Kate M. Colby's Blog, page 15
June 13, 2016
Revisions, Revisions, Revisions
My best editing tip? Stay focused on the end rewards!
After a grueling first drafting, I’m pleased to report that the content revision for Desertera #2 went smoothly.
In case you weren’t around when I explained my content edit experience with The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1), here’s the skinny: Essentially, my editor combs through the manuscript looking for plot holes, dropped story lines, character development issues, etc. When she’s done, I receive a summary document with her overarching comments and a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the book. Likewise, she returns my manuscript with her suggested revisions and textual comments. Then, I go in and make revisions based on all of her feedback.
Besides the pleasure of getting my manuscript one step closer to publication, this content revision held a special reward. I could see how much I’ve improved as a writer from book one to book two. I learned from my mistakes with The Cogsmith’s Daughter, and most of the issues my editor spotted last time never arose in the sequel. While a few of them did (and of course, I had a couple new kinks to work out), this draft was much cleaner and a hell of a lot less holey than my first novel. That, in itself, is my greatest pride with book two so far.
So…what’s next?
Because I have nearly two weeks until my deadline for line editing, I’m going to take a quick second (but really third) pass through Desertera #2. Then, the novel will be off to the next round of editing. During the line editing process, a different editor will scour my manuscript for issues with sentence structure, consistency in details and voice, and larger grammar problems. To learn more about this process, you can watch this vlog.
After that? Proofreading, cover design, formatting…and publication!
If The Cogsmith’s Daughter is any indicator, the next few phases should fly by. I’m still on track for an early September release, and I cannot wait to share my second brain child with you all. Stay tuned for future updates (though my newsletter subscribers always hear big news first), and maybe even a few sneak peaks!
Filed under: The Desertera Series, Writing Updates Tagged: desertera, editing, indie author, revising, self-publishing, the cogsmith's daughter, writing, Writing Updates 
June 8, 2016
Indie Book Review: Hammer of the Gods by Christina Ochs
Hammer of the Gods (The Desolate Empire Book 3) by Christina Ochs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hammer of the Gods by Christina Ochs is the third novel in the Desolate Empire series. You can read my reviews of the first two books, Rise of the Storm and Valley of the Shadow by clicking their titles. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, I’ll be focusing on the quality of Hammer of the Gods itself and my personal reactions to it.
I’ve said it once with these books, and I’ll say it again now: the Desolate Empire series is all-ages Game of Thrones. Ochs has crafted a vivid and complex world, with a large cast of engaging characters who are constantly locked in political maneuvers, fierce battles and other life-and-death struggles.
And Hammer of the Gods is the most intense yet. The story picks up right where Valley of the Shadows left off, and the reader is thrown straight into the action. The only thing I struggled with in the beginning was remembering some of the supporting characters and the world’s geography. If you’re in the same boat: don’t worry. Ochs provides maps at the beginning of the text and a glossary of persons and locations in the back to help you out.
As with the other two novels in this series, Hammer of the Gods rotates from multiple perspectives, with short chapters that allow you to breeze through the book despite its length. Ochs manages to cover years’ worth of action without making you feel like you’re missing anything. While sometimes this does result in more “summary” than I personally like, the fast pace and the detail of the main scenes make up for it.
Whether from Och’s writing talent, the intensity of the plot, or my now three-book relationship with the characters, I found myself having uncharacteristically strong emotional reactions to Hammer of the Gods. At different stages during my reading, I found myself fist-pumping, biting my knuckles, grinning from ear-to-ear, and holding back tears — all while on the train, of course.
If you’re a fan of “soft” cliffhangers, you’ll adore the ending. Like the other two novels, the main battles of Hammer of the Gods come to a close, but the individual characters leave us with some burning questions as to their fates and/or next moves. I found each character’s journey and growth profoundly satisfying, and I’m pleased with where each one is left at the end of the novel. There were a few twists that I did not expect throughout the story, and I’m very excited to see how they affect the next novel.
