What I Learned: Writing Course for Authors (Lesson 2)

Welcome to day two of ten lessons. If you have not read Day 1, I suggest you do so now, as it contains important information. As writers, we are always looking to learn new material, hone our skills, and improve our stories and characters. That's why I decided to sign up for a few essential courses in parallel with my romance and poetry writing.

Writing Courses for Authors

1. Building an Author Blog

2. Novel Writing 101

3. Writing YA Novels

4. Writing Short Stories

5. Writing Dialogue for Plot and Character Development

6. Point of View

7. Turn Up The Heat in Romance

8. Show Don't Tell

9. Writing Poetry

10. Writing a Children's Book

11. Character Development

12. How to Plot a Novel

13. Writing Romance

14. Writing YA Novels that Sells

I wanted to dust off some of those hard-earned skills I got at University and also learn some new ones. After all, my degree was not English Literature; it was Psychology. It is a very good and interesting career, which I still love and am very much a part of, but writing has also been my other love. It's time I gave it more attention and care.

How to Build an Author Blog

Before launching your blog, define your brand. Defining your brand will help:

1. Stay on track with your messaging

2. Speak to your audience

3. Stand out from others

   
   

Goal: Attract people who would be interested in your book.

4 Simple Steps:

1. Define Your Mission > As an author, think about who would benefit from your book and how.

2. Do A Niche Audit. Create a Pro and Con list of other top blogs in your niche and see what you like and dislike.

3. Create Your Audience Avatar > You should be able to picture your audience clearly—who they are, what they like, how they think, etc.

4. Choose A Blog Name > Your name or name that is connected to your niche.

Novel Writing 101

You want to write? Perfect. Now, ask yourself, "Why do you want to write a novel?" Is a novel the best fit for your story?

Novels work because they create a space for the reader's imagination, making reading an active experience. Reading allows deep engagement.

Great writers are great readers. If you love reading fiction and other genres, you're more likely to succeed as a novelist.

But what is a novel? Think of it as a large canvas, where you need a lot of material to fill it. They can express depth and complexity. However, not every story needs to be a novel.

Writing YA Novels

Rule #2: Read other YA Novels

Reading is essential. Even just 30 minutes a day helps you grow as a writer. Swap a TV episode and read a chapter.

Pay attention to POV. Consider who is telling the story and why the author made that choice. FPOV is intimate and personal. TPOV is distant and more objective.

Analyze the structure of the story. Is it linear or does it use a non-traditional format (Ex: dual timelines or mixed media)

Study the dialogue. Does it feel natural or stiff? If it's casual and realistic then it's natural. And natural is what you want to achieve.

Read across genres and styles. Read both "good" and "bad" stories; that way, you will develop that critical eye that will be needed when writing and editing your manuscript.

Writing Short Stories

A compelling story is not defined by its subject but by how it's told—through emotional truth, voice, perspective, and detail.

Ever heard the phrase "write what you know"? It's not only the best way to start writing, but it also is true for many reasons.

1. Authenticity hits harder > When you write from personal experience, your voice is more genuine and your details feel real.

2. Confidence fuels creativity > Writing what you know helps you feel more grounded and confident.

3. Specificity makes it universal > The more specific you are, the more relatable your work becomes.

   
   

Once you understand that the road from action to reaction is hardly linear you can begin to organize your story.

We read in order to understand ourselves better, so your characters need to be relatable.

What makes a story great is not the subject but the voice, the details, and the perspective. All of which are entirely unique to the writer. Nobody can write like you. How you think, your view of life, and your experiences are yours and no one else's. They can have similar stories, yes, relate to you, but how you lived them is specific to you. Use that to your advantage.

What I am trying to say is it’s not the story that’s tired—it’s how you tell it that keeps it alive. So, find a new way to tell yours.

Writing Dialogue: Plot & Character Development

The info dump, also known as "As you know, Bob," is a big NO in dialogue etiquette. It's a common crutch for aspiring writers who want to insert backstory or plot point reminders.

Tips for avoiding info-dumps in dialogue:

1. Re-write info-dumps as arguments > Conflict makes dialogue lively.

2. Re-write as a comparative conversation > Have your characters compare information for the facts.

3. Have one character oblivious to the plot

4. Re-write expository dialogue as expository narration.

POV

First-person is when the narrator is a character inside the story. In other words, it's the I/me/mine type of narration.

Traditional first person, the narrator is the protagonist. So, the narrator only has access to information that the protagonist knows. Nothing more, nothing less. You can only show scenes in your story if the protagonist appears in them.

One of the best aspects of the first person is that you can go deep into your main character's mind, how they think and feel. FPOV can create a strong feeling of immediacy, more so when told in the present tense.

Turn Up The Heat

As writers we want our characters to feel like real living people. Avoiding stereotypical characterization is a must. However, you need to find the balance because if you are writing commercial fiction, you need to give readers a little of what they want without making your characters seem two-dimensional (flat).

