Stephen King: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft | IFW
Stephen King’s ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT isn’t just a book about writing; it’s also a memoir, making it a must-read for all writers. Let’s find out why!
A Self-Publishing Primer
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Yes, you really can do it yourself. I get asked fairly often why I chose the self-publishing route. Truth is, there are several reasons. First, it takes a lot to dissuade me, but my 217th agent rejection letter…
Carroll Dale Short: A Writers Tool Kit-Institute for Writers
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > A concise book of tips to improve your writing. What more do you need? Many years ago, in a city far, far away (okay, it was Hartford, Connecticut, if you insist on destroying the magic), I had the…
Query Writing 101
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > When you’re ready to submit your novel to an editor or an agent, you start off by sending a one-page letter called a query. The purpose of the query is to make the editor or the agent request…
Finding a Writing Course That’s Right For You | IFW
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > When you’re looking for further instruction on writing, you can take college classes, but that gets expensive and they’re held at specific hours that may be inconvenient. You can also learn a lot by going to a conference…
10 Things That Make Editors Cringe
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Everybody knows to use spellcheck or Grammarly when going over their writing. However, the following mistakes aren’t generally caught by these two programs. And if you want to stop an editor’s eyes from rolling to the back of…
Getting the Most Out of a Writer’s Conference | IFW
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Whether you’re doing a day trip or going away for a weekend or more, planning will help you get the most out of a writing conference. You want to choose a writing conference that will help you at…
Okay, I’ve Finished My Revision. Now What ? | IFW
Once you’ve finished your last big revision, what do you do now? You bask in the glow of a job well done. Then you get back to work. Your next steps are here.
We All Have a Story About a Trip That Didn’t Go As Planned
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Submit yours … perhaps you’ll win! We all have stories about trips gone awry. C’mon, admit it. You’ve got one. Maybe you were bound for Aruba and your luggage spent a lovely weekend in Iowa. Or the guy…
Who’s Ready to Do Some Literary Gardening ? | IFW
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Taking the Pruning Shears to Your Manuscript to Lose the Verbiage* Sometimes, in the process of revising, you realize your manuscript is just too darn long. That’s when you have to get creative about trimming it. Really creative.…
Revision: Your First Step to Fantastic Writing | IFW
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Do you know where to start? “Wait … what do you mean I’m not done?!” I hear this so much from new writers when I mention revision. I swear, revision is like a four-letter word to them! It’s…
What You Should Consider Before Writing About Your Life Online
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Questions to ask yourself before you put your stories out there. When I first started my career as a freelance writer, I had one goal and one goal only: to make enough money to leave my job as…
How To Get Started as a Travel Writer
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Tips for turning the dream into a reality Getting paid to travel is the ultimate dream of any writer, right? Lounging on white, sandy beaches with the crystal-clear blue sparkling water just beckoning you for a day of…
8 Tips For Sourcing Your Articles
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Strategies for good research It’s the moment you’ve been dreaming of—you finally have that dream story idea or maybe you’ve already landed the assignment. You’ve got the coffee brewed, the laptop fired up, and your fingers are ready.…
How To Turn Your Experiences Into Stories
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Making stories about your life engaging for readers Do you ever feel like every story that could possibly be written has been done already? Well, I am here to tell you that your feelings are correct —everything that…
Character Development: A Few Final Thoughts | IFW
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Haven’t I warned you not to get me started? I haven’t? Hmm … well, that does pose rather a difficulty, doesn’t it? Well, I suppose it’s a little late to caution you about that now, so you’ll just…
Everyone’s Got a Story to Tell. What’s Yours ? | IFW
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > So you’ve decided to write your memoir. Good for you! It’s great that you’re up for the challenge. Before you start amassing stories, beginning from your most traumatic potty-training memory right up through the jerk in the maroon…
Writing a Character Who Has Cancer
When you write a character with cancer (or other disease), things can get touchy. Here’s how to ensure your character isn’t solely defined by their illness.
Character Development, Part Deux
Facebook Twitter We teach our students how to write and get published! View our Course Catalog > Creating a Well-rounded Character Just Got More Fun! Last week, we took a broad, overall view of character development. Today, we’ll quit staring at our overalls, zero in on creating that protagonist you’re bringing to life, and add…
Three Keys to Believable Three-Dimensional Characters | IFW
When you sit down to write a new story, think about your characters. Giving characters heart, soul, and real faults—yes, faults—is vital to creating memorable characters.
