Tag: Better Writing

• Let’s Talk About Debut Novels

  

  What is it about a debut that the world so adores? But not just any old debut, mind you—we want a newcomer with a story of runaway success and broken, no shattered, records. The debut novel must tick all the boxes: perfect characters, compelling storylines, breathtaking descriptions, an endless list of awards, and impending movie…

  Yolandie Horak

  July 17, 2023

  Writing

  A Study of Ash & Smoke, Better Writing, Common Writing Mistakes, Debut, Debut Novel, First Novel, Indie Writers, Let’s Write, My Writing Process, New Adult, New Adult Fantasy, New Beginnings, New Book, New Experiences, New Title, Personal, Stuff for Writers, The Physician’s Apprentice, Why I Write, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writing

• Let’s Talk About Setting

  

  Have you noticed how an increasing number of authors are breaking away from the Eurocentric worlds associated with speculative fiction? It has been super refreshing to read mainstream books set in magical, faraway places that are totally different than what we’ve grown used to. But now I question why I automatically default to those pseudo-European…

  Yolandie Horak

  June 12, 2023

  Writing

  Better Writing, Let’s Write, Setting, Setting in Books, Stuff for Writers, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writing, Writing Advice, Writing Community, Writing Journey, Writing Life, Writing Process

• Let’s Talk About Alpha and Beta Readers

  

  But before we start, I’d just like to insert these disclaimers. Firstly, I’m not a writing coach or anything like that, just a writer who loves learning about writing and sharing my experiences with everyone who is interested. Secondly, writers view alpha and beta teams vastly differently. Some swear by alpha and/or beta teams, others…

  Yolandie Horak

  May 1, 2023

  Writing

  Alpha and Beta Readers, Alpha Readers, Alpha Reading, Beta Readers, Beta Reading, Better Writing, Buddy Write, Dragon Writers, Indie Writers, Let’s Write, My Writing Process, Resources, Skolion Writers, Stuff for Writers, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writers’ Resources, Writing

• On Writing Advice

  

  The internet. A place of abundance. You can learn almost anything on YouTube or blogs. Unfortunately, many of these instructional sites will just as easily help you fail as help you learn. Others won’t set you up for failure, sure, but your growth process can still be stunted by bad advice. Which brings us to…

  Yolandie Horak

  March 6, 2019

  Writing

  Better Writing, Stuff for Writers, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writers’ Resources, Writing, Writing Advice

• Let’s Write Confidence

  

  It’s so good to be back in the swing of things with a writing post, especially one that adds to the Let’s Write Series. Now, I see you doing a double take there. Didn’t this used to be called the writing emotions series? It did, but then I had so many ideas to add to…

  Yolandie Horak

  January 15, 2019

  Writing

  Better Writing, Confidence, Let’s Write, Resources, Stuff for Writers, Writer, Writers’ Resources, Writing, Writing Confidence, Writing Emotions

• My Novel Planning Journey

  

  It’s Preptober! I’m not participating in Nanowrimo, but I figured this post was long overdue anyway and could be relevant to those of you preparing for Nano. If you’re wondering about my previous Nanowrimo experience, I wrote a little piece on the Sophie Melissa Blog. She also asked some other authors for their ideas and…

  Yolandie Horak

  October 3, 2018

  Writing

  Better Writing, Novels, Pantser, Planning, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writing, Writing Advice, Writing Journey, Writing Process

• Let’s Write Joy

  

  If you’re here for the first time, I’ve been writing a series of posts on the body language of various emotions, so authors have a quick reference when they get stuck writing diverse characters. It’s so easy to fall into the same old repetitive action tags. I can’t tell you how many times I used…

  Yolandie Horak

  August 1, 2018

  Writing

  Better Writing, Emotions, Joy, Let’s Write, Resources, Stuff for Writers, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writers’ Resources, Writing, Writing Emotions, Writing Joy

• Let’s Write Fear

  

  From a fright when the spider lands on your arm, to being scared of the weird guy on the blind date, to full-blown terror when a dragon sticks its head out of the cave and you left your sword at home, fear is one of the most complex emotions that we’ve all had to deal…

  Yolandie Horak

  July 4, 2018

  Writing

  Anxiety, Better Writing, Emotions, Fear, Let’s Write, Resources, Stuff for Writers, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writers’ Resources, Writing, Writing Emotions, Writing Fear

• Neekerbreekers

  

  I love Tolkien. I’ve loved his work since I first discovered his stories when I was about fourteen. After that first time I broke the spine of The Fellowship of the Ring, I’ve read LOTR every year (sometimes more than once a year) until around 2013 when Kayla was born. Which reminds me, you know.…

  Yolandie Horak

  November 29, 2017

  Writing

  A Study of Ash & Smoke, Author, Better Writing, Neekerbreekers, Opinions, The Physician’s Apprentice, Tolkien, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writers’ Resources, Writing, Writing Advice, Writing Tips, Yolandie Writes

• Writing, as Taught by Kids’ TV Shows

  

  A year or so ago, I read a writing exercise idea on a blog that changed the way I view watching TV. The blogger in question would make notes of, then dissect the episode she was watching. She’d figure out which plot points worked, which didn’t, where the dialogue fell flat, where it rocked, and…

  Yolandie Horak

  June 28, 2017

  Writing

  Better Dialogue, Better Writing, Character Development, Creativity, Foreshadowing, Learning Something New, My Little Pony, Series, Suits, TV, Typeface, Writer, Writer’s Life, Writing, Writing Advice