Fans of epic fantasy, historical fantasy, and/or military fiction need to read this series. Between bloody battles, political collusion, romances, religious zealotry, and even a dash of magic, Hammer of the Gods has something for everyone. Do yourself a favor and buy the entire Desolate Empire series NOW. And hell, at the time of this writing, Rise of the Storm (The Desolate Empire Book 1) is FREE on Amazon — there’s literally nothing stopping you from making your reading life 100x better today.
You can find out more about Christina Ochs on her website, and you can read an interview with her on The 2016 2K Indie Books Tour here.
If you are interested in reading Hammer of the Gods and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it at my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.
Filed under: Book Reviews Tagged: book review, christina ochs, epic fantasy, fiction, hammer of the gods, historical fantasy, indie book, indie book review, self-publishing
June 3, 2016
Book Review: The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) by Kate M. Colby
“A magical read that will leave you craving for more.” Can’t ask for better praise than that!
Head on over to The Reading Bud for Heena’s 5-star review of The Cogsmith’s Daughter (and dozens of other insightful book reviews).
Author: Kate M. Colby
Release Date: October 15, 2015
Series: Desertera
Genre: Dystopian | Steampunk | Fantasy
Edition: Ebook (mobi)
Pages: 306
Publisher: Boxthorn Press
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★★
Blurb:
In a desert wasteland, one king rules with absolute power and unquenchable lust, until the cogsmith’s daughter risks everything for vengeance.
Two-hundred years ago, the steam-powered world experienced an apocalyptic flood. When the waters dried up, the survivors settled around their moored steamship in a wasteland they named Desertera. Believing the flood and drought were caused by a scorned goddess, the monarchs demanded execution for anyone who commits the unforgivable sin—adultery.
Today, King Archon entraps his wives in the crime of adultery, executing each boring bride to pursue his next infatuation. Most nobles overlook King Archon’s behavior, but when Lord Varick’s daughter falls victim to the king’s schemes, he vows revenge.
When Aya…
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Filed under: The Cogsmith's Daughter, The Desertera Series Tagged: book review, desertera, fantasy, indie books, science fiction, SFF, steampunk
June 1, 2016
Month-End Update: May 2016
Happy June, everyone! I hope you all had a productive and fun May (if so, feel free to share your achievements in the comments!). Professionally, I didn’t get as far in my revisions of Desertera #2 as I would have liked, but Daniel and I did have a few unexpected (but welcome) social engagements pop up throughout the month, so personally, it was a great few weeks.
As I head into June, I am going to keep my focus on a few big goals. First, I’ll be finishing the content edit revisions of Desertera #2, so that it can go to line editing at the end of the month. As always, I’ll be working on my next nonfiction booklet, 100 Action & Adventure Writing Prompts, and if time allows, I am more than ready to dive into Desertera #3.
Last, I wanted to let you all know that I have officially joined Tumblr. You can find me at http://katemcolby.tumblr.com. If you’re also on Tumblr, feel free to follow me, and I’ll happily return the favor!
But first, let’s recap May:
Writing
Blog Posts Written — 8
Fiction Words Written — 0
# of Days I Wrote Fiction — 0
Nonfiction Prompts Written — 100 prompts (plus front/back matter material)
# of Days I Wrote Non-Fiction — 10
Outlines Written — 1 (100 Action & Adventure Writing Prompts)
Days Without Writing and/or Editing — 12
Editing/Revising
Drafts Revised — Content Edit of Desertera #2 (over 2/3 through the manuscript)
# of Days I Revised — 9
Reading
Books Finished
Spike: After the Fall by Brian Lynch
Change of Life by Samantha Bryant
How to Sell More Books with Awesome Amazon Descriptions by Jim Kukral (booklet)
Spike: The Complete Series by Brian Lynch
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8 (Volume 3) by Joss Whedon
The Universe Doesn’t Give a Flying Fuck About You by Johnny B. Truant (booklet)
You are Dying and Your World is a Lie by Johnny B. Truant (booklet)
Disobey by Johnny B. Truant (booklet)
How to Live Forever by Johnny B. Truant (booklet)
Books Begun/In-Progress
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Hammer of the Gods by Christina Ochs
Books Reviewed on the Blog
Change of Life by Samantha Bryant – read review
*Remember, I review every book I read on my Goodreads page.
