The Write Practice: The Online Writing Workbook

The Script Polish: How to Maximize Your Screenplay’s Impact and Minimize Risk of Rejection

Polishing a screenplay, or doing a polish on a script, is a part of the screenwriting process that few screenwriters ever go into detail about when asked. Even when plied with liquor. Sure, we’ve all heard writers and producers use terms like “tighten it up” or “give it some polish” or “tweak it for production,” but what do any of those terms really mean?

Let’s break “the script polish” process down into two general goals a screenwriter needs to focus on when sitting down to polish her script. Those two general goals are maximizing impact and minimizing risk.

Want to Win Prizes and Get Published? Enter Our Fall Writing Contest

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

The weather’s cooling off, students are returning to school, and here at The Write Practice, we’re gearing up for our Fall Writing Contest. Because there’s no better way to welcome the changing seasons than by writing some amazing stories!

How to Ditch Writer’s Guilt and Write Now

by Sue Weems | 0 Comments

Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt guilty about something related to writing. (My hand can’t get any higher.) Whether you feel that you aren’t writing enough or feel terrible about neglecting chores while finishing your novel, writer’s guilt is real.

Here are a few ideas for abandoning writer’s guilt to get your work done.

How to Write an Antagonist That Everyone Loves — And Why You Should

by Guest Blogger | 0 Comments

Not many people like antagonists. The antagonists are supposed to be antagonizing — that’s their whole purpose. They are designed to aggravate the protagonists; to foil the plans of the heroes and create conflict. They are supposed to be a villain for our heroes to defeat, right?

Sure. But what if they could be more?

Giveaway: Win a Free Premium Entry to Our Fall Writing Contest!

by Joe Bunting | 0 Comments

If you’ve spent much time around The Write Practice, you’ve probably noticed that we love writing contests. Our mission is to help writers grow, and there’s no better way to practice your craft than by entering a writing contest.

That’s why we’re excited to give three lucky writers free entry to our Fall Writing Contest!

Book Cover Design: How to Sell Books by Optimizing Your Book’s Cover

by Joslyn Chase | 1 Comment

Hooray! You finished writing your book! Take a moment to revel in the satisfaction, but as you slide down from cloud nine, you’ll notice a slate full of new tasks waiting — editing, revisions, proofreading, formatting, marketing, and more. It's time to figure out how...

Why Genre Mashups Are Not Just for Music

by The Magic Violinist | 0 Comments

Everyone loves a good mash-up. Taking two (or more) different songs and seamlessly blending them together to create an entirely new song turns old music into something fresh and exciting. The same thing goes for novels. If you take old concepts and mix them together, you can write something worth raving about.

Motivation to Write: The 7 Fundamental Needs of Writers And How to Leverage Their Motivational Power

by Jeff Elkins | 0 Comments

If you write long enough, at some point you are going to experience a lag in productivity. Whether you call it “writer’s block” or “resistance” or just “a slump,” the moment will come when you struggle to put words on the page, and you just can’t find motivation to write through the struggle.

One way to overcome that lag is to lean into what motivates you. Do you know why you write?

How to Get the Most From Writing Advice

by Guest Blogger | 0 Comments

I subscribe to several writing web and blog sites. I trust them to give me sound writing advice. But sometimes the sheer volume of advice engulfs me, and I feel like I’m in the middle of a tidal wave.

Being overwhelmed can lead to creative paralysis. I work myself into a frenzy trying to apply everything to all my writing right now. Or, I close the computer or put down my pen and count the leaves on my philodendron plant. Neither approach is helpful.

With so much useful writing advice, how do you know where to start?

How to Sell Books for Free: The Thrifty Author’s Guide

by David Safford | 0 Comments

It’s your dream to publish and sell a book. Thankfully, there’s never been a better time to do it, as all the tools you could possibly require are at your fingertips. And the best news is that many of them don’t cost a penny, allowing you to publish, market, and sell your book for free! All you have to do is figure out how to sell books.

Of course, what you don’t pay in cash you will be paying in gumption. As with any publishing route, there are pros and cons to using mostly free resources, and I’ll illustrate those as we go so hopefully you can avoid some of the mistakes I made in my own free publishing journey.

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