Category: Writing

Why are Authors Selling Direct and Using Kickstarter?

~ Kathryn Fletcher

Let me tell you a little about my experience, first. Some of my writing club students at school wanted to know how to publish a book after they wrote the manuscript. That is not a mere 10 minute conversation. I had been blogging about writing and publishing for some time and had a bunch of posts that were not in any particular order. I couldn’t think of any one book that went over all the steps and decisions they’d be facing when they went to publish, well not any that were not a million pages. So I cobbled together my blog posts and expand them to put in a small easily accessible book for new writers to get started on the publishing journey. From Rough Draft to Published was born May 20th 2020! Since then I’ve made a few hundred dollars in royalties, yet it didn’t cover the expense I put into the book. This was practice and learning book. My fiction is my real passion. I'm about to dive into selling my first fiction book as soon as I finish the edits. I learned that it is hard to be profitable on bookseller platforms, if you don't have a massive backlist of books to sell….(click for more)

Goals Setting Tips for Writers with ADD

~ Kathryn Fletcher

I picked up the book Driven to Distraction because my son has ADHD. I hoped to pick up some ideas to help my son thrive instead of struggle needlessly. I got more than I bargained for! Be Flexible (and non-judgmental!) Try Writing Sprints/Time Blocks Schedule your time Accountability helps Try different planners Use Visual Inspiration Break goals down into smaller tasks.

AJ Kormon’s Revision Process

~ Kathryn Fletcher

The revision process is a mystery some people. Some hate it. Some love it. For me personally, I'm still finding my groove. Right now, I'm 28k words into a 50k novel, so before too long, I'll be in the revision stage again. Part of me is biting at the bit to get started on fixing some major problems with the story. Another part of me is dreading it because there is so much to fix with this story. I've talked to a lot of authors over the last 5 years or so. No two authors write or revise the same way. Some write very cleanly in their first draft and need very little revision and editing before publication. Some revise as they write. Some overwrite and some underwrite in their first draft. For some revision means just fixing some things, but for others it means completely rewriting the whole story from page one to the end. It can even change from story to story. Once I get through with the revision on my current novel, I'll share my current method. Meanwhile, AJ Korman shared with me her method of revising her novels. AJ is the author of The Halloway Hills Middle School Mysteries. She has a ton of great advice for revision! Here is what she wrote:

Book Review: The Bone Maker and the Heroine’s Journey

~ Kathryn Fletcher

Kreya lost her husband 25 years ago. She said she'd destroy Eklor's book of forbidden knowledge, but she didn't. She has been using it to try and resurrect her husband. She is almost there and just needs human bones to complete the spell. Of course, she is not going to murder anyone to get the bones; that would be crossing a line. She knows where she can get human bones, the battlefield, but she can't do it alone. When she last saw her team, they were all grieving the lost of their dear friend, her husband. And she was supposed to destroy the book, not use it! She doesn't know if they will forgive her or help her after 25 years of being a recluse. has been keeping all these years. One that she's not sure the five of them can overcome. What can we learn from Sarah's story?

Save the Cat Story Cards!

~ Kathryn Fletcher

Outliners and Discovery Writers, do I have some information for you!! You are going to love this! First, if you are not sure what a discovery writer or an outliner is, check out this post. https://quillandbooks.com/2019/01/04/discovery-writer-or-outliner/ Before I begin with this review, let me tell you how this might work for you. Outliners you can use this tool as a planning tool along-side your outline or as your outline. For discovery writers, you can still use this tool, but not before you write your first draft. Most discovery writers tell me that it totally kills the story if they do any planning prior to the first draft. I get it but that doesn’t make this tool useless, it just changes when you use this tool. You can use this a tool for learn what is broken and what needs a little tweaking. Or you can use it if you get stuck. Many people who get stuck or get writers block in the middle of the story, actually have something in their subconscious telling them that something is broken with the story which is why they can’t move forward. This tool can help you find that thing your subconscious is fighting with, and fix it! Read more....

Book Review: The Girl who Stole the Elephant– A Look at Proper Pacing

~ Kathryn Fletcher

The title is not that striking, but my mother loves elephants, so I noticed this title. I have had several positive experiences with stories set in Eastern Asia or similar setting, like the Conch Bearer by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. This was no exception. This is an adorable story. The Girl Who Stole an Elephant By Nizrana Farook Chaya steals from the rich and helps the poor survive an oppressive king. Her best friend tries to reign her in but she is irrepressible. When a theft of some royal jewels goes awry, she tries to set things right, but makes everything so much worse. She’s not sure if she can make things right again. And… she steals an elephant, of course. Read more...

Planning your Story Beginnings and Endings

~ Kathryn Fletcher

Beginnings and Endings are tied together, or they should be. The best authors look at where their story begins and where it ends. If they are not linked, they go back and change something. In the beginning, the opening scenes make promises to the reader about the story. The author must pay attention to those promises and fulfil them. Read more...