Every successful writer knows that you need a tribe. You need fellow writers, mentors, critique partners and organizations that will help you excel and achieve your goals. But if you're a new writer, you may have no idea how to find or create that community of support that you need. Here are some helpful tips to guide you: Writing Friends Start by seeing if you know anyone who is a writer and is already part of a writing community or critique group. It is always helpful to ha

Be Brave! Most writers are introverts, so telling them to go to a writing conference or critique meeting where they don’t know anyone and talk to people, is akin to asking them to stick a hot poker in their eye. Do it anyway. Push through the anxiety and discomfort and force yourself to do it. I found some of my best writer friends because I made myself be brave. Be Patient! It can be discouraging once you start learning all the stuff you didn’t realize you didn’t know abo

What is a high-concept plot? High-concept plots are easy to pitch, highly marketable story ideas driven by a simple, "what if" premise with immediate hook appeal. They are usually characterized by high stakes, broad commercial appeal, and a clear, often visual, central conflict that can be summarized in one or two sentences. For example: What if we could clone dinosaurs? (Jurassic Park) Before you know the characters, the island, or the science behind it, the premise already