We are fast approaching what I like to call goal season. We are on the verge of National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO) and the new year is only 2 months away. Everyone is flush with anticipation, high hopes, and even higher goals. So, what’s the danger in setting writing goals? What’s the big deal? You […]
The world is full of people who want to give writing advice, but not everyone’s qualified. The only people who truly understand writers and the writing life are writers themselves. We’ve compiled twenty quotes from famous authors with some of the very best advice on living the writing life, the craft itself, and the only way […]
For some of us, hearing criticism or seeing those red marks on our drafts indicating places where we may need to make changes is like hearing our newborn baby is ugly. How can you make receiving feedback easier and more productive? Here’s how to handle criticism without getting disheartened. Why Does Criticism Hurt? You pour […]
About Me pages fill some fiction writers with dread. And yet, a good About Me page is essential to connecting with readers, winning new fans, and even impressing agents, editors, and publishers. The problem is, many of us are introverted artists. We scrawl fiction in our lonely writers’ caves, where the sign at the door […]
What is the natural habitat of the happily published, career author? Is it sat in a boutique café with a deconstructed coffee, thundering through chapters on the newest laptop? Maybe it’s perched in the corner of the living room at midnight, clicking away on a vintage typewriter? What does a real daily routine look like, […]
Quick! Name something that can make you feel happier and more productive and inspires creativity. Your first thought might have been “a hot cup of coffee” – and okay, that’s valid. But did you know that keeping a writing journal has the same benefits and they last long after the caffeine buzz has worn off? Why Keep […]
These days, it’s easier than ever to get yourself online. Making a simple, visually appealing, and functional author website is no longer the sole domain of technical wizards. But that doesn’t mean building the cornerstone of your online presence isn’t daunting for the uninitiated. We created this beginner’s guide to help you get started. Why make […]
Your novel is completed, edited to perfection, and your beta readers love it. Now what? You’ve heard the next step is to approach a literary agent, but do you really need one? The short answer is no. The longer answer is: it depends. For some writers, having a literary agent on your side could make […]
To the collective AutoCrit mind, organization is important. Essential, even. The public might imagine writers as messy creative types, perched behind desks that overflow with coffee-stained pages, tattered sticky notes, and half-empty Starbucks containers. While there may, admittedly, be some truth in there, the fact remains that some organization is a must for a happy […]
Writing fiction is a creative activity, so why would you need to spend time doing another hobby? Won’t that suck your brain dry of creative juices for the day, leaving you staring at a blank page while mental exhaustion closes in from all sides? It’s a legitimate worry to have – but surprisingly, the evidence […]
