This week’s top writing advice from around the web for Oct. 30, 2022

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

10 Ways To Finally Get Your Blogging Mojo Back by Nina Amir

Ten tips for getting over writer’s block. This is mostly for bloggers, but it applies to other kinds of writing as well. Nina Amir is a book coach and a book proposal consultant and editor. For more information, check out her website NinaAmir.com or follow her on Twitter at @NinaAmir or on Facebook at @Inspiration to Creation Coach. How to Blog a Book is an advice site for nonfiction and fiction authors who want to use a blog to create a book. For more advice like this, follow them via their RSS feed (direct Feedly link here).

Affirmations For Writers: 27 Statements To Turbocharge Your Success by Pj Mcnulty

Writing is a mind game, more so than almost any other activity out there, with the possible exception of golf. Some people find that it helps to prime their brain with affirmations, which can help point your subconscious in the right direction and make your mind work for you, not against you. PJ McNulty is an author, content creator, and digital nomad from London making his way around the world. He is working on a dystopian fiction series. Self Publishing School offers online courses about self publishing, as well as a podcast, blog, and other resources. For more advice like this subscribe to their RSS feed (direct Feedly signup link), on Twitter at @Self_Pub_School and on Facebook at @Self Publishing School.

Video: How Do I Get Over The Fear Of Starting? by Lauren Sapala

The best way to get over the fear of starting is to join others who are all starting something too. Lauren Sapala is a writer and a writing coach. For more advice like this, follow her on Twitter at @losapala, on Facebook at @LaurenSapala, and on YouTube at Lauren Sapala. At LaurenSapala.com, Sapala offers writing advice, courses, and coaching services.

My Writing Journey: The Writing Community Is A Real Place by Michelle Godard-Richer

Connect with other writers. We all go through our ups and downs, rejections, writer’s block, life getting in the way, imposter syndrome, and self-doubts. No one understands that better, and can lift you up again, better then another writer. Michelle Godard-Richer is a criminology graduate with a passion for crime, human behavior, and the written word. She is also a thriller and romance author living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. She writes edge-of-your-seat, suspenseful stories with strong protagonists and diabolical villains. Follow her on Twitter at @MGodardRicher and check out her website, MichelleGodardRicherAuthor.com. Women Writers, Women’s Books is an online literary magazine by and about contemporary women writers from around the world. Follow them via their RSS feed (direct Feedly link here).

Other motivational advice this week:

• 20 Reasons Why Everybody Should Write Short Stories by Elizabeth Sims for Jane Friedman
• Podcast: Bodies, Why? Part Ii: Working Through Disability by Mary Robinette, Fran Wilde, C.L. Polk, and Howard Tayler for Writing Excuses
• Creativity: 10 Tips And 5 No-Go’s For More Ingenuity by Frauke Geuking for The Digital Reader
• Inspiration: 2 Forms & 18 Tips To Stimulate Your Senses by Frauke Geuking for The Digital Reader
• Quit Writing From A Place Of Fear And Rediscover Your Joy by Edie Melson for The Write Conversation
• Time Management: 5 Methods & 8 Tips For Better Timing by Frauke Geuking for The Digital Reader
• Writing Stress Happens, Use These Tips To Find Relief by Edie Melson for The Write Conversation

The art and craft of writing

Podcast: How To Write Urban Fantasy With Sarah Painter by Sacha Black

In this episode, Black talks to Sarah Painter all about how to write urban fantasy. Painter is the author of the eight-book Crow Investigations urban fantasy series, the how-to guide Stop Worrying; Start Writing, and other books. Sacha Black is a fantasy author and writing coach, with several writing advice books including 13 Steps to Evil: How to Craft Superbad Villains (Better Writers Series) May 9, 2017. 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).

Turning Relationship Arcs Into Plots by September C. Fawkes

Most stories will feature a relationship arc as a key plotline. But in order for a relationship to be a plotline, it not only needs an arc, it needs a plot. September Hawkes is a freelance editor. Follow her on Twitter @SeptCFawkes and on Facebook at September C. Fawkes. At SeptemberCFawkes.com, Fawkes offers writing advice. Follow the site on its RSS Feed (direct Feedly signup link).

