A hook serves one purpose: Getting a reader to want to know MORE.
Brain Break (English Class)

Hook, Line, and Sinker: Getting an Editor’s Attention

You've probably heard plenty of querying authors discuss a hook: the one-sentence summary of their plot. And you DO need one to catch an editor's eye. But you actually need to consider writing your hook BEFORE you finish that novel. WAY BEFORE. Say, before you start Chapter One.

Research is a major part of writing.
Brain Break (English Class)

Research Your Work – Without Getting Lost in Rabbit Holes

Creating your own worlds, creatures, and characters is half the fun of writing. But you can't go off the rails crazy and do whatever you want and still expect people to join you on the ride. There has to be SOME crumb of reality there. And that means conducting research before you write. As onerous a task as that sounds.

Writing a critique involves more than simply supplying a thumbs-up or thumbs-down
Brain Break (English Class)

How to Perform a Useful Writing Critique

Writers help each other out (or they SHOULD). And one of the biggest services is supplying critiques. But if you aren't familiar with best practices, you could end up doing more harm than good to your writing buddies. So let's review how to review a manuscript from start to finish, shall we?

Dialogue tags are one of the most controversial "rules" of writing
Brain Break (English Class)

Dialogue Tags: That’s What She Said

Writing a book is often at the top of a new writer's list of goals. And the moment they start asking for advice, "gurus" crawl out of the woodwork with rules and lessons. Most of which are complete nonsense. And one of the most controversial of those RULES involves how to handle dialogue tags.