Disclaimer: this post is not directed towards Audra Winter specifically, nor anyone on or affiliated with her team. via Goodreads The bookish corner of the internet can be a lovely place. Even though it's got its unfavorable areas, it's an asset for writers seeking community, writing advice, or avenues for networking and marketing. The rise of BookTok has made it an especially powerful tool for authors and authors in the making. But with that power can come contention when th

via Steam Like many writers out there, I'm also a gamer. And like a lot of folks, I got really into Animal Crossing during the pandemic lockdown. Checking on my island was a daily ritual and became my favorite way to unwind once I'd started at a new job after being laid off following a furlough. That said, I'm not what you'd call a cozy gamer. My idea of cozy gaming is putting on my comfiest pajama pants, making some cocoa, curling up under a throw blanket, and listening to

One thing that often amuses me as a writer is seeing how writers are portrayed in fiction. I've encountered quite a few fictional characters who are writers and bookworms that you can just tell were written by writers because of how they gush over every bookish thing and make all the references. Aside from them, writer characters typically fall into two zones—the bestselling author living their best life and the struggling artist who is uninspired and just trying to get by.

via Tome. Art is done in-house by Olivia. I'm what I call an "Internet Introvert." I've written more than once about being in the D.A.R.E. program during the early days of Myspace's existence and how my class's visiting police officer shared countless horror stories that made social media out to be a dangerous, lawless wasteland and how that, combined with personal insecurities, scared me away from using what has become such a valuable tool in the digital landscape. Lately, t

So many writers, myself included, find that it's easier to concentrate when they have music playing. It can be helpful to lessen any distracting noises of your surroundings or further immerse yourself in your story's setting or the scene you're working on. Music can be such a valuable asset for your writing process, so it's important to set yourself up with the right tech. I've tested out many Bluetooth earbuds over the years, but the most reliable I've owned to date are the

Unless you've got friends like Harper Lee's who are in a position to pool together a Christmas gift of one year's salary so you can write the book of your heart and dreams, chances are that as a budding writer just starting out on the journey, you've got a day job. And to be honest, even writers who are published may still work a day job or have another form of income apart from their books. Writing is seldom a lucrative business to be in even with advances and royalties (sh