Podcast: The Art Of Story With Lisa M. Lilly by Rachel Wharton and Vanessa Salemi

This episode’s guest Lisa M. Lilly, who hosts Buffy and the Art of Story, a podcast wherein Buffy the Vampire Slayer is discussed and analyzed for its storytelling techniques and how those techniques can help writers improve their craft. Rachel Wharton is the author engagement coordinator at Kobo Writing Life. Vanessa Salemi is the Kobo Originals and Kobo Writing Life content coordinator. Kobo Writing Life is the writing advice site from the people behind the Kobo reader. For more like this, subscribe to their RSS feed (directly Feedly link here).

Character Arc Generator by Bryn Donovan

This is a comprehensive list of fifty ways your characters could potentially change over the course of the story. Bryn Donovan is the executive editor for a publishing company as well as a writer, blogger, and writing coach. BrynDonovan.com offers writing and publishing advice and resources. For more advice like this, subscribe to them via their RSS feed (direct Feedly link here).

Polishing Your Writing by Linda S. Clare

Start your revision process with big-picture edits, and save the nit-picks for the final pass. Linda S. Clare has been writing professionally since 1993 and has taught fiction, memoir, and essay writing for Lane Community College for more than a dozen years. In addition to her published books, award-winning short stories, articles and essays, she works as an expert writing advisor for George Fox University and is a frequent presenter at writer’s conferences. For more advice like this, check out her website, LindaSClare.com on Twitter at @Lindasclare. LindaSClare.com offers advice about writing and story structure, as well as coaching services.

What Was That Phrase About Authenticity? by Elizabeth Havey

This article offers some advice for creating believable characters at the beginning, middle, and end of the novel-writing process. Elizabeth Havey is a former teacher of English and proofreader. Her work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Better Homes & Gardens, the Des Moines Register, The Nebraska Review and other literary and little magazines. Check out her website, ElizabethAHavey.com, and follow her on Twitter at @BoomerHighway. Writer Unboxed is a fantastic writing advice site, with lots of helpful articles from some of the biggest names in the field. Follow them on RSS (direct Feedly signup link) and on Twitter.

What Transhumanist Tech Should I Watch Out For? by Oren Ashkenazi

The two hardest transhumanist tropes to write are superintelligence and immortality. This article explains why. 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.

Don’t Force Your Characters To Ask Leading Questions Just So You Can Deliver Exposition by Nathan Bransford

Over-reliance on dialogue is the top issue that plagues the not-yet-published. One particularly egregious example of this is when characters ask leading questions that don’t make any sense just so the other character in the conversation can deliver exposition. Former literary agent Nathan Bransford is the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series. Follow him on Twitter @NathanBransford and on Facebook at @NathanBransfordBooks. At NathanBransford.com, Bransford offers writing and publishing advice as well as book coaching, editing, and marketing services.

Video: Decolonizing SFF by Morgan Hazelwood

Science fiction and fantasy have a lot of bedrock colonial assumptions and strategies that need to be dug up, re-examined, and tossed out. And the publishing industry is overwhelmingly white, so stories that don’t resonate with the buyers — or worse, make the white agents and publishers uncomfortable — can be hard sells. This video is based on a WorldCon panel and offers some advice for writers about how to decolonialize their own work. Morgan Hazelwood writes from her lair in Northern Virginia. She’s a blogger, vlogger, and podcaster of writing tips and writerly musings, plus an actively querying fantasy author. For more advice like this, follow her on Twitter at @MorganHzlwood, on Facebook at Morgan Hazelwood, and on YouTube at Morgan Hazelwood. At Morgan Hazelwood, she offers writing advice and resources.

