Writing Tips Archives | Page 4 of 13

Which literary magazines should you submit to? A guide to evaluating lit mags

Posted on July 4, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

There are thousands of literary magazines accepting short story or poetry submissions right now. For writers, this means a lot of opportunity. It also means a lot of questions. Here are some of those questions you're probably asking right now about where you should send your writing for publication: Which publications are worth submitting to? … Continue reading Which literary magazines should you submit to? A guide to evaluating lit mags

Stop Letting These Excuses Get in the Way of Your Writing

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

5 writing excuses you need to stop using now

Writers are supposed to write, right? Then why do so many writers often struggle with actually getting it done? It seems like many writers spend more time complaining about how they aren’t writing than they do on writing. In reality, the time we are spending on our excuses is preventing us from reaching our writing … Continue reading Stop Letting These Excuses Get in the Way of Your Writing

How Writers Should Respond to Negative Comments & Reviews

Posted on April 26, 2020April 26, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

If you're a writer and you've had the fortune of having your work published, you've also probably been the victim of negativity. If you haven't yet, I promise you eventually will. This is true whether you self-publish, get a big book deal, or simply write for a small blog. Someone out there is going to … Continue reading How Writers Should Respond to Negative Comments & Reviews

6 Risks Every Writer Should Take

Posted on April 12, 2020May 28, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

Are you playing it too safe as a writer? Writing isn’t meant to be easy. Some of the greatest works of writing come from a place of risk. Taking risks as a writer can help you become a better writer. It can also help you break out of a writing funk. Here are 6 risks … Continue reading 6 Risks Every Writer Should Take

The Worst Ways To End A Short Story

Posted on March 14, 2020February 5, 2023 by Nathaniel Tower

If you really want to simplify things, a short story consists of three components: a beginning, a middle, and an ending. It’s tough to argue which of these components is the most important: Beginning - You have to hook the reader right away or they aren’t going to read your story. (Check out this article … Continue reading The Worst Ways To End A Short Story

Should You Hire An Editor To Review Your Manuscript?

Posted on March 1, 2020January 20, 2023 by Nathaniel Tower

6 Signs You Need To Hire An Editor For Your Manuscript

You’ve completed your manuscript. Time to celebrate, right? Not so fast. There’s still the whole “getting it published” thing you need to worry about. Finishing a manuscript is certainly a huge accomplishment in its own right. But you didn’t spend countless hours typing away so your manuscript could gather virtual dust. You want someone to … Continue reading Should You Hire An Editor To Review Your Manuscript?

10 Things You Should Never Say In Your Cover Letter

Posted on February 2, 2020July 7, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

Your cover letter is arguably the least important part of a writing submission, but it can have a big impact on whether or not a piece is rejected. It’s easy to argue the merit of your writing should stand on its own independent of a cover letter, and many editors don’t even look at the … Continue reading 10 Things You Should Never Say In Your Cover Letter

3 Reasons Your Writing Hasn’t Been Published Yet

Posted on January 5, 2020January 9, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

3 reasons you haven't been published yet

Having your writing published is a huge accomplishment. Whether we’re talking about a short story published in an online journal or a big book deal, any publication is a big deal and should make you proud. Having your writing rejected, on the other hand, can leave you frustrated and make you think you aren’t good … Continue reading 3 Reasons Your Writing Hasn’t Been Published Yet

Music to listen to while you write: 10 albums that inspire me to write better

Posted on January 1, 2020March 21, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

While some people prefer to write in complete silence, others depend on music or some other background noise to help motivate them and keep them focused. I’m in the latter camp. I love listening to music, but it has to be the right kind of music for my particular mood or writing task. If you’re … Continue reading Music to listen to while you write: 10 albums that inspire me to write better

9 Ways to Become a Better Writer

Posted on September 13, 2019September 27, 2020 by Nathaniel Tower

Being a good writer isn’t easy. While some people seem to be naturally good writers, every proficient writer has to develop their skills through years of practice. On the other hand, some people seem like bad writers who just can’t craft a good sentence if their life depended on it. Fortunately, everyone can become a … Continue reading 9 Ways to Become a Better Writer