Author Business Activities
Published 100 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 5)
Recorded and posted a vlog
Participated in the #WriteWeMay Instagram challenge
Scheduled online events for July
Goals for June
Finish the content edit revisions of Desertera #2
Write and publish 100 Action & Adventure Writing Prompts
Begin drafting Desertera #3
Who else has accomplishments to share from May? What are your goals for June? Share in the comments!
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: Author Business, blogging, book review, books, creative writing prompts, fantasy, goals, historical fiction, independent publishing, indie author, manuscript, nonfiction, revising, science fiction, self-publishing, steampunk, writing
May 28, 2016
500 Prompts Down, 500 More to Go!
Happy Saturday! Happy Memorial Day weekend to my fellow Americans (and thank you to anyone reading who has served our country)!
I’m pleased to report that 100 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts, the fifth volume in my Fiction Ideas series, is published and available for FREE on Amazon. You can read the full description below.
So far, I’m really happy with these booklets. I’ve received enthusiastic feedback from a few readers, and it seems the booklets are doing exactly what I’d hoped: providing inspiration to others. On a personal level, they’ve also been very fun and challenging for me to write. I’m stretching my creative muscles, pushing myself to explore genres in which I never thought I could write, and even learning more about the literary world (and in this case, history!) along the way.
At the halfway point (500 prompts, 5 booklets), I’m very relieved that I’ve yet to run out of ideas. One concern I had going into this project was that I would really struggle with coming up with so many prompts without repeating myself. While a few sub-genres have been tricky, and I’m sure a few themes have repeated, so far so good.
Thank you to all who have read my booklets and are looking forward to the rest of the series. I couldn’t do this without your support and encouragement. Happy writing!
100 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts (Fiction Ideas Vol. 5)
Do you want to share your love of history through fiction? This booklet contains 100 writing prompts to help you get started.
Do you have an adventure burning inside you but feel trapped by writer’s block?
Are you an established author looking for fresh, new ideas?
If you’re ready to stop staring at the blank page and start writing NOW, 100 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts is the booklet for you. There’s no fluff and no wasted words – just 100 fiction prompts to get you back to what you do best: writing.
Since Homer’s The Odyssey, writers have used historical events and legends to inspire their writings.100 Historical Writing Prompts is packed with character- and story-focused prompts to help you join this tradition. The prompts have been designed to address various historical events, locations, and cultures.
Inside, you’ll find prompts related to the following time periods:
1. Ancient Egypt
2. Ancient Greece
3. The Middle Ages
4. Feudal Japan
5. The Renaissance
6. The Age of Discovery
7. The Age of Revolution
8. The Victorian Era
9. The 1920s to 1950s
10. The 1960s & 1970s
Each section contains 10 thought-provoking prompts. Practice them in order, or dive right into to what inspires you most. You’ve already wasted enough energy on writer’s block. It’s time to get started on your fantasy tale today.
Relive the past. Download 100 Historical Fiction Writing Prompts today.
Filed under: Kate's Nonfiction for Writers, Writing Updates Tagged: amazon, amwriting, creative writing, fiction ideas, free books, historical fiction, kindle, nonfiction for writers, writing ideas, writing prompts
May 25, 2016
How to Feed Your Book Addiction (for Free!)
As bookworms, we have a nearly uncontrollable urge to devour stories. Without a book in our hands or our bags, we feel alone, lost. If you hit the bookstore often (which I highly recommend), the habit can get a bit expensive. And if you’re like me (supporting a husband through graduate school), you don’t always have the extra cash to splurge on books. Well, luckily for all of us, there are lots of great ways to read new books for free.
