The Lit World of Sylvia Hubbard

by Angela Ackerman In the real world, no two people are alike, which means each of us expresses emotion in our own way. Some people find it natural to share what they feel with those around them, while others find the idea of revealing what they feel horrifying and will avoid situations that could lead to such vulnerability. Most fall somewhere between these extremes. This spectrum of…

by Amanda Patterson Who are the four main characters in fiction? We explore how these character roles function as literary devices—and how you can use them to strengthen your stories. One of the easiest ways to tell if you have a plot, and not just a story idea, is by looking at the characters you’ve included in your story. You need to pay special attention to the four main characters who give…

by Kevin J. Duncan Audible has officially announced that its old royalty system is going away. And honestly, I think a lot of authors still don’t realize how big of a shift this is. For years, Audible operated more like a storefront. Someone used a credit, bought your audiobook, and you earned a percentage based on that transaction. The system had problems (plenty of them), but at least there…

By Rachel Thompson Photo by Kate Bezzubets on Unsplash You might sign up for an author fair hoping to sell a few books, but you’ll likely leave with much more than that. Planning for these events, though, can be confusing and exhausting if you’ve never participated in one before. I’d like to share what I’ve learned about why they matter, what they really cost, and how to sell your books…

  BLACK SUMMERS: "When the Whole Block Was Family" There was a time when the whole block knew your name. The neighbors on the porch kept watch. The elders corrected you when you got out of line. The older kids looked out for the younger ones. And somehow, everyone knew whose child you were. Growing up in the urban outdoors meant more than playing outside until the streetlights came on. It meant…

Read as the Author Writes Subscribe | Book Page | Become an Engagement or Premium Reader | Other Books By This Author | Become a Member Click here for the main story page for chapter parts, and get the password The first three chapters will be without the password (after June 1st). After Chapter 4, you will need the password to continue. Get it now Continued reading of this post means you…

by C. S. Lakin You’re probably wondering what microtension is, and what it has to do with fiction writing. Oddly, very little has been written on the topic, yet it’s an essential element that supercharges our writing. No, it’s not the tension created by conflict or suspense in a story. Just as its name implies: it’s tension on a micro level—the level of words and phrases, and the level of…

Pip: If you've ever watched a progress bar freeze at ninety-nine percent and felt something leave your body, Sylvia Hubbard has a post for you.Mara: This episode covers two territories from The Literary World of Sylvia Hubbard — early access perks for an upcoming serial novel, and the very human story of a paperback release that refused to cooperate. Let's start with the early access side of…

by Stephanie Hope I didn’t realize I was writing between cultures until I started questioning whether I was allowed to tell my own story.  I grew up in a small apartment in a predominantly Hispanic city in New Jersey, surrounded not by a large extended family, but by a tight, complicated household: my parents, siblings, and a single branch of relatives. Many Latinx upbringings celebrate large,…