For Writers
For Writers
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Note: The purchase links on this For Writers page are Affiliate Links (like elsewhere on my site)–the prices are exactly what you’d pay if you located the product yourself, but Amazon comps me a small percentage of the purchase price for advertising fees. Those few dollars, monthly, help support this website. I’m also an affiliate with Learn Scrivener Fast–because I believe in it 100%. I’ve already talked up this amazing resource (worth every penny) to dozens of writers, so I might as well take official credit for promoting this resource.
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Every book, every training, every software and gadget I promote are resources I’ve fallen in love with, use, and would recommend highly if you and I were out to lunch together and talking business. If I’m not using it–and loving it–I don’t recommend it. That’s my guarantee.
Scroll down! This page includes a wealth of information in the following categories:
- Writing Careers
- Learn the Craft
- Writer’s Software: Scrivener
- Plotting
- Research
- Hardware
- Encouragement
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Writing Careers
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How does a new writer sort out the business of writing? Where can a newbie begin? Writing student Hannah discovered an amazingly inclusive resource Money-Saving Guide for Authors and Writers which she recommends. This page includes a writer’s educational options (so many!), college scholarships, career opportunities, how to properly format manuscripts, and so much more. An excellent resource!
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A young writer friend, Amelia, recommended an informative and helpful page to guide beginning writers (of any age) in decisions, publishing paths, educational routes, and more. Please see Writing Careers: The Business Behind Becoming an Author.
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Learn the Craft
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Writer’s Software: Scrivener
If not currently available at Amazon, another source is Literature and Latte.
Scrivener is the BEST software for writers–managing everything from the WIP (work in progress) to every tidbit of research to the finalized kindle edition eBook. Scrivener is SO much more powerful than Microsoft Word, you’ll wonder how you ever managed, ever got by! Best of all, Scrivener is the least expensive investment you’ll make at $45.
Like any quality software, the learning curve can be steep. The best investment I made in accelerating that learning curve and maximizing my own success with this power software was to enroll in “The Scrivener Coach’s” Learn Scrivener Fast program. Not only did I have immediate access to both video (with quality instruction) training, but step-by-step (with screen-shots) written instructions (separated for Mac and Windows). [Click on either Scrivener image for more information. Your price will remain the same, and Joseph Michael will grant me a commission for referring you.]
When I needed a refresher on one simple step, it’s easy to find it again–as the training is broken down into segments just a few minutes long. So using the training on the fly–while working–is simple and efficient. No wasted time!
Learn Scrivener Fast is so easy to use, whether diving in to maximize your understanding to begin strong, or in the middle of working and needing a quick reminder of how to accomplish a specific thing in Scrivener–the “table of contents” is workable, simple, and straightforward.
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Plotting
Dan Wells on Story Structure:
The moment I watched these video recordings of a class he taught at a writer’s conference, everything made glorious sense to me. I’ve used this explanation of the significant elements of plot for my past ten books and for me, it’s a significant improvement over methods I’ve attempted in the past. I recommend watching, learning, taking notes, and benefiting from Mr. Wells’s instruction. [Note: The music on these YouTube-posted videos is terrible. Sorry about that–I had nothing to do with it.]
Research
I’m a huge proponent of accurate research when writing fiction. I want my stories–even if in a fictional town–to be set in a very real place. I research everything from political attitudes of the time to laws and rules of decorum to prices and etymology of phrases. My personal preference. I know I’m at one end of the spectrum while many authors are on the other (or somewhere middle of the road). And that’s okay. To each his own.
Newspapers as a Primary Source
I reference numerous newspaper clippings in my blog articles about various Old West topics–and many of them find their way into my published fiction books. Thus far, the vast majority of these newspapers cited have come to my attention through Newspapers.com.
Hardware
There are two groups of people: those who have had a storage failure and those who will have one soon.
(3-2-1 Rule states) You should have:
3. At least three copies,
2. in two different formats,
1. with one of those copies off-site.
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An interview conducted by Caryl McAdoo for HeartWingsBlog.com, with Q&A– answers from Author Kristin Holt, including recommendations and advice for new writers.
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Encouragement
Please see my “For Writers” section at the bottom of my Quotes Page. I’ve collected quotes just for YOU!
Excellent Advice from a Master!
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Updated June 2022
Copyright © 2017 Kristin Holt LC