Here are just a few:
The Kansas City Public Library
Your local library
Yes, these still exist. I’ve been using mine ever since we moved to New Haven, and I forgot just how freeing it can be.
Email book blasts
There are tons of email lists you can sign up for that will send you a daily/weekly list of free (or discounted) books customized to your tastes. (Authors: these are also a great way to advertise.) The biggest is BookBub, but there is also FreeBooksy, The Fussy Librarian, and several more.
Online retailers
It may take a long time to search through the sites and find an interesting title, but it can be done. Many independent authors offer a free book (especially the first in the series) to introduce you to their body of work.
Offer book reviews
Books live and die by reader reviews, and often, authors will provide free copies to readers in exchange for a review. While it’s not polite to just go around asking authors for free books, they’ll usually advertise when they would like to give them out on their website, social media, or email newsletters. And, if you review books regularly on Goodreads or a blog, the authors may even come to you!
Another great way to get free books to review is NetGalley. This is also one of your only opportunities to get free traditionally published books. It’s totally free to sign up as a reviewer, and you can download anything that looks exciting to you.
Contests
Speaking of Goodreads, it allows authors to host paperback giveaways. Also, Amazon has recently introduced ebook giveaways (find them by searching #AmazonGiveaway on Twitter), and independent authors often give books away in conjunction with blog tours or new releases. There are plenty of others to be found in various corners of the internet, too.
Author email newsletters
If you enjoy an author’s work (or think you will), find out whether or not they have an author newsletter or reader list. If so, there’s a decent chance that they offer a free book for signing up or the opportunity to receive an advance review copy of unpublished works.
Participate in a book exchange
Find a group of friends or other readers who are willing to do a book trade. This way, you can make room on your bookshelves and introduce your favorite books to someone new.
How NOT to get free books? Illegal downloads or other forms of copyright infringement. Sure, big publishers and established authors may not “feel” the effects of pirating, but we up-and-coming authors need every sale we can get (for things like sales rank and exposure, not just money to write more books). Your $0.99, $2.99, or even $14.95 goes a LONG way.
How to “pay” an author for a free book
If you enjoy one of your free books, there are a few ways you can “pay” the author that are incredibly valuable.
Leave them a glowing review on Goodreads and/or online retailers.
Share their work through social media or old-fashioned word-of-mouth.
Send them an email or shout out on social media.
Sign up for their newsletter or follow them on social media.
And, of course, keep them in mind next time you have room in your book budget!
I hope this helps you keep your inner bookworm and your wallet satisfied. Happy reading!
Filed under: Musings & Bookish Things Tagged: amazon, book lover, bookbub, books, bookworm, free books, freebooksy, giveaways, goodreads, reading, the fussy librarian
May 20, 2016
Five Ways to Hang onto Motivation
Have you ever felt super-motivated to write, learn a new recipe, clean out your closet, etc. at the most inconvenient time, only to completely lose all motivation when you finally have a free moment?
Yeah, me too. So, how do you reclaim that burst of inspiration when you have free time? And better yet, how do you hang onto motivation and avoid losing it altogether?
Well, there’s no magic formula (obviously), but here are a few tricks you can try.
Record how you feel in the moment
You may not have time to write 1,000 words or paint a masterpiece when motivation strikes…but you may have time to capture that spirit. Scribble down how jazzed you are about your idea, gush about it in a voice-recording app, or share a quick post on social media. Then, when you’re feeling lazy later, refer back to it and get yourself psyched up again. (You can also do this after being productive to remind yourself how satisfying it was!)
Write down your goals
In one of your rare free moments, write out what it is you’re working towards, whether it be a finished book, full-time creative work, or a clutter-free house. Post your goals where you work, either at your desk, on the fridge, or on your phone’s home screen. Whenever you feel like procrastinating, read them aloud to yourself. Focusing on the long term can make the short term feel less grueling.
