Writing Tips

Make piles of money writing from home…even if you don’t have any experience. Yep, hucksters are out there scamming freelance writers every…single…day. Have you ever wondered if a freelance-writing opportunity you’re looking at is a scam? It certainly could be. Scams that target freelance writers are common. Some of these ripoffs are age-old and never seem to go away. New ones are always emerging, too–got a new wrinkle for you in this post. These scams aren’t all about getting jobs, either. There’s shady activity in online learning, PR help for writers, and more. Often, freelance writers can be too trusting, as we seek to ply our trade. Sadly, there are plenty of people out there ready to take advantage of our trusting nature for their own gain. Please don’t get scammed! Here’s a comprehensive roundup of […]

By Liz Alterman A few years ago, I told a friend that I’d nearly finished writing a memoir. She knew that it focused on the period my husband and I—both in our mid-to-late forties—were laid off simultaneously and struggling to get our careers and marriage back on track. Yet that didn’t stop her from suggesting The post How Memoir and Autobiography Differ appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The article The Approach to the Inmost Cave: How to Write This Scene in the Hero’s Journey appeared first on The Write Practice. Every great heroic story has that moment. It’s the deep breath before the plunge. The calm before the storm. The quiet before the calamity. In the Hero’s Journey, it’s the Approach before the Ordeal. It’s an essential moment you need to plan for and build around as you draft your story. And to do it right, you’re going to need to figure out three key elements. The article The Approach to the Inmost Cave: How to Write This Scene in the Hero’s Journey appeared first on The Write Practice. The Write Practice – The Online Writing Workbook

By Sue Coletta Good writing involves rewriting. An essential part of rewriting is combing through the first draft and carving out material that isn’t essential. When we edit out nonessentials, we are killing our darlings. What is a Darling? Darlings are words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, and even whole scenes that we’re often most proud of The post Writers, Grab a Knife: How To Kill Your Darlings appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Are you a writer who dreams of living the digital nomad lifestyle? You know–flitting around the globe indulging your travel lust, seeing amazing vistas or visiting the trendiest cities. While also writing your assignments wherever/whenever you want, working remotely, and still earning what you need to cover the cost of your adventures. I feel like we’ve all been heavily sold the digital nomad dream. How many pictures have you seen on social media of someone with a laptop, blissfully writing on the beach in a hammock? Maybe you’ve wondered whether this is a pipe dream, or if you could really make it as a digital nomad. Well, I bring you a real-life report from the field. After a decade helping other writers live wherever they wanted, I’ve finally become a digital nomad myself! My husband and I graduated the last kid from […]

Let’s get to basics on writing fiction. And that’s your setup in the first few pages. Readers will often stop reading before they finish the first page of your story. While this has always been true, in this fast-paced age that foments impatience, it’s even more true. If a writer doesn’t deliver what a reader The post Open Your Scenes with These 3 Cinematic Techniques first appeared on Live Write Thrive.

The article Setting Writing Goals: How to Set Goals and Finish Your Book appeared first on The Write Practice. Have you ever had a great book idea, or started a story but failed to finish it? Did you try setting writing goals to finish your story, but couldn’t keep up with your giant ambitions? Did failing to meet your writing goals end in your giving up? Goal setting is not as straightforward as it seems. Bad goals reinforce bad habits. If you want to become a writer and finish your writing projects, you need to set goals that you can meet—while also pushing you to complete your writing projects. In this article, you will learn the two types of goals every writer can set and accomplish. You’ll also learn four major reasons every writer needs to actually finish their writing projects—along with tips on how to do this. The […]

Successful stories are driven by authentic and interesting characters, so it’s important to craft them carefully. But characters don’t usually exist in a vacuum; throughout the course of your story, they’ll live, work, play, and fight with other cast members. Some of those relationships are positive and supportive, pushing the protagonist to positive growth and The post Relationship Thesaurus Entry: Headmaster and Student appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The article Writing Goals: How to Set Meaningful Goals for 2022 That You Can Manage and Achieve appeared first on The Write Practice. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you already have some goals: fitness goals, goals for your family, maybe even a goal of writing a book or to become a better writer. But how do you write goals that actually work, that actually help you accomplish the things that you set out to do? In this guide, I’ll share the step-by-step goal writing process that I’ve used to finish fifteen books, publish over 2,000 blog posts, hit the Wall Street Journal bestseller’s list, and reach over twenty million people with my writing over the last ten years. No matter what your goals are, I believe this process will help you get clear on what you want to accomplish this year. The article Writing Goals: How to […]

Ready to make money writing in 2022?Looking for freelance work in 2022? A lot has changed for writers since the rise of the freelance economy, the global pandemic, and an insatiable demand for social media content. If you’re a freelance writer just starting out, or you’ve been at it a while, chances are pretty good you’re wondering what the future holds for freelance work this year. What’s keeping you awake at night? The usual suspects include things like: Finding clients Charging pro rates or raising your rates Improving your craft Breaking into a new niche Making enough money from freelancing to quit your day job Overcoming imposter syndrome Self-publishing and book and marketing it And much more There’s certainly some things to be worried about in 2022. Some types of freelance work aren’t in demand any […]

