*NOTICE: As of May 18th, 2017, we are no longer accepting submissions.*
Do you have a certain expertise when it comes to writing? Find a topic that you have lots of experience with, and send us an article over it.
When you're ready, fill out this Google Form to reserve the topic! https://goo.gl/forms/MzOy2I1ZFtg0YRMB2
Your articles should be 1-5 pages, anywhere from about 200-2000ish words, give or take some. You might also have the opportunity to write more than one article, so let us know if there is more than one topic that you are really passionate about.
Keep in mind, this book is intended to be for mostly budding (probably teen) writers, and it’d be nice if it read kind of like a conversation. We don’t want this to be too dense.
Available Topics
You can write about the general topic, or one of the smaller, more specific topics. You’re encouraged to use personal examples and stories. If you want to write on something not listed here, go ahead! This is just to get us started. Also, if you have a ton of topic ideas, let me know and I’ll add them to this list. The final order/organization of these topics will fluctuate.
This is like ordering coffee - mix, mash, and tweak these topics until you have something that fits you perfectly.
Writing (technique)
Writing Routine and Lifestyle (methodology) (probably have multiple people for a lot of these)
Inspiring yourself when you are not inspired
Writing with Mental Illness - can have a few people for each if enough interest. Can combine. Personal stories and advice, encouragement
General Inspiration for Writers
Productive Procrastination - working on your novel without actually writing...please add more topics here!
Reading
Finding Purpose in Writing/Faith
Career/Publishing
Blogging - tons of potential for this section, add more topics!
Networking
Near End
Again, feel free to ignore this whole list (you rebel) and write about whatever you're inspired to!
Here's the Google Form link again, in case you lost it! https://goo.gl/forms/MzOy2I1ZFtg0YRMB2
Do you have a certain expertise when it comes to writing? Find a topic that you have lots of experience with, and send us an article over it.
When you're ready, fill out this Google Form to reserve the topic! https://goo.gl/forms/MzOy2I1ZFtg0YRMB2
Your articles should be 1-5 pages, anywhere from about 200-2000ish words, give or take some. You might also have the opportunity to write more than one article, so let us know if there is more than one topic that you are really passionate about.
Keep in mind, this book is intended to be for mostly budding (probably teen) writers, and it’d be nice if it read kind of like a conversation. We don’t want this to be too dense.
Available Topics
You can write about the general topic, or one of the smaller, more specific topics. You’re encouraged to use personal examples and stories. If you want to write on something not listed here, go ahead! This is just to get us started. Also, if you have a ton of topic ideas, let me know and I’ll add them to this list. The final order/organization of these topics will fluctuate.
This is like ordering coffee - mix, mash, and tweak these topics until you have something that fits you perfectly.
Writing (technique)
- Character building
- Motive
- Your favorite topic: the villain - TAKEN
- When and when not to use archetypes/stereotypes - TAKEN
- How to make a character come alive - realistic characters - TAKEN
- Using Pinterest and other things for character development - TAKEN
- Backstory - TAKEN
- Side characters - TAKEN
- World Building
- Developing languages - TAKEN
- Map making - TAKEN
- (Other topics over world building are still available)
- Naming things!
- Titles, character names - TAKEN
- Dialogue
- Eavesdropping, inspiration from conversation around you - TAKEN
- Tags (concise/tags vs. no tags)
- Making characters’ speech distinct. Can multiple characters say that line?
- Pacing
- Writing for an audience
- Chapter length - freedom of formatting
- Different kinds of poetry - TAKEN
- Poetry - defining traditional formats
- Poetry - free verse
- Theme and passion - TAKEN
- Creative nonfiction
- Autobiographical
- Stream-of conscious
- Journaling - TAKEN
- Writing articles
- Genre Snapshots - What’s That Genre? (Tips and definitions and general info)
- Steampunk
- Dystopia - TAKEN
- Historical fiction - TAKEN
- Tips for researching Historical fiction - TAKEN
- Fantasy
- Mythpunk - TAKEN
- Science Fiction - TAKEN
- Retellings - TAKEN
- On mixed genres
- (Add your genre)
- Editing
- How to pull through a second draft
- Types of editing - line edits, concept, big picture
- How many drafts do I need?
- Keeping your writing secret vs. sharing with friends as you go
- To outline or not to outline: plotters vs pantsers
- Zero Drafts - TAKEN
- Voice
- Experimental/conceptual writing
- Co-authors - opinions, experiences (interview style with a few people?) - TAKEN (can maybe have some more)
- The importance of writing
- Tips for staying focused (no wifi, etc. blocks of time, breaks.) - TAKEN
- Killing the perfectionist in you. (timed, goals, websites, making your past text white, handwriting to not edit.)
