August 2017 – The Author Studio

Write a Romance Novel with All Five Senses

How to Use All Five Senses When Writing A Romance Novel

Drafting, Voice / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

A big part of writing a romance novel that sells—and captivates readers—is creating a world that’s immersive, personal, and thoroughly believable. But it’s easy to rely on phrases that tell the reader about the characters’ romantic relationships instead of choosing language that lets them feel every heart-stopping, pulse-pounding, stomach-fluttering moment of falling in love. So …

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How to Write an Ensemble Cast

2 Comments / Character, Voice / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

Some of the most beloved stories start with a ragtag band, a scrappy group of buddies, or a rogue’s gallery setting off on adventures. But that doesn’t mean that writing an ensemble cast is easy. When your book has more than three “main” roles in the cast, it’s tough to know how to distinguish your …

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Seven Subtle Copy-Editing Mistakes You Might Be Making

1 Comment / Copy editing, Line editing, Revision / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

Copy editing your novel is meticulous, time-consuming, and far from easy. Some writers love getting into the nitty-gritty of their language use, others…not so much. But even if you’re planning to work with a professional editor, and especially if you’re about to start querying your novel, it’s an essential step in preparing your manuscript for …

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The Right and Wrong Ways to Write Dual Point of View

5 Comments / Character, Romance, Voice, YA / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

Writing a book in alternating point of view is becoming more and more common. While books in the third person have often switched between several narrators (lookin’ at you, Harry Potter), “alternating POV” or “dual POV” refers to two (or occasionally more) first person narrators who trade off chapters or scenes to tell a story. …

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Ten Ways to Title Your Novel

Titles, Uncategorized / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

Even if you haven’t finished writing a novel yet, it’s never too early to think about how to title the book. The right title can even inform your writing and help you come up with new ideas for your book as you draft. And, as someone famously said, the title may be the only words …

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How to Write A Heart-Stopping Kissing Scene

5 Comments / Character, Romance, YA / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

There comes a time in writing a romance novel (even writing a YA romance!) when it’s time to, well, kiss and tell. Even if you’re writing a romance with no clichés, a first kiss is pretty much a given. Your characters are dying for it, your readers are definitely dying for it, and all the …

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How to Write A YA Romance Without Cliché

1 Comment / Character, Romance, YA / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

YA fans are some of the most dedicated readers on the planet: they buy tons of books, tear through them voraciously, and worship the couples that earn their adoration. But write flat, stereotypical, or hackneyed, and these readers will not be pleased. The good news is, with a little smart revision (and not too much revision), …

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What Agent Responses Really Mean

2 Comments / Publishing, Querying / By Blair Thornburgh, editor

Querying is almost like online dating: as soon as a writer gets any indication of interest from an agent, they gather their writer friends and begin to pick apart every possible inference from the message. Is she going to read more? Does he like my writing? Am I about to get the call? It’s hard …

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Month: August 2017