By Colleen M. Story If you want to reach your writing goals this year, you’ve got to get rid of one thing: distractions.  They surround you at every turn, vying for your attention, and every time they succeed, they pull you away from what really matters—your writing. This year, you don’t have to settle for The post 4 Strategies to Help Writers Focus in a World of Distractions appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

The article Into vs. In To: The Simple Guide to Keeping Them Straight appeared first on The Write Practice. Stuck on the distinction between “in to” and “into”? You’re not alone! Don’t worry, though, I’ve got you covered. Here’s the quick version: Use “into” to describe where something is: going inside something else. Use “in to” based on the verb that comes before it. It can have many meanings, but here’s a quick tip that covers some of them: if you can replace it with “in order to,” use “in to.” Read on for the longer explanation, plus examples of into vs. in to. The article Into vs. In To: The Simple Guide to Keeping Them Straight appeared first on The Write Practice. The Write Practice – The Online Writing Workbook

As you guys can probably guess, Becca and I have a lot on the go as we share businesses, books, software, and more. We teach, run this blog, manage multiple platforms, and do our own marketing. A question we are often asked is, “How do you do it?” And the answer is usually… “Oh, you The post A New Face at Writers Helping Writers appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

Ready to make money writing in 2022? While 2021 was a rough year, there are still plenty of opportunities for freelance writers in the year ahead. And if you’re looking to get off to a productive start in 2022, we’ve got you covered. This monster list includes 115 markets spanning more than 20 industries. So there’s something for just about everyone! You’ll find a wide range of places to pitch to help you make money writing, including: Content writing and guest blogging opportunities for new writers and pros breaking into different niches. Print and web-based writing jobs for writers of all levels, from those still building portfolios to writers with substantial experience or expertise in specific industries. Pro-rate gigs at top publishers, like glossy magazines and popular news and lifestyle sites geared toward […]

The article Plot and Structure: How to Use Structure and Subplot to Add Suspense appeared first on The Write Practice. You can’t write a great story if you don’t master plot and structure. But what is the best structure for a novel? How do you plot a novel? Figuring out your plot and structure is essential for your story’s success. Even if you have an exciting idea for a story, great characters, and a memorable setting, you need to put your protagonist through events that have high and escalating stakes. Without a sound plot and structure, you won’t thrill your readers. Today, we’ll look at story structure and learn how you can build an effective plan for a story packed with suspense, with all the right twists in all the right places. The article Plot and Structure: How to Use Structure and Subplot to Add Suspense appeared […]

Writing great dialogue is probably the hardest skill fiction writers need to acquire. If you’ve tried your hand at it, you know it’s tricky because dialogue in fiction is not at all like real-life dialogue. Which seems counterintuitive because fiction often is meant to present “real life” in a realistic fashion. However, ordinary dialogue is The post The Art of Masterful Fiction Dialogue first appeared on Live Write Thrive.

Want to make a living writing? You’re in the right place. Make a Living Writing is the place to learn how to move up and earn more. But what were you really looking for in 2021 to help start or grow your freelance writing business? The number one thing writers want: An easy way to find freelance writing jobs. It’s why we compiled all our markets list into one place: Checkout our Best resources for Paying Markets So what else were freelance writers looking for at Make a Living Writing in 2021? Make a Living Writing readers had an irresistible urge to click, swipe, and tap, on posts about marketing, writing skills, remote work, income potential, and more. Check out the top 9 irresistible Make a Living Writing posts in 2021.

I’m sharing a post from a few years ago on a topic that I feel is so important for fiction writers to understand. I love talking about voice in fiction. I veer off from other “experts” in definition about voice. I believe that some people are referring to the writer’s style when they talk about The post Understanding the Difference between Author Style and Character Voice first appeared on Live Write Thrive.

The article 5 Christmas Writing Prompts to Tickle Your Holiday Spirit appeared first on The Write Practice. It’s Christmas Eve! The Write Practice will be taking a brief break from the blog for the next week, but in the meantime we’d love to inspire your writing this holiday season with some Christmas writing prompts.  Maybe you’re looking for some creative writing activities for the last day of school before winter break. Or you’re craving a handful of creative writing prompts that will also get you into the festive mood. Either way, these holiday-themed writing prompts are for you! Write alone, or grab lots of people in your writing community. Pick a writing prompt for this article. When you’re chosen a favorite, take on a fifteen minute writing sprint. It never hurts to get some special writing practice in before your […]

The article 3 Tricks for Getting Unstuck During the Holidays appeared first on The Write Practice. If you want to succeed as a writer, you need a stress-free time to work and think. Writing sessions during the holidays can be hard for us. With all the added parties and present buying and family events, it can be easy to feel stuck and unable to work on your latest writing project. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find time for writing.  In this article, you can learn three tricks to keeping your holiday spirit, and also working on your writing skills. Let this holiday season be one you enjoy, while also working in those meaningful writing sessions.  The article 3 Tricks for Getting Unstuck During the Holidays appeared first on The Write Practice. The Write Practice – The Online Writing Workbook