What Does the Moth Say?
So You’ve Started Writing, but You’re Hitting some Road Blocks….
And that’s just fine! Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, memoir, screenplay, or poetry, nothing gets accomplished in a day. There’s a lot of writing advice out there, so I’m going to keep it simple. Fiction and non-fiction writing have two very important components, characters and plot. Everything else (setting, dialogue, you name it) can be organized into these two categories, and at the end of the day the world needs more queer stories, so keep writing yours! Click the links below to learn how to get started on your writing journey.
Character Development
How do you write well rounded and interesting characters? Check out this list of questions that forces you to create a better understanding of your OCs before you get down to business.
Plot Development
What do you want to write about? And how do you make it a story? You have lots of things to consider, and lot’s of research to do, so let’s get started. (Coming Soon.)
Outlining and Editing
Writing may be the meat of your project, but what you do before and after is essential. How do you plan out your story? And how can you perfect it? (Coming Soon.)
Poetry Resources
Need help with poetry? Check out my poetry page for techniques and history!
Or if you just want tips and tricks, click here!
“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.“
Stephen King
Resources for Writers:
For Motivation
NaNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, is important year round! This incredible website helps you track your writing progress, connect to a community of writers, and has free online workshops. It’s great for inspiration when you get stuck, help with next steps, like editing and publishing, and you can keep up with your friend’s projects!
Poets & Writers is a nonprofit organization with both a print journal and online presence. Their website can link you to hundreds of creative writing journals, writing contests, workshops, and MFA programs. Whether you want to publish a poem or your next novel, this is the place for you. Find your next editor, agent, or marketing.
Writing Exercises is a random writing prompt generator. It can generate plots, subjects, first lines, and so much more!
Literary Hub is an online journal that posts writing advice, criticism, news, and creative work. It’s a great place to keep up with modern literature, discover your next book, or just relax and listen to a podcast. Remember, the best way to become a better writer, is to become a better reader.
Goodreads, obviously, is every writer’s best friend. You can make an author profile, post your books, blog, and connect with readers. Additionally, Goodreads can do print giveaways – for a fee. If you’re not ready to publish, it’s also a great place to find your next favorite book!
Have I mentioned your local library? Libraries have loads of resources. They have subscriptions to magazines and journals with literary criticism, publishing information, and so much more. Not to mention books on improving your writing, or collections of writing prompts. Most libraries have quiet rooms that you can use to write in, printing services, writing groups, and so much more. Check out your local library to see how they can help you!
For Learning
Grammarly is an online grammar editor. Like most sites, they have a free version and a paid version. For your basic mistakes, it’s the perfect solution! You can also ask your local library if they have a subscription. They may also have other resources like tutor.com, with real people that can look over your work. Free resources are always a life saver!
Masterclass is a subscription based learning platform. Subscriptions cost anywhere from $30 – $50 dollars a month (I recommend waiting for a sale), but with big names like James Patterson, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, and Joyce Carol Oates, you’re going to have to deal out the dough. Sessions are pre-recorded and teach a topic in 30 days. While this is a robust program that brings big name authors right to your screen, I recommend making sure it’s in the budget before you jump in.
Skill Share, like masterclass, is an online subscription based learning platform with pre-recorded videos. Classes are split up into several short videos that end with an assignment. You can try it for free for 7 days, and the subscription is $14 a month after that. While you may not run into your favorite author, Skill Share still offers classes with industry experts. If you’re not satisfied with Skill Share, you can also look into LinkedIn Learning and Udemy.
For Publishing
WordPress, as you probably know, is a website builder. Every author should have a website! It’s a great opportunity to advertise your projects, blog about updates, and give readers a way to contact you (if you want.) Squarespace and Wix, are also great options depending on what you need out of your website. Squarespace is great if you want to sell your book directly on the website – or you have a store, WordPress is perfect for blogging, and Wix has great website design options. Always do your research before you decide!
IngramSpark is a self-publishing company that will put your book up on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. They can also help advertise, convert your work to ePub for online reading, and so much more! They have experts who can help you along with the self-publishing process, and, best of all, many libraries use IngramSpark and can buy directly from them! You can also do Kindle Direct Publishing, Barnes and Noble Press, Draft2Digital, or Kobo. All of them have pros and cons and limitations, so find what works best for you!
The US Copyright Office is another essential for self-publishers. Copyright laws are tricky. Technically, once your publish something it does officially belong to you, but if you ever end up in a copyright suit over your book, your life will be 1,000 times easier if you own the copyright. I highly suggest looking into all the costs associated with self-publishing and make a budget before you start!
Bowker is an essential resource for self-publishing authors. This is where you buy and register your ISBN numbers for your books. You can get an ISBN through Amazon if you exclusively publish through them, but if you want to branch out, I highly recommend spending the money on an official ISBN number.
Literary Market Place is an online database for the publishing industry. You can search by place, topic, employees, and more to find the right publisher for you. Check with your local library, they probably have a physical copy!
Prolific Works is a website for eBook giveaways. Help advertise your book buy giving away free digital copies. You don’t make money with Prolific Works, but I like it because it makes me work more accessible, and I hope people with love my writing enough to buy a printed copy! You can pay for a plan if you want more services, but it’s free for a basic account.
LAMP 