Jay Marian followed his dream and became a successful veteran fantasy writer, with over a million words in self-published books to his credit. Now in a new book, Creating God: Worldbuilding a Religion he shares some of what he’s learned so you can do the same.Part of a continuing series on fantasy writing, Creating God focuses on a key aspect of worldbuilding: how to create a believable, compelling religion for your story. A former teacher of creative writing, Mar...

The classic for serious fiction writers: "The book is the result of John Gardner's twenty-odd years of teaching experience, and it shows" (Anne Tyler).In this essential guide, John Gardner advises the aspiring fiction author on such topics as the value of creative writing workshops, the developmental stages of literary growth, and the inevitable experience of writer's block. Drawn from his two decades of experience in creative writing, Gardner balances his compassio...

Helps readers write memoirs, personal essays, and life stories of every length and type.

Learn how to write your memoir—and get published—with the help of two well-known publishing professionalsEveryone has a story to tell. Your Life is a Book guides budding writers though the transformative process of memoir writing to publication. In addition to exploring the unique elements of crafting a memoir—story arc, point of view, dialogue, where to start (not the beginning!)—Your Life is a Book also focuses on the self-exploration, awareness...

**100% of the profits from this book are donated to support the future of NaNoWriMo and other writing programs.**Every November, hundreds of thousands take up the challenge of National Novel Writing Month and attempt to write a book in just thirty days. Most will give up along the way, but many will grind it out to the finish line and actually do it.If you're a writer, @WriMo is designed to be a book that tips the odds of finishing in your favor.Organized into thirt...

Write it off, work it out, get it done.An eminently practical guide to getting unblocked and writing again, The Pocket Idiot’s Guide® to Beating Writer’s Block includes dozens and dozens of tips, exercises, prompts, and more that will get the creative juices flowing. From something as simple as finding or creating a more comfortable place to work, to assigning a week to strengthening one’s weak points, this is the book to get writers back on track...

The sensory details that infuse our everyday experience—the smell of a favorite dish cooking, the texture of a well-worn coat, hearing a song that reminds you of a person or a time in your life—can be used to add richness and spark to what we write. Whether you are a professional writer (or want to be one) or someone who just enjoys writing for the joy of self-expression, Writing from the Senses will show you how to tap into an endless source of engaging material, using your sense...

For the twice-published novelist, reading an article about herself in the National Enquirer—under the headline "Here's One for the Books: Cleaning Lady Is an Acclaimed Author"—was more than a shock. It was an inspiration.In A Broom of One's Own, Nancy Peacock, whose first novel was selected by the New York Times as a Notable Book of the Year, explores with warmth, wit, and candor what it means to be a writer. An encouragement to all hard-working artists, ...

Step-by-step instructions on how writers can earn top dollar writing for magazines are provided in this book. Secrets are revealed about what the high-paying magazines really want, how to build relationships with editors, how to ascertain which sections of a magazine are open to freelancers, what kinds of stories are in demand, what to do if a deadbeat publisher doesn't pay up, how to market reprints, and how to become an expert in one's chosen writing field. Basic terms like query, clips,...

Learn the craft of writing from those who know it best.This is Writers On Writing – An Author's Guide, where your favorite authors share their secrets in the ultimate guide to becoming – and being – an author.In this first volume you'll find in-depth essays from authors such as Jack Ketchum, Brian Hodge, Mercedes M. Yardley, Tim Waggoner, Jasper Bark, Kevin Lucia, Monique Snyman, Todd Keisling, and Dave-Brendon de Burgh. Edited by Joe Mynhardt."The ...

When it comes to writing books, are you a “plotter” or a “pantser?” Is one method really better than the other?In this instructional ebook, author Libbie Hawker explains the benefits and technique of planning a story before you begin to write. She’ll show you how to develop a foolproof character arc and plot, how to pace any book for a can’t-put-down reading experience, and how to ensure that your stories are complete and satisfying without wasting time or words.Hawker’s ou...

Scarlett O'Hara, Anne Shirley, Wilbur the pig, Katniss Everdeen. Why do we love these characters? Why do we remember them long after we've forgotten the details of their stories? In this second book in the Writing Lessons from the Front series, Angela Hunt explains how you can create unforgettable characters that will bring your fiction to life. These lessons, Hunt says, "are brief for a reason—I don’t want you to spend most of your time reading how-to books. I will give you what you need ...