Writing is an ever-evolving skill, and there’s always room for improvement. But while you may sense your short story, essay, or poem needs something, you may have trouble pinpointing exactly what it is you need to fix. That’s when it pays to have another set of eyes reviewing your work. At Writer’s Relief, we know a good critique can take your writing from mediocre to marvelous! Even the most accomplished authors can utilize worthwhile input to enrich their writing. Here are three critiques that improve your writing every time. Critiques That Will Improve Your Writing Critique #1: Vary sente ..read more

While writing is a solitary process, it can be helpful to interact with other writers. You can join a writing group to receive feedback on your work-in-progress and learn new ways to hone your craft. And it’s nice to have the support of others who understand the writing life! But what if there isn’t a writing group in your area? There are online writing groups you can try—or you can start your own writing group! The experts at Writer’s Relief have some great tips and advice on how to start a writing group. Guide To Starting A Successful Writing Group Choose A Time And Place Determine the bes ..read more

Using carefully curated bookshelves as décor in book styling has become increasingly popular! Even Gloria Steinem recently had her own bookcase photographed to be sold as a background image. In this article Writer’s Relief found on LitHub.com, we learned that you can even order books by the foot in any color, size, or condition! There are also companies that will print custom book covers to help your bookshelf coordinate with your interior design. Read here to learn more about color-coordinating the books on your bookshelves The post Book Styling And Your Bookshelf | Writer’s Relief appeared ..read more

When you write a short story, poem, or novel, usually the dream is to see your work published. You may not even imagine that your work could end up in the hands of readers from other cultures or in faraway countries! At Writer’s Relief, our experts know cultural differences might mean some readers won’t understand your references, and language barriers may result in interpretations you didn’t intend. How can you ensure your writing appeals to and is understood by a diverse audience? Whether your readers live nearby or many, many miles away—or speak English, Spanish, or even Elvish or Klingon ..read more

As any writer knows, rejection is part of the writing life. Even authors who are now famous have received their fair share of rejection letters! Which makes us wonder: If William Shakespeare queried publishers today, what would be noted in his rejection letters? Fortunately, this article Writer’s Relief found on ElectricLiterature.com has the answer! From “I had trouble staying connected with the characters of Romeo and Juliet” to “the main characters ALL die? It was too much for me, so I’m going to pass” and  more, here’s a tongue-in-cheek look at Shakespeare’s potential modern-day reje ..read more

Ah, the writer’s dream life! Living in a secluded cabin next to a babbling brook and creating the next best-seller as inspiration whispers through the trees. Alas, it’s time to wake up and smell the stale coffee left over from last night’s writing session: Most creative writers have day jobs. As working writers, we have to squeeze in our writing when we’re off the clock. And with a limited amount of time available, it’s easy for our writing to be pushed aside for other tasks and responsibilities. Fortunately, the time-management experts at Writer’s Relief have some tips and advice on how to b ..read more

Picture books have come a long way since Little Golden Books released The Three Little Kittens back in 1942. Today’s picture books don’t always rhyme, and they often feature innovative visuals and topics that are much more complex than the classic bedtime stories. What hasn’t changed, though, is the importance of picture books to young readers: Picture books can foster a lifelong love of reading, teach tolerance and social skills, and make the world more accessible to children. If you’re thinking about writing a picture book, the research and publishing experts at Writer’s Relief have noted 1 ..read more

While we’re eagerly awaiting all the books to be released in 2023, we need something to read now! Fortunately, this article Writer’s Relief found on Literary Hub at bookmarks.reviews offers a great list of the award-winning books of 2022. You’ll find the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen, the National Book Award winner The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty, Booker Prize winner The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka and many more winners of prestigious book awards, as well as the titles that were finalists! See the entire list of award-winning books from 2022 ..read more

Not every character in a short story or novel should be likable or relatable—and that includes protagonists! While it’s easy to root for the sympathetic characters and to care about their goals and struggles, unsympathetic characters are important too. Unsympathetic characters are usually less relatable, and their actions may be driven by selfishness or a skewed vision. In fact, they may seem downright evil! But at Writer’s Relief, we know even the most evil, unsympathetic character should have a personality trait or backstory that will grab your readers’ interest. Here are 7 tips for writing ..read more

Sometimes writing can be a lonely journey marked by self-doubt and rejection letters. This is why it’s very important to find a like-minded writing community and surround yourself with support and encouragement. Connecting with other writers can provide a camaraderie that will enrich your life while refining your writing skills. But, while most writers are friendly and helpful, at Writer’s Relief we know there are a few personality types who might not have your best interests at heart. Here are 5 toxic personalities writers should avoid. Toxic Writer Personalities To Avoid The Overachiever ..read more