How to Create Conflict in Fiction Without a Villain

From Edie: Sarah Sally Hamer explains how to create conflict in fiction without a villain by using obstacles, character goals, and emotions to build compelling stories.

How to Create Conflict in Fiction Without a Villain

by Sarah Sally Hamer @SarahSallyHamer

Conflict Doesn't Need a Villain

“I don’t want a villain in my story to be mean to my heroine, so how can I create more conflict?” When my client asked me that last week, I had to pause for a minute. She’s a new writer with lots of potential so I had to think for a minute. Why did she immediately think that a villain is the only way to create conflict? Or is it?

Self-Editing for Writers: Remove Distractions

From Edie: PeggySue Wells shares self-editing tips to help writers eliminate overused words, distracting punctuation, and formatting habits that interrupt the reading experience.

Self-Editing for Writers: Remove Distractions

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

The process of self-editing your manuscript begins with broad and with consecutive edits becomes more detailed. 

After you’ve already looked at the larger issues of content, flow, and believability, attention shifts the smaller details that can pull your reader out of the story or message.

Social Media for Writers: Why Being Everywhere Isn't Always Better

From Edie: Ginny Cruz explains why writers don't need to be on every social media platform and how focusing on meaningful engagement can build a stronger author platform.

Social Media for Writers: Why Being Everywhere Isn't Always Better

by Ginny Cruz

If you’ve been writing with the hope of getting a traditional publishing contract, you likely know that publishers want you to have a sizeable platform of potential buyers. If you’re like me (doing your best to build that following), you have multiple social media accounts and spend a significant portion of your time writing and creating content for them.

Jesus the Word of God: The Word Speaks to Writers through Rest

From Edie: Audrey Frank explores five ways Christian writers can find rest in Jesus through every season of writing, trusting God's purpose, timing, and promises.

Jesus the Word of God: The Word Speaks to Writers through Rest

by Audrey Frank @AudreyCFrank

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

The church bells here in Italy ring differently in different seasons. I don’t know why, but for some reason they ring heavy and loud in the humid cold of winter. While laundry refuses to dry on my clothesline, the bells sound weighty under metal skies. 

In spring, perhaps the bells are competing with the many birdsongs. Clear and lovely, their melodies flit across trees and meadows, alighting on my terrace with joy.

Social Media Nightmares for Writers: 17 Scary Things About Building an Author Platform

From Edie: Social media nightmares haunt writers! Discover 17 funny, relatable fears about algorithms, AI, Instagram, Facebook, and building an author platform.

Social Media Nightmares for Writers: 17 Scary Things About Building an Author Platform

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

It's October, and in honor of Halloween, I just couldn't resist a tongue-in-cheek post about something scary—social media for writers!

After years of traveling, teaching social media, and trying to keep up with all the changes, I've discovered that some things are even scarier than they used to be.

Types of AI for Writers: Understanding Generative AI, Editing, and Research Tools

From Edie: Learn how to write an AI disclosure statement for your manuscript or book proposal, including what to disclose about AI-generated text and images.

Types of AI for Writers: Understanding Generative AI, Editing, and Research Tools

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Last time, we talked about the different kinds of artificial intelligence writers encounter and why it matters how we use them. Now I want to take that conversation one step further. If you're preparing a manuscript or book proposal for an agent or publisher, you need to be ready to explain whether—and how—you've used AI.

That explanation is called an Author AI Disclosure Statement.

Understanding AI for Writers: Generative AI, Editing Tools, and Their Differences

From Edie: Confused about AI? Learn the differences between generative AI, editing tools, and research tools—and what every writer needs to know.

Understanding AI for Writers: Generative AI, Editing Tools, and Their Differences

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson

Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. And if you're a writer, you've probably heard more opinions about it than you ever wanted.

Some people think AI is the greatest thing to happen to writing since the invention of the computer. Others believe it's going to destroy the publishing industry.

Personally, I think we need to move beyond the extremes and start asking better questions.