Stereotypes:

1. Alpha male hero > Christian Gray, Victor Channing,

2. Feisty independent heroine > Anastasia Steele, Bernadette Blackbird

   
   

These character traits work because the dynamic interplay between opposites makes for sizzling sexual tension.

Show Don't Tell

One of the most influential storytelling principles behind SDT is the Iceberg Theory. All about omissions. Says that the best writing reveals only a few details at a time, effectively keeping the rest "below the surface".

The question is how to blend the Iceberg Theory with SDT. Just pair some of those omission sentences with a few words that describe the use of our senses, and you have the perfect balance between being mysterious and giving the readers just enough for them to keep going but not spoil the plot.

Tips for applying the Iceberg Theory:

1. Use it to hint at complex dynamics & histories

2. You can tell a little bit if it serves the showing

3. Don't omit things you don't know yourself

   
   

Writing Poetry

Enter the world of prose and world of verse. Two very different things but both poetic nonetheless.

Prose generally refers to writing that has no metrical structure. Think of prose as regular human speech.

Verse has a distinct rhythm. If you see that the lines are shorter and intentionally separated, then you have a verse. Ladies and gentlemen, poetry is written in verse. It has lines and stanzas.

Mix the two you say? Sure.

1. Verse novel > is both written in verse with a narrative arc

2. Prose poetry > is both in paragraph form and has thematic elements of poetry

Remember I mentioned something about lines? Well, as writers we have a choice where to break our line when writing verses. It can be used to convey:

1. Feelings

2. Rhythm

3. Consistency

4. Give emphasis to a word

5. Provide an emphatic statement

   
   

Children's Book

In publishing, the term "picture book" or "picture flat" refers to the kind of large-format books where the story is told through illustration and text.

Picture books can be playful and fun, or thoughtful and moving. If you have a story that hits those buttons, you can turn it into a winning picture book (for children under 5 years).

Think:

1. Length > 500 words or fewer. 20 pages or fewer to tell your story.

2. Illustrations > show the words

3. Tell a story spread by spread > Illustrations have to be evenly spread as there are one or two per page

4. Make it sophisticated > simple terms but not simple-minded

5. Think like a poet

6. Think inside the box > You are writing for someone who is 5 years and younger, so use words that are age-appropriate. Think back to when you were that age; what did you understand, and what did you like? Grab a few children's books and see how they are writing and illustrating them.

   
   

Character Development

Best characters have 3 things in common:

1. Dimension > Protagonists who do no wrong provide no conflict or tension. With only a small set of similar attributes, they become boring and cartoonish.

2. Conflict > A strong character must have some sort of internal conflict that drives the plot in some way. Conflict is the momentum that keeps a story going, and grappling with issues related to the plot within the character keeps readers hooked.

3. Empathy > Most powerful when attached to villains. If you want a complex villain that your readers will remember (Lord Voldemort comes to mind), make them understand the "why" behind their choices.

   
   

How to Plot a Novel

Act I has 3 major points: the hook, the inciting incident, and the first plot point. This makes up roughly the first 15-20% of your novel

This section's main purpose is to introduce the protagonist in their everyday environment, showcasing their dissatisfaction with life and coaxing them into the heart of the story's conflict.

Nailing the Hook:

1. Introduce the protagonist

2. Establish the protagonist's everyday life

3. Show the protagonist dealing with an everyday conflict.

   
   

This will show your readers who your protagonist is, what they like, their flaws, strengths, and fears.

How to Write Romance

At the heart of every compelling romance is a hero readers can fall in love with a "book boyfriend" who is more than just a trope.

What makes a strong protagonist:

1. They are not just a stereotype

2. Well-rounded personality > quirks, hobbies, weaknesses, lovable traits, hobbies

3. Must remain likable and human even when flawed

   
   

They need to have a backstory and redemption arc:

1. Tortured or difficult past

2. Needs to go on a redemption arc

3. Traits should be linked to the past

Protagonists Romantic Arc:

1. Block towards love

2. Heroine/Hero is a catalyst for change

3. Aligns with climax of the story and happily ever after

   
   

How to Write YA That Sells

The following is in the exact order it happens.

1. Author to Agent > The Author finishes the manuscript and sends a query letter to agents. The agent requests a full manuscript, they love it, and sign the author.

2. Agent to Editor > After revisions, the agent submits to acquiring editors. Editor reeds it and if interested, brings it to the acquisitions board.

3. Acquisitions Board Decision

   1. Sales/Marketing > Will it sell?

   2. Publicity > Media hooks; Author platform

   3. Publisher > Fit the brand? Worth investing?

4. Final Say = Sales Potential

   1. Your book has to prove it can make money

If you are interested in the above writing courses for authors, check Reedsy platform.