Writer Unboxed

Please welcome Lydia Sharp, who was one of our FINALSTS in WU’s search for an unpubbed contributor. She wrote: I wrote my first “book” in second grade (of my own initiative, not through the school curriculum); entered a state level short story contest in third grade; studied poetry, literature, and screenwriting in high school; and [...]

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Two quick pieces of business before your regularly scheduled post. First, if you belong to a book club (or know someone who does) and would like to take part in a massive, fabulous book contest, click HERE. You’ll be taken to my shiny new Facebook fan page for more info (feel free to become a [...]

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Please welcome guest poster Karin Slaughter to Writer Unboxed. Karin is an internationally bestselling author of crime fiction and suspense, author of 11 novels that have sold upward of 17 million copies globally. Karin’s upcoming release BROKEN, is another nailbiter, and sure to add to her list of bestsellers. When Special Agent Will Trent arrives in Grant County, [...]

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Please welcome Erika Liodice, who was a semi-finalist in WU’s search for an unpubbed contributor. She wrote: Like many writers, I wrote my first book when I was 5 or 6 years old. It was a story about a little girl with 18 brothers and sisters who had to share one bathroom (talk about conflict!). [...]

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We’re all taking ourselves too damn seriously. What do I mean by this? I mean that we’re so focused on … • Being as productive as possible • Crafting the best manuscript possible • Building the best platform possible • Appearing as professional as possible … that we lose sight of who we really are [...]

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The best writing advice I ever received was from Brad Meltzer, one of my favorite novelists. He writes mostly political thrillers. I met him at a signing, told him I was writing my first novel, and was stuck in Act Two. “I’ve built a lot of momentum,” I said, “and I think I know where [...]

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It would be impossible to compile all of the best things I’ve heard over the years, but I can think of a few that helped guide me, over and over. Write whole books Most of us do write whole books at the beginning of our careers, but then the pressure is on and most contracts [...]

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Last week I blogged about my three tidbits of advice for writers. The first bit was to listen to your gut, not the market. “Now I’m not saying ignore market trends or the industry. Novelists have to be business people too, and this IS a business as well as a vocation. But if you, for example, really [...]

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I know Kathleen and Therese meant well when they asked me to offer my best writing advice, but I gotta tell you, the idea that I could presume to do so after being here less than three months? With the pedigree of you folks? Oy. The very concept made me break out in hives. Fortunately, [...]

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Please welcome Barbara Mountjoy, who was a semi-finalist in WU’s search for an unpubbed contributor. She wrote: I’ve been writing for 40-plus years, since I was 10. I have been a published writer for over 35 years, including seven years as a reporter and editor at the South Dade News Leader in Homestead, Florida. My [...]

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Don’t give up.  This month at WU we’re focusing on best advice, and that’s mine. If you truly, truly want to be a published author, don’t give up, no matter how impossible it seems at times, no matter how long it takes–no matter how many rejections you get in the mail. One of my closest [...]

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