sianynleighJun 8, 20205 minLegit Author Bullsh*t Step FourWhat makes a story interesting? A character you can connect with? A quest that keeps you on the edge of your seat? An expert use of...
sianynleighFeb 8, 20204 minWriting Craft 101: Point of ViewWhat are the different POVs in creative writing?
sianynleighJun 21, 20195 minCharacter Building Every great story needs a great character. A hero we can connect with and cheer for their success. A villain we can sneer at and...
sianynleighJun 14, 20192 minFavorite Resources: Idea InspirationFull-length novel ideas generally develop organically for me, a slow process eased along by years of influences and fleeting thoughts,...
sianynleighJun 10, 20193 minManaging GoalsBe A Boss! Write Every Day! Stay Positive! Yeah, no. I try, I really do, but that’s just not me. I was a boss for 15 years in retail. It...
sianynleighJan 4, 20194 minWhat A Beta Reader Is and Is NotBeta readers are a requirement for any author. There are entire groups dedicated to helping authors find betas for their WIPs. No one can...
sianynleighNov 22, 20182 minna-NO-wrimo 2018I have been sadly unproductive the last several days. I had hoped to write thousands of words every day for NaNoWriMo, bust out an entire...
sianynleighNov 9, 20182 minThe Ole Nano TryNovember is National Novel Writing Month, and I am giving it a go yet again this year. Writing 50,000 words in a month is no small feat,...
sianynleighOct 10, 20183 minLegit Author Bullsh*t Step ThreeWhat genre do you write? Ah, the dreaded question. There is nothing trickier than an author trying to pigeonhole their work into a tight...
sianynleighSep 19, 20182 minWorld BuildingLet’s talk World-Building. What are some questions you’ve asked yourself when first setting out to build your world? There’s the obvious...
sianynleighAug 15, 20183 minThe Opening SceneThe Hook. Those precious few lines where readers decide whether or not to buy your book. It’s the most important thing you’ll ever write,...
sianynleighJul 25, 20183 minHow I Outline I am a reformed Pantser. During my early years when I still had a lot to learn about story craft, I would write by the seat of my pants,...
sianynleighJul 2, 20183 minLegit Author Bullsh*t Step TwoMake your characters seem like real people. You’ve heard it before. “Your characters need to be relatable.” What does this mean?...
sianynleighMay 18, 20182 minFinding InspirationAuthors are frequently asked, What inspires you? It’s a very personal question, one with as many different answers as there are authors. ...
sianynleighApr 25, 20182 minNetwork to SellPromotion – the dirty word of the publishing industry. Whether self-published, traditional, or something in between, promoting yourself...
sianynleighApr 18, 20182 minTaking Criticism Everybody loves a good echo chamber. Who doesn’t want to be told how awesome and wonderful they are? It boosts the ego, justifies the...
sianynleighApr 16, 20182 minLegit Author Bullsh*t Step OneSo you wanna be a writer? That’s awesome. Me, too. But where do I begin? With the story, of course! You can’t be an author without a...
sianynleighApr 11, 20183 minOn WritingI am someone who wears many hats. Wife, mother, editor, marketer, craftswoman, DIY-er, menial laborer. But my favorite job is fiction...