The ABCs of Social Media for Writers: 26 Tips for Building an Authentic Online Presence

From Edie: Discover 26 practical social media tips for writers to build an authentic online presence, grow reader relationships, and navigate today’s changing platforms.

The ABCs of Social Media for Writers: 26 Tips for Building an Authentic Online Presence

By Edie Melson

Social media doesn’t have to be difficult. But it does keep changing.

Some of the strategies we relied on just a few years ago aren't nearly as effective today. Algorithms change, platforms add new features, and now paid options like Meta One are changing how some of us think about things like links and reach.

But here's the good news: the foundation of social media hasn't changed nearly as much as the technology. It's still about people.

So instead of chasing every new trick, trend, and algorithm change, let's go back to the alphabet and look at the ABCs of social media for writers today.

How Authors Can Build a Reader Community on Facebook Without Constant Self-Promotion

From Edie: Heidi McGill shares how authors can build a thriving Facebook reader community through genuine conversations, meaningful connections, and less self-promotion.

How Authors Can Build a Reader Community on Facebook Without Constant Self-Promotion

by Heidi Gray McGill @HeidiGrayMcGill

My husband left early this morning on our vacation for a boat dive, so I carried my laptop out to our balcony in Curaçao to write. The second-story balcony faces west over the ocean, where a warm breeze drifts in off the water and the waves roll in below me. Birds call from the tops of trees beside me, and a short distance offshore, a crew of local fishermen work on the day's catch.

I planned to write for an hour, but the scene on the water kept pulling my attention away from the screen.

Show, Don’t Tell: How What Your Character Notices Reveals Emotion

From Edie: Ane Mulligan shares how the details your POV character notices can reveal emotions, strengthen point of view, and help you show, not tell, in your fiction.

Show, Don’t Tell: How What Your Character Notices Reveals Emotion

by Ane Mulligan @AneMulligan

You really can teach an old dog new tricks—or in this case, an old author. I’ve picked up a new tip recently that I think is one of the best I’ve learned in a while. 

It’s showing what my POV character notices, because that shows emotion or state of mind. Gleaned from Writers In the Storm blog, a frightened character notices the shadows in a room, its corners where danger could hide. A happy person would notice the sun streaming through the window, and the butterfly on a meadowsweet bush outside that window.

How Culture Shapes Character Point of View: 10 Things Fiction Writers Need to Know

From Edie: DiAnn Mills shares 10 ways culture shapes character point of view, influences decisions and emotions, and helps fiction writers create authentic characters and stronger stories.

How Culture Shapes Character Point of View: 10 Things Fiction Writers Need to Know

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Culture is one of the factors in choosing point of view, but the technique seldom receives the attention it deserves. Point of view can be confusing for the writer because the topic involves more than one concept.

Culture is defined as the accepted practices, arts, religion, social hierarchy, government, medicine, and pride of a people group that form attitudes and behavior. Imagine the differences in actions and opinions among people familiar to you. Consider tossing culture into the mix. 

How to Show, Not Tell: Using Character Actions to Bring Your Fiction to Life

From Edie: Zena Dell Lowe shares how to show, not tell by using character actions and visual imagery to reveal emotions, strengthen fiction, and engage readers.

How to Show, Not Tell: Using Character Actions to Bring Your Fiction to Life

by Zena Dell Lowe @ZenaDellLowe

How to Get the Story Out of the Character's Head and Onto the Page

If you're a novelist, you're accustomed to filtering everything through your character's thoughts. Every detail—the world, the events, the emotional beats—comes to the audience filtered through the character's mind. It's their perspective that shapes the narrative.

In screenwriting, however, there's no such luxury. A screenplay doesn't allow you to tell the audience what a character is thinking or feeling. Instead, everything must be shown through action, behavior, and visual imagery.

When Life Interrupts Your Writing: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Time

From Edie: Lori Hatcher shares five practical ways to stay productive when life interrupts your writing schedule and make the most of unexpected downtime.

When Life Interrupts Your Writing: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Time

by Lori Hatcher

Mondays and Tuesdays are writing days around my house. As a bi-vocational writer (a.k.a. a writer with a day job), I have to set a pretty strict writing schedule to be productive. Mondays and Tuesdays are writing days, Wednesdays and Thursdays are dental office days (I’m a career dental hygienist), and Fridays are family days. Because of the other demands in my life, I know that if I don’t protect my dedicated writing days, I won’t meet my deadlines or advance my writing and speaking ministry.

How Christian Writers Can Handle Criticism with Wisdom and Discernment

From Edie: Henry McLaughlin shares how Christian writers can handle criticism with wisdom, discern valuable feedback, and use it to strengthen their writing.

How Christian Writers Can Handle Criticism with Wisdom and Discernment
by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

Proverbs for Writers:

Proverbs 25:12 (NLT): To one who listens, valid criticism is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.

Sometimes, it’s interesting to read other translations to get a fuller flavor of the verse.

From the CEV: Listening to good advice is worth much more than jewelry made of gold.

From the CSB: A wise correction to a receptive ear is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

From the MSG: The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, And a wise friend’s timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.

I think all of us have heard in our writing careers that we need to develop a thick skin to handle criticism and rejection. And this is true. To a certain extent. If we want to succeed as writers, we can’t let harsh criticism or bad reviews or rejection by an agent or publisher throw us off course.