—Every writer is a small businessperson, one that markets its product in dozens of countries around the globe and in various mediums. To be a successful writer, you need to learn how to run your business.
If you write a novel set in the real world—whether it is historical or modern—you don’t have to worry so much about “creating” as “researching” your setting. But if you are writing science fiction or fantasy, you very often “create” a world from scratch. There are a couple of approaches that you can take to this.
When you send a novel proposal to a publisher or a movie proposal to a studio, you’ll often be asked to send an “outline” with
Writing is fun, so fun, that some people think that it’s addictive. Like exercise or alcohol, you can come to crave it. Years ago, a
As the Christmas Season approaches, I’m reminded of how many times new writers underestimate the power of Santa. I first noticed it in 1987. I
Saturday night I dreamt that I was taking a literature class, and an elderly professor was telling me about a promising new novel that was
This past week, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese both agreed that Marvel movies are dumb. Scorsese said, “That’s not cinema,” while Coppola agreed and
How to Write Your First Five Pages:
1. From the very first sentence, I want to see that you’re not just a competent writer, but a skillful one.
I want to see that you have a way with words, so that I feel as if I’m in the hands of a professional storyteller. That means that I won’t feel confused, and I won’t get tripped up by typos or beginner’s mistakes. Indeed, I want to see that you’re talented right from the first sentence. Half of the editors and agents say that they look for a great voice right out the gate, whether it be the voice of the narrating character or of the author.
Once in a great while, I run across a writer who thinks that they know it all. They’re professionals, maybe bestsellers. They might have a
Today we’re doing things a little bit differently. Twice a week, I like to send out writing tips that will help you improve your writing,
Many authors don’t believe that there is such a thing as “Writer’s Block.” They will gleefully point out that plumbers don’t have plumber’s block, and
“When do I begin approaching agents?” I get that question at least once a week, and my answer is always the same: “When your novel
New writers are often told, “Show, don’t tell.” Normally this piece of advice is given when a writer gives a vague description. He might say,
Recently, I was reading a thriller by a bestselling author I’ve long been a fan of and I found a problem: the characters pretty much
I used to coach my daughter Danielle in acting. She’d get a casting call for a movie or television role, and we’d look at the
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