- Alpha/beta readers - TAKEN
- Brainstorming - TAKEN (can have another person or two write over this)
Writing Routine and Lifestyle (methodology) (probably have multiple people for a lot of these)
- Discipline/Schedule - which do you use?
- Number of words each day
- Time goal each day
- Write whenever!
- Write never! (no, bad writer)
- Discipline vs. waiting for inspiration
- Discipline and Schedule/Time Management as a Busy Writer - TAKEN
- Multiple projects at a time or just one?
- What makes a person a writer - TAKEN
- Morning vs. night writing? TAKEN (but can have another)
- DRINK CAFFEINE, HAVE PETS.
- Handwriting vs. typing - TAKEN (?)
- Slang writers use! (charries, WIP, etc. - define)
- Maintaining health while writing - carpal tunnel, proper posture, diet, breaks
- Journaling - TAKEN
Inspiring yourself when you are not inspired
- Inspiring yourself when you're not inspired - TAKEN
- Music
- Other art, importance of doing other things too
- What you do when you're not writing - TAKEN
- “What if” questions - think outside the box, make list of What If questions - TAKEN
- How to see the world as an artist - TAKEN
- Write a big exciting scene a ways ahead, to know where you’re going, if you’re stuck
- Taking a break - it’s okay to not be constantly producing words.
- How to write when you're not inspired - TAKEN
- Tips on staying focused - TAKEN
- Having a friend to encourage you - TAKEN
Writing with Mental Illness - can have a few people for each if enough interest. Can combine. Personal stories and advice, encouragement
- General
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Confidence and writing with mental illness (anxiety and depression) - TAKEN
- OCD - TAKEN (but we could have another few people do this one)
- ADHD - TAKEN (but can have more)
- Bipolar disorder
- Trigger warnings
- Writing characters with mental illness - TAKEN
- Nonverbal learning disorder - TAKEN
- (Add others)
General Inspiration for Writers
- Follow your dreams
- Worth of your words - someone needs your words - TAKEN
- Overcoming fear - TAKEN
- You don’t have to be an adult to write
- Believe in yourself
- (Infinite possibility for topics here folks, add your inspirational message to the writing world!)
- Embrace your process - TAKEN
- Making your mark on the world - TAKEN
Productive Procrastination - working on your novel without actually writing...please add more topics here!
- Assembling music playlists for projects
- Pinterest boards for writing aesthetics/collages, characters in depth and books - TAKEN
- Pinterest for prompts - TAKEN
- Creating art for your project
Reading
- If you can’t read, you can’t write - reading as inspiration
- Destroying your favorite books - marking them up, learning from them
Finding Purpose in Writing/Faith
- Why do you write? (have a number of people write short answers for this section)
- Combining fiction and faith - writing without "shoving it down someone's throat" - TAKEN
- Writing as a ‘mission field’, etc. - writing letters to strangers, etc. - TAKEN
- Your message
- Giving your writing to God - TAKEN
Career/Publishing
- Self-publishing process
- Platforms - Createspace, etc.
- Process
- Tips, warnings
- Marketing advice
- Traditional publishing process
- Self-publishing vs. traditional - pros and cons - TAKEN (?)
- Blogging
- Business cards (short article)
- Going to conferences (for both reading and writing)
- Writing: Hobby vs. Career?
- Going to college for writing/creative writing: pros and cons, advice - TAKEN (?)
- Agents
- Cover letters
- Covers
- Collaborating
Blogging - tons of potential for this section, add more topics!
- General
- Which platform to use? Blogger, WordPress, etc - pros and cons - few different people
- Scheduling posts in advance
- Developing your voice
- Audience
- How to build readership
Networking
- Social media outlets to pick and choose - creative ways to use them
- Twitter (where all the readers and writers and authors fangirl 24/7)
- Pinterest (read: procrastinate)
- Facebook (where your friends and family will see you)
- Blogging (where everyone can meet you)
- Instagram (where everyone can SEE you)
- Snapchat (we don’t know what this is even good for, but who knows. maybe your readers really want to see you in a flower crown.)
- Tumblr (#fandoms)
- (Advice on how to build a network on all or some of these)
- Writing conferences
- SAYING HI TO EVERYONE AND BEING A NICE PERSON
- Emailing authors to thank them, just really talking to everyone.
- Blogging
Near End
- On ignoring everything we’ve actually ever said and doing it your own way like a rebellious ingrate - freedom to write however you want
Again, feel free to ignore this whole list (you rebel) and write about whatever you're inspired to!
Here's the Google Form link again, in case you lost it! https://goo.gl/forms/MzOy2I1ZFtg0YRMB2