Sunshine, Writing, and Stephen King
I walked and made no effort to think – an old trick from my writing days. Work your body, rest your mind, let the boys […]
Articles by Melanie Anastasiou
Tagline Tip for Storytelling Magic
It’s tricky — sifting through tip after tip for our writing careers to find ideas and strategies, searching, above all, for those that suit our […]
Four Notes from an Acquisitions Editor
Here, some notes taken from the last 1000 stories I’ve read as an acquisitions editor. I took a close look at why some stories read […]
Be Your Own Developmental Editor
Why would an acquisitions editor reject a story by a good writer? The answer is often, I can’t tell what the story is about. This […]
End With a New Beginning
The End: EXT. SPACE AROUND THE DEATH STAR Vader’s ship spins out of control with a bent solar fin, heading for deep space. INT. DARTH […]
Draft Your 5-Year Plan
Your 5-year plan inspires with big results, as your future success motivates today’s work. “You may wish to write down your 5-year plan for writing, […]
Developing Strong Characters
Whether a manuscript crosses an editor’s desk, or is loaded onto an e-reader, readers will read on if the author invents characters in which they’re […]
Climbing Mountains, Placing Description. Writing Tips from Pulp Literature Press.
It kills me when I hear readers complain that there’s too much description in a book. In my experience as an acquisitions editor, most “unneccesary” […]
Designing Great Writing Mornings. Writing Tips from Pulp Literature Press.
“The desk in the room, near the bed, with a good light, midnight to dawn, a drink when you get tired…” -Jack Kerouac Good old […]
Act II: Impossible Choices
I’ve read successful stories that skimped on the darkest hour and the showdown. I’ve enjoyed books that were slow to offer Act I’s promise. But, […]