When it comes to writing, publishing, and marketing a book, there are many mistakes to be made (many more than 99). The #1 most important mistake NOT to make is over-investment. I’ll give a qui...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/05/06/ninety-nine-ways-to-fail-in-writing-publishing-and-marketing/
Writers tend to be wordy, even though everyone says to write concisely. The truth is that’s normal. Concise writing takes work. The way we write is much different from the way we talk, so what ...
I’ve been thinking a lot about plotting lately (as my works-in-progress have been at that stage), and it occurred to me that it’s kind of like a game, played between reader and writer. In som...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/05/04/plotting-a-novel-is-like-playing-a-game-of-rummy/
If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering a new blog. Whether you’re already a blogger or you want to start for the first time, deciding whether or not you should begin comes with...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/05/03/before-you-start-a-blog-ask-yourself-one-question/
For writers, there are two proven harmful effects of engaging in too much social media. (And let me say first that I’m guilty of overindulgence myself—it’s easy to start out with the intent...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/05/02/why-we-compare-ourselves-to-other-writers-and-how-we-can-stop/
After finishing your stories, how many times do you find yourself wondering if it’s too long? Perhaps you instead wonder if it might be too short? This is something that bothers a lot of writer...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/05/01/how-long-should-my-story-be/
Since I love talking about writing advice, and I love pointing out that all writing advice should be taken — but only if it works for you, welcome to my new, irregularly scheduled feature, wher...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/04/30/why-that-writing-advice-is-both-right-and-wrong/
Theme is what makes a fictional story vital, what makes it be discussed, and what makes it memorable even centuries after it has been written. Fiction’s number one goal, obviously, is to entert...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/04/29/theme-in-fiction-and-why-it-is-necessary/
Hello all! While Book Four in the Red Kingdom Series is still being worked on, I’ve completed a novella-length prequel story, called Dawn of Storms. In this story, readers find out how Rhael ac...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/04/28/free-prequel-story-and-new-author-newsletter/
The protagonist is THE main character of your story. They are the backbone of everything you’ve created – you’re telling their story, after all. Because of this, they deserve to be fully de...
https://ryanlanz.com/2024/04/28/how-to-craft-the-perfect-protagonist/