Before I landed an agent and publishing deal, I read something on a well-regarded writerly website about similes. I think the advice went something like this: You shouldn’t have more than two similes in your entire story because they can…

Is there such a thing as a perfect crime? Eight months ago, forensic investigator Theresa MacLean lost her fiancé in a bank robbery gone wrong, and she’s had trouble concentrating on her work ever since. But now a particularly difficult…

Publishers Weekly is reporting that the Buy buttons are back for Macmillan authors’ books on Amazon.com. Says PW: Although the buttons were not restored to all of its titles by late Friday afternoon, sources said an agreement has been completed…

Lisa Black knows a thing or two about death. She’s worked in a coroner’s office as a forensic scientist, has testified in dozens of homicide trials, and has examined her share of fingerprints. It’s no wonder that, as an author,…

Still no sign of Amazon relenting to Macmillan, as all of that publisher’s books are unavailable to buy new from the site. In a (generous? mean-spirited?) half-concession, Amazon has been posting links to outside vendors who are selling those authors’…

The Intertubes were abuzz this past weekend, and not just because of Apple’s iPad. At least not directly. Amazon.com, retaliating against Macmillan books for demanding that their ebooks be sold using an “agency model” (where Amazon takes 30% of a…

We nearly forgot: Writer Unboxed is four years old today! Can’t wait to see what the next year brings. Until then, cake’s on us. Write on, all! Photo courtesy Flickr’s norwichnuts…

Who better to explain how important Voice is in story than someone who not only sees a mountain range of submissions on a regular basis but has the opportunity to receive feedback on those submissions from editors? I asked my…

I’ve struggled with a post for today like you wouldn’t believe. I analyzed my writing using Juliet’s fantastic list of Voice attributes, and even started a post. Then I decided it was obnoxious of me to use my own writing…

Writer Unboxed contributer and award-winning author Barbara O’Neal (AKA Barbara Samuel) released a new novel right before the New Year. Her last book, The Lost Recipe for Happiness, was a runaway success, going back to print many times. Her latest…

A quick note: I’ll be at Christina Katz’s blog tomorrow answering questions about my debut, The Last Will of Moira Leahy. If you’ve read the book–or even if you haven’t and have some general questions about it, my publishing journey,…

Writer Unboxed will be back in full swing next week, as we kick off not only the new year but a new craft month: Voice and POV. Here’s to a wildly successful 2010 for all of us! Write on. photo…

It happens to every writer now and then — you know, when you’re convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that your story is absolute crap and you have to toss every single word and start again, or come up…

I promised you a post on building Facebook ads, and this is it. I know, I know, you can barely contain your excitement! So why Facebook ads? Facebook ads are something the marketing team at Shaye Areheart Books recommended I…

Writer Unboxed has been named one of the top 101 websites for writers for three years running by Writer’s Digest. It’s nomination time again, and we’d be thrilled to collect another award! If WU is one of your fave sites,…

If you missed part 1 of my interview with Dashka Slater, where we discussed her lyrical, fascinating and comic novel of magical realism, The Wishing Box, click HERE, then come back. Today, Dashka tells us about her other writerly hats–children’s…

Kath and I have read our fair share of books for Writer Unboxed, and I’d be hard-pressed to name one I didn’t enjoy. But while on a family vacation recently, I decided to read something just for me. I chose…

A food-inspired post in honor of the holiday… So you work on a novel for, oh, let’s say six years, and you’re tired in a million ways. You’re wondering, Why would I ever, ever do this to myself again–besides the…

…Christina Cann! I chose Christina’s name randomly via a random number generator; she was lucky commenter #18. Thanks to SONY for the terrific giveaway, and thanks to all who commented in the SONY Reader contest, sharing memorable literary moments. Be…

Digital Influence Group contacted me recently on behalf of SONY. Would I be interested in giving away a SONY Reader Pocket Edition™ valued at $199.99 on Writer Unboxed? If I agreed, I would also receive a reader, as compensation for…

If you missed part one of my interview with independent book editor Lorin Oberweger, click HERE, then come back. Lorin not only has nearly two decades of experience in the publishing industry, she’s an expert at honing in on what…

WU contributor and bestselling fantasy author Juliet Marillier has a new book out! Heart’s Blood hits shelves in the US and Australia today. To celebrate, she would like to offer two copies of her new book to Writer Unboxed. Becoming…