Writing Archives : JamiFairleigh.com

Rainforest Writers Retreat 2023

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Jami Fairleigh

Last week, I joined the Rainforest Writers at Retreat 2023 out on the Olympic Peninsula. Like before, I found the retreat experience productive and rejuvenating. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to gift yourself with several days...Read More

Write Your Hobby

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Jami Fairleigh

One of the easiest ways to write what you know is to incorporate something you know well, like a hobby, into your novel. Granted, I am a hobby person. So much so that I've taken to saying my hobby is...Read More

Software Review: Duotrope

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Jami Fairleigh

If you have unpublished short fiction, non fiction, or poetry, Duotrope is a great tool to help you find a publisher for it. What is Duotrope? Duotrope is a web-based subscription service that provides a global database of current publishers...Read More

Why Short-Form Fiction is Great for Writers

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Jami Fairleigh

Short-form fiction is perfect for today's digital consumer. Not only do short works require less of a time investment, they are concise, fast-paced, and many times incorporate a fun twist. These stories are often meant to be read in one...Read More

Enrich Your Writing with Sensory Details

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

Using sensory details in your writing is one of the best ways to capture your reader's attention. This is because incorporating sensory details empowers a reader to create a vivid mental picture of the scene. Not only do sensory words...Read More

Finding Balance with Multiple Writing Projects

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

In the past, I've struggled to balance multiple writing projects, so when I recently attempted working on two books simultaneously, I wasn't sure it would mesh for me. But instead of creative burnout, I found I'd developed a way to...Read More

Struggling Through a First Draft

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

Right now, I'm struggling through the first draft of Charcoal and Smoke, Book 3 in the Elemental Artist series. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this: "The steps to publish were much easier the second time around, but I...Read More

Writing the Second Book in a Series

Posted on March 4, 2022February 27, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

You've built your world, you've developed your characters, so writing the second book in the series should be easy. Right? Second Book Woes While it was a joy to return to the characters and this world, I found crafting this...Read More

Software Review: Plottr

Posted on January 28, 2022January 31, 2022 by Jami Fairleigh

If, like me, you are not a natural plotter but still need to keep your writing ideas organized, Plottr may be exactly the tool you've been searching for! Before I finished the first draft of Oil and Dust, I started...Read More

Why Stakes Matter in Your Story

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Jami Fairleigh

If you've ever put down a novel thinking... Why should I care about this [insert: character/story/world/etc.]? ... then you were probably reading a story where the stakes weren't clear. Stakes are why we care about the story, because they establish...Read More

How to Copy Edit Your Writing

Posted on November 19, 2021December 8, 2023 by Jami Fairleigh

After the slog of revisions and rewrites, I arrive at my favorite step in the editing process—the copy edit. Not only is it fun to tweak words, the copy edit is critical for making sure a story is clear, comprehensible,...Read More

November’s Saggy Middle

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Jami Fairleigh

All right, scribblers, we're nearly at the middle of the month (aka the saggy middle), and it's time to take a hard look at where we are. If you're already at—or past—your mid-month goal of 25,000 words, keep typing! If,...Read More