCune for WritersWeekly.com
- Book Surveys: How To Use Surveys To Sell More Books by Brandon Cullum for Kindlepreneur
- Video: Tips For Selling Books Internationally by Julie Broad for Book Launchers
- Those Public Appearances by C Hope Clark for FundsforWriters
Am I missing any writing advice sites? Email me at maria@metastellar.com or leave a note in the comments below.
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.