New Daily Writing Guides from The Write Practice

Lulu Print on Demand Review: Is This the Best Option for Direct Book Sales?

I hear from so many authors in our community who are uncomfortable with the power Amazon holds over the book marketplace, especially as they raise prices and decrease royalties. Writers want to put more money in their pockets, and less in the pockets of giant corporations, all while building better, direct relationships with their audience.

That’s where Lulu comes in. In this post, I’m going to share my Lulu print-on-demand review, looking at the features that set it apart from KDP and Ingram Spark, how it stacks up in terms of pricing and quality, and whether it deserves a place in your self-publishing toolkit.

Why Are Characters Important in a Story? 4 Ways to Know You Need a Character

by J. D. Edwin | 1 Comment

As a writer, you know that a story can’t exist without characters. But have you ever wondered: “Why are characters important in a story?”

Perhaps you’ve questioned an even tougher problem: “When is a character important enough to keep in a story, and when does the narrative work better without them?”

In order for a side character—or any character—to matter in a story, they have to work as an essential character that impacts the protagonist, plot, setting, or another important aspect that shapes or moves a story forward.

In this article, you’ll learn four ways that determine if (1) the character is essential, and (2) how they contribute to a story. You’ll also learn the major types of characters and ways to determine if—for the characters who don’t qualify as essential—you’re better off revising their role, or cutting them from the plot.

How to Write a Short Story: 5 Major Steps from Start to Finish

by Sarah Gribble | 82 Comments

Do you want to learn how to write a short story? Maybe you’d like to try writing a short story instead of a novel, or maybe you’re hoping to get more writing practice without the lengthy time commitment that a novel requires.

The reality of writing stories? Not every short story writer wants to write a novel, but every novelist can benefit from writing short stories. However, shorts stories and novels are different—so how you write them has, naturally, their differences, too.

Short stories are often a fiction writer’s first introduction to writing, but they can be frustrating to write and difficult to master. How do you fit everything that makes a great story into something so short?

And then, once you do finish a short story you’re proud of, what do you do with it?

That’s what will cover in this article—and additionally resources which I will link.

How to Find the Right Freelance Editor for You

by Elizabeth Nettleton | 0 Comments

We live in a world where a freelance editor is just a click away. But how do you know which one is right for you? And what should you expect when you hire one? Today, we’re breaking down the different types of freelance editors, what they actually do, and how to choose the one who will make your fiction and nonfiction books the best they can be.

Fear Setting: How to Overcome Your Fear of Writing

by David Safford | 0 Comments

If you’re not finishing your writing, it’s because of fear. Fear is far more influential than we like to think. We like to believe that we’re not succumbing to fears because we are good at goal-setting, or perhaps we stick to a writing schedule of some kind.

Yet fear is insidious. It is subtle. It speaks with voices you can’t hear, and unless you weed those voices from your psyche, they will forever impede your writing dreams.

Here’s how to overcome your fears and finish your writing with confidence!

5 Reasons Why You Should Write Short Stories

by The Magic Violinist | 1 Comment

“Writer” is an extremely broad term; after all, there are dozens of genres in which you might write. Poetry, novels, memoir, historical fiction, picture books, cookbooks, instruction manuals, fan-fiction, all of these barely scratch the surface of what you can do with your talents. No matter what you write, though, there are significant benefits to writing short stories that will help you learn and grow within your craft.

Top 150 Short Story Ideas

by Joe Bunting | 140 Comments

Do you want to write but just need a great story idea? Good news! Below are 150 short story ideas for all your favorite genres. You can use them as writing prompts for writing contests, for stories to publish in literary magazines, or just for fun!

Get started writing with one of these short story ideas today.

How to Stop Overthinking Your Writing: One Author’s Journey in Surrendering to the Process

by Guest Blogger | 2 Comments

My motivation for writing my first book was to understand my unique approach to helping schools and nonprofits. You could say that my enthusiasm and curiosity had been leading me, and my mind needed to catch up.

Then my life fell apart.

A dream about my teeth falling out of my mouth pushed me to surrender, so I let go of my business-plan approach to life in favor of answering a calling.

It Bears Repeating: Is It Bears or Bares?

by Alice Sudlow | 30 Comments

It bears repeating that the English language is full of odd sayings. Never fear, though—we’re here to break them down.

Today, we’re taking on a hairy turn of phrase: “it bears repeating.” Or is it “it bares repeating”?

Writing Anxiety: Why Does Writing Sometimes Make You Anxious (And How to Overcome It)

by J. D. Edwin | 2 Comments

Have you ever felt a rush of writing anxiety when trying to finish your story?

Whether you view this as resistance or low self-esteem, writing anxiety can prevent you from finishing that beautiful, unique story that only you can tell. Here are four common problems that feed writing anxiety and tips on how to overcome them.

Here to learn? You’re in the WRITE place!