THE BLOG

5 Steps To Nail Your Story's Arc Before You Write plotting Apr 25, 2025

This comes from a place of love - and from reading hundreds of manuscripts in the last year that all had the same essential problem:

They weren't complete. 

And I'm not talking about being "finished...

Continue Reading...
How to Develop Side Characters that Enhance Your Story's Depth characters writing Mar 28, 2025

After you've created the most relatable protagonist that readers will root for, and after you've created your antagonist that readers will love to hate - you're done, right? 

Wrong. 

Side characters...

Continue Reading...
Ask Rachel: How to Develop a Consistent Magic System ask rachel worldbuilding Mar 26, 2025

This week on Ask Rachel, we're talking all about magic systems and how to keep the consistent. 

This was requested by a lot of writers here - so I'm excited to go over it with you! 

Reminder: whethe...

Continue Reading...
The Song of the Blackthorn Tree: Publishing Updates (March 24, 2025) confidence editing publishing writing Mar 24, 2025

Wow. Typing that title into my blog writer this morning was surreal. I have been sitting on this story since I was five, and it seems a little insane to finally say, "okay world. We're under way." 

B...

Continue Reading...
Ask Rachel: Are You Afraid of Accidental Plagiarism? ask rachel confidence worldbuilding Mar 19, 2025

Welcome to another week of Ask Rachel: Where you ask your writing questions and I answer them. 

(remember to submit your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in our next blog ...

Continue Reading...
Documenting My Book Publishing Journey: Week 11 editing publishing worldbuilding Mar 17, 2025

We're back with another week of Rachel-can't-commit-to-anything-so-she-freaks-out-a-bit-and-does-nothing - 

Just kidding. It been a wild week, for sure, but some really good things are happening, and...

Continue Reading...
How to Write a Character Readers Root For characters Mar 14, 2025

Although creating epic protagonists can sometimes be intimidating (how do I know someone will like the character I make???) there are a few ways we can guarantee your character will ROCK and carry the...

Continue Reading...
How to Make Sure Your Fantasy World Makes Sense ask rachel worldbuilding Mar 12, 2025

Welcome back to Ask Rachel, a blog column dedicated to answering your writing questions. Send your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in upcoming blog posts!

This week’s stu...

Continue Reading...
Documenting My Book Writing Journey, Book 10 publishing writing Mar 10, 2025

Okay, so I need your help this time. 

I'm working on three different projects, and I love all of them. One of them you know about (The Order) but the other two I've kept pretty close to the chest. 

...
Continue Reading...
Book Review: The Rave by J.R. Traas book review Mar 07, 2025

Some books are good, some books are great, and then there are books like The Rave—the kind that make you want to personally thank the author for writing them. And that’s exactly what I did.

Right fro...

Continue Reading...
Ask Rachel: How to Develop Emotional Intimacy in Your Romance Writing ask rachel romance Mar 05, 2025

Welcome back to Ask Rachel, a blog column dedicated to answering your writing questions. Send your questions to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in upcoming blog posts.

This week's stu...

Continue Reading...
Documenting My Book Writing Journey: Week 9 (11 Tips to Use Geography in Your Worldbuilding) publishing worldbuilding Mar 03, 2025

Are we already to week 9? Holy cow! Just writing this down I feel like a miscounted (I probably did - it happens a lot). 

Anyway, you've probably noticed I've been working a lot on worldbuilding. It'...

Continue Reading...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7