"Reviews are for readers, not for writers" is a phrase you will hear and see a fair bit. Its origins are rooted in the way some authors have reacted to — and interacted with — reviewers and content creators who posted a negative or meh review of their published work. A review's purpose is not to give the author feedback on their writing — as that should come from critique partners, beta readers, and editors long before a book is published. Rather, book reviews are intended t

Writing is said to be an art in which there are no masters, only students. As we tell our stories, we grow alongside them. We continue to develop our skills and learn new ones. Our characters might encourage self-reflection or invite us to view past events in a new light. Writing your first book is an exciting thing. However, as is often the case with any new venture, it's not without its challenges.   It's a journey of making mistakes and learning from them. In this post, we

No matter what you're celebrating this time of year, the holiday season is full of love, joy, and warmth—and stress, undoubtedly. Between all of the preparation, festivities, shopping, cooking, travel, and other obligations, time for writing can feel like something that only exists amid visions of dancing sugar plums. It doesn't take much for your writing to get lost in the holly jolly hustle and bustle. You may feel pulled in so many different directions and tell yourself th

Writers are a curious and often misunderstood bunch. Whether they're working on their first novel or they're a seasoned pro with twenty-seven books under their belt, navigating the process of writing and publishing can be an emotional rollercoaster—one that we often feel like we're riding alone. It takes a village to publish a novel. A manuscript goes through so many hands before it hits bookstore shelves, and among the best a writer can have in their corner are those of supp

I think it's safe to assume that many writers have their dream writing spot in mind, whether it's a destination for a writing retreat abroad or a room in your home you know exactly how you would renovate if time and money were of no object. A lot of us make do with what we've got, hunkering down at the kitchen table after dinner or writing at a tiny desk tucked in the corner of the bedroom. And if you're like me, you have to do a fair bit of your writing on the go. I do a lot

To me, autumn feels like it was simply made for writers. The peacefulness of earlier nights and crisp breezes. The array of colors as the leaves change and fall from their branches, not only as a symbol of things ending but of new things to come. There's just something so poetic about it all. Even though winter was my favorite season growing up, I've grown to appreciate autumn. I'm sure part of that has to do with going to college in the Berkshires, on a campus surrounded by