Podcast: Political Drama by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock

This week, the Mythcreants team is discussing political conflict, whether that means feuding aristocrats or nation-wide elections — how to give them stakes, why power is so important, and also why eugenics is bad, for some reason. 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:

• 17 Of The Best Horror Authors To Inspire Your Writing by Patrick Mcnulty for Craft – The Write Life
• A Short List Of Go-To Resources For Craft Skills, Inspiration, And Writing Community by Mary Carroll Moore for How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book
• Black Joy Is Revolutionary Or Why Writing Black Doesn’t Equal Trauma Or Pain by Kymberlyn Reed for National Novel Writing Month
• Common Writing Obstacles (Part 6): Plotting by Henry Mclaughlin for The Write Conversation
• Create A Fictional Town Your Readers Can Relate To by Ane Mulligan for The Write Conversation
• Five Stories That Fail At Human Resources  by Oren Ashkenazi for Mythcreants
• Five Ways Movies Sabotage Your Writing Skills by John Matthew Fox for DIY MFA
• How To Quickly Establish The Setting In Scenes by C. S. Lakin for Elizabeth Spann Craig
• How To Start A Novel: Hook Readers From Page One by Jordan Kantey for Now Novel
• How To Use Everyday Life To Develop Fictional Characters That Readers Won’t Forget by David Villalva for David Villalva
• Video: How To Worldbuild Without Info-Dumping by Abbie Emmons for Abbie Emmons
• How To Write A Spooky Ghost Story by Rayne Hall for Fiction University
• How To Write An Absolutely Great First Sentence by Ruth Harris for Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris
• How Writers Can Create Authentic Cause And Effect by Diann Mills for The Write Conversation
• How Writers Can Infuse Mood In Story Settings by K. M. Weiland for Helping Writers Become Authors
• Lessons From The Entitled Writing Of Yarnsworld by Chris Winkle for Mythcreants
• My Five Favorite Books On Writing by Steven Spatz for BookBaby Blog
• Outlines For Pantsers: How To Make A Retrospective Outline by H. Duke for The Writersaurus
• Peopling Your Stories (And Your World) With Individuals by Tiffany Yates Martin for FoxPrint Editorial
• Review Of Atticus — Formatting Program For Authors by Ryan Lanz for A Writer’s Path
• Six Ways To Scare Your Readers by Richard Thomas for Career Authors
• Step Up Your Character Game: Character Building Through Repeated Actions by Kathryn A. Patterson for National Novel Writing Month
• Story Elements: Cut Or Keep? by Anne Hawkinson for Florida Writers Association Blog
• Video: The Controlling Idea – À La Robert Mckee by Stavros Halvatzis for Get Writing
• The Ecology Of World-Building by J. Dianne Dotson for The Craft of Writing – SFWA
• What Horror Can Teach Us by Kelsey Allagood for Writer Unboxed
• What Is New Wave Horror? by Rachel Dempsey for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
• Video: What Is Reverse Engineering For Writers? by Daphne Gray-Grant for Publication Coach
• Video: What Makes A Good Story Idea? 5 Qualities Of A Strong Concept by Shaelin Bishop for ShaelinWrites
• What Makes A Great Story? by David Farland for MyStoryDoctor
• Video: What Not To Do When Writing Your Book’s First Draft by Claire Fraise for Write with Claire Fraise
• What’s My Genre: Writing Horror Vs. Writing Terror by Eldred Bird for Writers In The Storm
• Why And How To Use Track Changes by Daphne Gray-Grant for Publication Coach
• Why Every Plot Needs A Ticking Clock by Janice Hardy for Fiction University
• Why Self-Publishing Writers Need A Style Sheet by Elizabeth Javor for Self Publishing Advisor
• Writing About Difficult Emotional Experiences by C. S. Lakin for Live Write Thrive
• Podcast: Writing Beginnings With Shane Millar by Joanna Penn for The Creative Penn
• Writing Empathy Series Part Two: Empathy For Your Character by Jen Braaksma for Women Writers, Women’s Books
• Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Ignoring What You Know by Michael Woodson for Writer’s Digest

The business side of writing

Be The Exception by Terry Whalin

Thousands of new books are published every day and it’s easy for a writer to feel that there’s no way that they can stand out. But most writers don’t do the basics, or don’t do them consistently. For example, the vast majority of writers never meet their deadlines. You can stand out from the pack just by meeting your commitments. W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams, 10 Publishing Myths, and Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. Almost an Author offers writing and publishing advice. For more this this, follow them on Twitter at @A3writers, on Facebook at @A3writers and subscribe to their RSS feed here (direct Feedly signup link).