Schedule a session and show up
I have a nightly writing/author work session after dinner. Sometimes, I have zero motivation to be productive. But I’ve found that, if I sit down with a glass of water, log onto the computer, and open a Scrivener document or WordPress post…eventually, I will work. Just by showing up, my brain recognizes that it is time to write and the creativity comes.
Find role models
Chances are other people have achieved your goals, so look to them for motivation. Bookmark their website for reference, post their quotations on your wall, or read or listen to an interview with them before you sit down to work. Not only will this make you feel less alone, but it just might engender a healthy sense of competition and get your butt in gear.
Reward yourself
When you do your writing or meet your other daily goals, give yourself a treat — a chocolate, a cheap ebook, or even just a gold star on your calendar. If you’re like me and tend to cheat (as in justifying not working with lawyer-like skill, then rewarding yourself anyway), find a friend or family member to be the keeper of the rewards. (And make sure it is someone who won’t fall for your puppy dog eyes!)
These five items are tactics to increase your motivation, and they might not all work for you. However, the underlying strategies likely will, once you figure out your personal ways to execute them. Those strategies are: knowledge of and commitment to your goals, a sense of purpose, self-discipline, and being kind to yourself. If you can do those things in one way or another, you’ll learn to keep your motivation close by so it is ready to smash some goals when you are.
When do you feel most motivated? How do you regain motivation on sluggish days? Share your tips in the comments!
Filed under: Writing Craft & Tips Tagged: goals, inspiration, motivation, writing advice, writing tips
May 18, 2016
FREE Book Alert!
Are you struggling with writer’s block?
Do you feel that novel burning inside you but are unsure where to begin?
If you’re ready to stop staring at the blank page and start writing NOW, 100 General Creative Writing Prompts is the booklet for you. There’s no fluff and no wasted words – just 100 fiction prompts to get you back to what you do best: writing.
100 General Creative Writing Prompts is packed with character- and story-focused prompts to jumpstart your fiction writing. Each prompt has been carefully designed to help you boost your creativity, build new writing techniques, add descriptive flair to your narration, and bring greater depth to your characters.
And the best part? It’s FREE on Amazon, through Saturday.
Craving your next fiction read instead?
My friend and fellow author Kara Jorgensen has her Ingenious Mechanical Devices series on sale until tomorrow. If you’re a fan of steampunk, historical fiction, strong female characters, dark magic and/or LGBT voices, you want these books. Trust me.
CLICK HERE for the full details.
Filed under: Writing Updates Tagged: books, books for writers, creative writing, free books, free kindle books, historical fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, writing advice, writing prompts, writing tips
May 17, 2016
Book Review: Change of Life by Samantha Bryant
Change of Life (A Menopausal Superhero Novel #2) by Samantha Bryant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclaimer: I was given a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain minor spoilers.
Change of Life by Samantha Bryant is the sequel to Going Through the Change (you can read my review here). As such, this review of Change of Life will contain spoilers for Going Through the Change. Consider yourself warned.
Still here? Right, let’s do this.
Change of Life by Samantha Bryant continues the story of our favorite band of menopausal superheroes. In this novel, Jessica (the gravity-defying cancer survivor) and Leonel (the strong “man” formerly known as Linda) are working for the Department, a secret government organization that specializes in finding, training, and sometimes defeating individuals with superhuman abilities, as well as other spy-related missions. Patricia (the Hulk-like dino-woman) is on the hunt for her former friend and evil mastermind Cindy Liu, who has disappeared after the events of Going Through the Change. Helen (the fire-wielding villain) has also gone missing, and her daughter Mary (a non-super, albeit fiery, young woman) has gone looking for her.
As you can tell, there is a lot going on in Change of Life. And yet, Bryant weaves a complete and engaging narrative, giving each character her fair share of the spotlight and emotional depth. (This includes our newest hero, Sally Ann, who is Jessica’s trainer within the Department.) The plot moves quickly and smoothly, keeping the reader entertained and trying to unravel the mystery along the way. Part of the pacing comes from the narrative style — short chapters and alternating perspectives — which allows the reader to view the conflicts from all angles and ensures that there is a heroine to whom everyone can relate.
