Book Review: Save the Cat! Writes for TV

Book Review: Save the Cat! Writes for TV

First, what is Save the Cat!®?

Save the Cat! provides writers the resources they need to develop their screenplays and novels based on a series of best-selling books, primarily written by Blake Snyder (1957- 2009). Blake’s method is based on 10 distinctive genres and his 15 story beats (the Blake Snyder Beat Sheet). Our books, workshops, story structure software, apps, and story coaching teach you everything you need to unlock the fundamentals and mechanics of plot and character transformation.

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Self Publishing on Amazon and Beyond with Publish and Thrive

Self Publishing on Amazon and Beyond with Publish and Thrive

Self publishing on Amazon is a great goal, but as someone who’s tested publishing books strictly on Amazon as well as on all the other platforms, I recommend publishing wide. One of the first indie authors I heard use the term “publishing wide” was Sarra Cannon.

I talk about Sarra’s resources for authors in my book The Prosperous Authorpreneur because she has a lot of awesome information for authors who are self-publishing. Many of her resources are also free! (More on those resources below.)

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A Tool to Crush Writer's Block

A Tool to Crush Writer's Block

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? It has to be one of the most debated topics in the writing world. Some writers believe there’s no such thing and others can attest to how debilitating it can be. I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, but I have to say, I don’t like the word “block.” Stuck or having a less than productive day, sure, but having a block just sounds so awful to me!

Quite some time ago, the lovely Mari McCarthy from Create Write Now gifted me her journaling course Overcome Page Fright. I first met Mari two years ago when I interviewed her about her book Heal Yourself with Journaling Power. If you’re not familiar with Mari, she famously says, “Release the issues in your tissues,” and she is living proof that journaling will change your life.

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Mental Wellness for Writers

Mental Wellness for Writers

With the crazy year 2020 has been, I thought it would be appropriate for my last post of the year to discuss mental health for writers. Writing is a great way to improve mental health. But what can you do when writing is your job? How do you maintain optimal mental health when you’re already writing all the time?

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New Resource & Giveaway Alert: The Occupation Thesaurus Writing Guide is Here!

New Resource & Giveaway Alert: The Occupation Thesaurus Writing Guide is Here!

Hi everyone! Today I have something fun to share…a special chance to win some help with your writing bills. Awesome, right?

Some of you may know Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi of Writers Helping Writers. Well, today they are releasing a new book, and I’m part of their street team. I’m handing the blog over to them so they can tell you about their Writer’s Showcase event, new book, and a great freebie to check out. Read on!

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Realistic Character Descriptions: My Experience as a Floral Designer/Florist

Realistic Character Descriptions: My Experience as a Floral Designer/Florist

To win readers over we need to write characters so authentic they feel like real people. How do we do this? By brainstorming a character’s backstory, personality, needs, desires, and their day-to-day world. Lucky for us, one aspect of their daily life is a goldmine of characterization: the type of work they do.

Think about it: a job can reveal personality, skills, beliefs, fears, desires, and more, which is why Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi created The Occupation Thesaurus, a writing guide that profiles 124 possible careers and the story-worthy information that goes with each. To help with this project, I’m sharing my experience as a floral designer/florist below, in case this career is a perfect fit for your character!

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Why It Might Be Better For Your Wellbeing to Not Write Every Day

Why It Might Be Better For Your Wellbeing to Not Write Every Day

Last month I shared a wonderful guest post by Desiree Villena—4 Reasons Writing Every Day is Great for Your Wellbeing. While I agree with the points Desiree makes, I also found myself questioning whether writing every day is great for everyone. If you follow author Becca Syme on YouTube, you’ll know about QTP—Question the Premise.

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