News & Misc | Writing Forward

Practical Advice for Writing Dialect

Please welcome guest author Alyssa Hollingsworth with tips on writing dialect. I’ll be honest: I’ve always been terrified of dialect because it’s easy to get wrong. But when done well, it can make a story shine. When you’re writing in first person, it is important to consider who your narrator is and how she or…Read More

How To Polish Your Manuscript

Please welcome guest writer Bessie Blue with some tips on polishing your manuscript. Have you ever written a first draft and edited it in next to no time? You found three grammar mistakes—typos, really—and your outline was so solid there were no plot holes. As you sent your story to writing contests, you were bothered…Read More

Goodreads Giveaway of 1200 Creative Writing Prompts and a Quick Announcement

This week, I’m giving away a free copy of 1200 Creative Writing Prompts, but before I get into the details of the contest, I’d like to share a special announcement with you. My Debut Novel A few days ago, I published my debut novel, which is titled Engineered Underground. It’s the first book in my…Read More

Meet Your Muse: Every Writer’s Best Friend

Please welcome guest author Lisa Tener with a post on connecting with your muse as a way to overcome writer’s block and achieve better creativity. Maybe you’re familiar with the term muse, which comes from the ancient Greeks and refers to the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. In my work…Read More

Should You Write a Memoir?

Please welcome guest author Alana Saltz with a heartwarming article on writing memoirs. As a genre, memoir has been growing exponentially each and every year. More and more people are finding the strength, courage, and determination to write about their experiences in a compelling and literary way. The success of memoirs like Cheryl Strayed’s Wild…Read More

Write What You’re Willing To Learn

Please welcome guest author Tamara Girardi with a post that challenges the old adage, “write what you know.” This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. In mid-October, I attended a literary evening with Jodi Picoult as part of the Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures series. My immediate impression of Picoult:…Read More

7 Ways to Mentally Squash Rejection Letters

Please welcome Natasa Lekic from NY Book Editors with a post that will help you handle rejection letters. Read well, because this post is packed with excellent advice. Rejection letters are a cruel, inevitable part of every writer’s life. However, they shouldn’t derail your writing habits, which is why it’s critical to get over rejection…Read More

The Only Four Types Of Writing That Count (And How to Ace Each One)

Please welcome guest author Bryan Collins with a post exploring four types of writing. This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. This craft of ours is hard. You’ve got an idea, you’ve finished your research, and you know you’ve got something important to write about. There’s just one…Read More

Traditional Versus Digital: The Book Launch and the Aftermath

This post contains affiliate links that earn commissions for this website from qualifying purchases. Please welcome Warren Adler, author of The War of the Roses, with an article that compares print and digital book launches and examines the impact of traditional versus independent publishing on authors’ careers. The launch of a book, be it the…Read More

Take Your Writing Seriously

Please welcome guest author Jack Woodville London, author of A Novel Approach (To Writing Your First Book). “What I find hard about writing,” Nora Ephron said, “is the writing.” There’s a difference between writing and typing. Writers produce. Typists reproduce. Okay, that’s a bit harsh. Writers believe that a story worth telling is worth telling…Read More