Lauren Leach-Steffens,
Author

Today I submit Apocalypse to Pitch Wars. Pitch Wars is a yearly contest whereas writers submit what is basically a query package -- query...

Writers speak about planning and writing, especially novels, in terms of "planning" and "pantsing". When pantsing, the writer goes by the...

I use psychology to help my characters to sneak into the reader's mind at a subliminal level. Here's a partial list: 1) The character who...

Suppose you were the hero of your own novel: Give a brief introductory description. What are your most important qualities for your...

Last night I learned about author mills. Author mills, sometimes known as vanity presses, are publishers that publish small runs of books...

Writing is like performing magic in a way -- Writing utilizes misdirection -- sometimes a misinterpretation of facts, or an unreliable...

When I went to Archon, a conference for writers in St. Louis, a few people advised me to start submitting shorter items, poetry and short...

Mission statements for writers encapsulate who we are as writers. Vision statements propel us forward. It's nice to have both, because...

As a writer, I've developed this thing for fountain pens. I've loved fountain pens since I was a child, ever since I found a 1920's...

I will write for myself regardless of how and where my resulting work will be shared. I will not doubt my imagination. I will not judge...

I read an important tip on Twitter last night that's transforming my writing: If you're going to describe skin tone on people of color,...

I am posting some of my best pieces about writing from my personal blog, Words Like Me. They will all have today as a date, but were...

I'm happiest when I have something to work on, something that catches my fancy. When that happens, I can give it intense focus such that...