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How To Write Shop

Articles on the craft and business of writing

Writing Tools

Articles on tools to help writers write.

Mind Map for Writing Inspiration, A Must for Your Creative Toolbox

April 18, 2018 by Kathy Steffen 3 Comments
mind map for writing

Looking for a new tool to inspire you? Is your current creative toolbox leaving you wanting? Consider a mind map for writing inspiration. What do Leonardo DaVinci, Mark Twain, and Michelangelo have in common? These geniuses kept notebooks, and in them, they recorded notes, keywords, and ideas, drew sketches, and connected their ideas with branches … [Read more…]

Posted in: Inspiration, Online Writing Tools, Writing Life, Writing Tools Tagged: brainstorming ideas, mind map, writing inspiration

Writing Cozy Mysteries

March 7, 2014 by Guest Post 8 Comments

How do you plot a mystery? Ask ten different authors, and you’ll get ten different responses. Everyone’s method is unique. However, genre conventions dictate that certain reader expectations must be met. When writing cozy mysteries or traditional mysteries, readers expect a puzzle to solve, an amateur sleuth, a collection of suspects, and an exciting climax … [Read more…]

Posted in: Mystery, Plotting, Writing Craft, Writing Tools Tagged: how to get published with cozy mystery, how to write a mystery novel, writing mysteries, writing the cozy mystery

Insecure? Join a Writer’s Support Group

February 24, 2014 by Guest Post 26 Comments
writer's support group

It all began with an off-handed remark to a fellow author about a writer’s support group. A sign-up list was offered and on September 1, 2011, we had our first group blog posting with about forty writers participating.   The Insecure Writer’s Support Group (IWSG) has now grown far beyond its humble beginnings. There are … [Read more…]

Posted in: Inspiration, Writing Groups, Writing Life Tagged: writing groups

Writing Critique Groups…a Blessing and a Curse!

October 17, 2012 by Kathy Steffen 9 Comments
writing critique groups

There is nothing better for your creative writing than finding (or creating) a writing critique group. Having someone else read your work is the perfect way to discover if your novel writing is successful and your story is making it to the page (after all, it’s perfect in your head!) and finding out what works … [Read more…]

Posted in: Critiques, Writing Groups, Writing Life Tagged: critique group, writing groups

Outside-of-the-Box Books for Writers

July 13, 2012 by Kathy Steffen 9 Comments

Not specifically for writers, these books inspire creativity

Posted in: Book Reviews, Writing Tools Tagged: books for writers
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Featured Book

Save The Cat!
by Blake Snyder

A book on screenwriting that is great for novelists too! Another must have for your How To Write library.

Get at Amazon

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Featured Book

Techniques of the Selling Writer 
by Dwight V. Swain

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight Swain

Classic book on how to write books that readers will want to read!

This is one of the foundation books that all novelists should have on their bookshelf.

Get at Amazon


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