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Since many authors write in romance or its many subgenres, let’s go over the many different types of love we can write about, based on the Greek and Sanskrit words for love. Knowing these words allows us to find examples of them in our own work and deepen their meaning. These words do not belong to a single ancient taxonomy of love, nor does each have only one precise English equivalent. I’m us…

Perhaps you have already experienced the sheer power of the author community. When authors see a need in the world of books and readers, we have the ability to find a way to fill that need. We did that when the pandemic shut down the world and readers still wanted to find books and chat with authors. Many authors led the way and created author/reader communities online. For a couple of years af…

Journalism and novel writing could be said to be distant cousins—one bound by the constraints of facts, the other bound only by the author’s imagination. The differences in the two fields actually create a situation in which they can be of benefit to each other. Several celebrated novelists began their careers in newsrooms and brought the skills learned on the beat to their fiction writing: Ern…

Writing conferences offer key advantages in that many provide an opportunity for networking, education, and collaboration. Authors should consider their goals and objectives, along with other considerations such as cost and travel time, when making a commitment to attend a conference. But how do you decide which conferences are worth your while? Some in-person conferences take place near an aut…

Artificial intelligence (AI) dominates today’s headlines, often swinging between hyperbolic promises and existential fear. Depending on what you read, AI is either poised to solve humanity’s greatest problems or destroy creative industries altogether. The reality is more nuanced. For authors, AI is neither wholly good nor wholly bad. It is a powerful toolset that introduces both creative opport…

Imparting wisdom and leading the way to adventure What’s the purpose of mentors in fiction? In real life, mentors can be found in schools, the business world, in athletic programs, or at church. They teach, guide, and motivate those who are less savvy about the world to negotiate life’s trials. So how are mentors employed in fiction? Taking inspiration from Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogle…