by kristinoakley | Feb 24, 2023 | Books and Movies, Newsletter
Lately, I’ve been hooked on stories that mess with my mind. Not psychological thrillers, though I do love those, but stories that bend the rules of reality. For instance, Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (see my Writer’s Book Club for more about that...
by kristinoakley | Feb 13, 2023 | For Writers
You have an idea for a novel, but what do you do next? How do you begin? Let’s Start With the Basics: What is your idea? Write it down. Seriously. Many people say they have an idea for a book and never write it down. What is story? Story is simply a...
by kristinoakley | Feb 9, 2023 | Books and Movies, For Readers, Newsletter, Writer's Book Club
I finally finished reading Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, and I’m glad I did. The book interweaves five stories across many centuries. The stories are connected around the parable of Aethon and his search for the mythical Cloud Cuckoo Land. The book begins...
by kristinoakley | Jan 27, 2023 | For Writers
When I go to writing conferences, I’m amazed at the number of writers who don’t know what a developmental edit is. In fact, many aren’t aware at all of the various types of editing available and when you need them. I’m also amazed that some published...
by kristinoakley | Jan 26, 2023 | Newsletter, Writing Life
Big News — the release date for The Devil Particle is June 6th, 2023! But, you can read it sooner! How? By becoming an ARC reader. What’s an ARC reader? Authors and publishers send Advanced Reader Copies of books (ARCs) to readers in exchange for honest reviews...
by kristinoakley | Jan 18, 2023 | For Writers
Please note: This article was originally published on the Chicago Writers Association’s blog. You’ve just returned home from a writer’s conference and your head is spinning from all that you’ve learned. You had a wonderful time socializing with other writers—your...
by kristinoakley | Jan 13, 2023 | For Writers
Unforgettable characters resonate with readers and lead to more book sales. How can you create an unforgettable protagonist? First, ask yourself why you are writing about this character. What is it about them that makes you want to spend months or even years writing...
by kristinoakley | Jan 13, 2023 | Books and Movies, For Readers, Newsletter, Writer's Book Club
For this month’s Writer’s Book Club, I promised to review Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. But, I haven’t finished it — it’s 622 pages long and I’m a slow reader. However, while on my walks I did finish listening to the audiobook...