Podcast: Bestseller Lists, Print Power, And Amazon Author Pages by Bryan Cohen And H. Claire Taylor

How and why to put your book into more categories on Amazon, ways to market print books from successful authors, what makes a best seller, why most authors fail — and how not to. 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.

Business Musings: Thinking Big by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

In this article, Rusch talks about planning for success. Many writers fail to think ahead, so when they do get their big break, they’re not positioned to take advantage of it. New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes bestselling science fiction and fantasy, award-winning mysteries, acclaimed mainstream fiction, controversial nonfiction, and the occasional romance. At KrisWrites.com, Rusch offers her thoughts about the publishing industry and other topics.

Podcast: Do Novelists Need A College Writing Degree? by Thomas Umstattd Jr.

In this episode, Umstattd talks to bestselling author Brett Harris. Short answer: No, you don’t need a college writing degree to be a writer. Thomas Umstattd Jr. is the CEO of Author Media, literary agent, author, podcaster, and marketing expert. For more, check out his website ThomasUmstattd.com. The Novel Marketing Podcast is all about the business side of being a successful author.

Video: Analytics For Authors With Gail Carriger by Kristina Adams And Ellie Betts

Urban fantasy writer Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and over a million books in print, and she discusses why analytics for authors are so important, what you should be tracking and where to get your data from. Kristina Adams is a bestselling author and writing instructor. Find out more at her website, KristinaAdamsAuthor.com. The Writer’s Mindset is a YouTube channel from the team behind The Writer’s Cookbook, a site that offers writing workshops and courses as well as writing and marketing services. For more advice like this, follow them on Twitter at @writingcookbook and on Facebook at @writingcookbook .

Other business advice this week:

• Video: What To Know About Your Author-Agent Agreement by Jessica Faust And James Mcgowan for BookEnds Literary Agency
• Querying Strategies For Success by Jessica Faust for BookEnds Literary Agency
• How Tiktok Works For All Authors And Genres by Sue Coletta for Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris
• How To Be A Successful Ghostwriter | Writer’s Relief by Writer’s Relief Staff for Writer’s Relief
• 10 Tips For Writing Amazing Amazon Book Reviews by Lori Hatcher for The Write Conversation
• Endorsements, Reviews And Testimonials by Lisa E. Betz for Almost An Author
• Podcast: How To Create A Year-Long Marketing Plan For A Book by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
• Book Cover Ideas & Design Tips For More Sales Conversions by Penny Sansevieri for Author Marketing Experts, Inc.
• Should You Write A Young Adult Series Today? by Dominique Richardson for DIY MFA
• Making The Most Of Canva: 7 Design Ideas For Authors by Sarah Penner for Writer Unboxed
• Update Your Amazon Book Pages And Author Page by Elizabeth S. Craig for Insecure Writer’s Support Group
• Video: Ghostwriters, Buying Back Book Rights From Your Publisher & Becoming A Successful Speaker With Grant Baldwin by Chandler Bolt for Self Publishing School
• Guide To Writing A Book Copyright Page, With 6 Templates by Dave Chesson for Kindlepreneur
• How To Write A Dedication Page: A Complete Guide by Dave Chesson for Kindlepreneur
• Video: Why Your Book Isn’t Getting Reviews by Dan Blank for WeGrowMedia
• Video: Publishing Process Overview – Book Launchers Deep Dive Replay Excerpt by Julie Broad for Book Launchers
• Video: Working With Influencers For Your Book Marketing by Julie Broad for Book Launchers
• Why Novelists Ought To Write More Than Novels by C Hope Clark for FundsforWriters
• How To Copyright A Book In 3 Simple Steps [Lawyer-Approved] by Steve for Kindlepreneur
• Critical Mass by Reavis Wortham for Killzoneblog.com
• 10 Things A Publishing Copywriter Discovered About Book Blurbs by Louise Willder for Writer’s Digest

Am I missing any writing advice sites? Email me at maria@metastellar.com or leave a note in the comments below.

Maria Korolov

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.