Perhaps my favorite part of Change of Life (and Going Through the Change) is how Bryant uses her different characters to challenge and celebrate the different forms of womanhood. From housewives to business women, and from child-free ladies to grandmothers, Bryant depicts womanhood from all angles, showcasing the similarities and differences in how “the change” effects each of them. Moreover, Bryant explores how traditionally “feminine” and “masculine” personality traits can both be positive for her female characters. For example, one of Leonel (aka Linda’s) greatest assets is her ability to listen and her caring nature, while Patricia finds strength in her independent spirit and take-no-bullshit attitude.
This being said, my only criticism about Change of Life was that sometimes the narrative stalled on characters’ emotions a bit too long. While the internal monologues did increase my understanding of the characters, sometimes they bordered on repetitive, and other times I would rather have “seen” the characters’ emotional states emerge through their physical reactions to the conflicts in the story.
Slow spots aside, the real jewel of Change of Life is the character development. As a reader, I couldn’t help but feel inspired as the characters embraced both their superpowers and the changes their powers caused in their personal lives. For instance, Jessica learning to master her “flying” and no longer fear it made me incredibly proud, and Leonel standing up for herself and finally focusing on herself after a lifetime of being a wife and mother first showed her strength and made me love her even more. All of the characters have similar growths and will endear themselves to the reader twofold in this novel.
Overall, Change of Life is a fitting sequel. Packed with action, drama, and a dash of romance, and led by a cast of strong, complex, and diverse women, it’s everything you’d want in a “menopausal” superhero novel. Highly recommended for superhero-lovers of all genders, ages, and levels of geeky-ness.
View all my reviews on Goodreads
You can find out more about Samantha Bryant on her website, and you can read an interview where she discusses her inspiration for Change of Life here.
If you are interested in reading Change of Life and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.
Filed under: Book Reviews Tagged: book review, change of life, chick lit, going through the change, samantha bryant, science fiction, speculative fiction, strong female characters, superhero, womens fiction
May 11, 2016
3 Days Quotation Challenge
It’s been a while since I’ve done a blogging challenge, so when friend and fellow word lover Charles French nominated me (thanks, Charles!), I was excited to dive back into one. Of course, being the rebel that I am, I’ll be bending a few rules and putting my own spin on this particular challenge…
The Official Rules:
1.) Either once a day for three days, post a quotation, or post all 3 quotations at one time. It is your choice.
^All at once, kids.
2.) Nominate and notify three other bloggers of the challenge.
^Anyone reading this can consider themselves nominated. Just tag this post so I can share your quotations on social media!
3.) Thank the blogger who nominated you.
^Check.
Here we go: three quotations, three bookwormy loves, and three lessons for writers.
“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.”
– Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Pure poetry. Say what you want about the content of this novel, but Nabokov’s writing is nothing short of poetic. This quotation is the opening paragraph, and it drips with poetic devices from simple alliteration and assonance to the lyrical movement of the syllables. It’s music to my bookworm ears (eyes?). If you’ve only ever written prose, take the time to dabble in poetry. It’ll pay off for you and your readers.
“Eat their #%&@ing ovaries!”
– Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 Volume 3 by Joss Whedon
Just when I thought the Buffyverse could not endear itself to me any further, it gives me homicidal, vampiric, Hello-Kitty knock-off stuffed animals. When I came to this panel, I laughed out loud…and it’s obviously stuck with me. I love it when books can throw something this ridiculous at you and still make it fit the story and the tone. A note for writers: stuff like this is bold and will isolate some readers…but your true fans? They’ll eat it up. Learn the time and place.
“Killing a man should be harder than waving a length of pipe in their direction. It should take long enough for one’s conscience to get in the way.”
– Wool by Hugh Howey
As if I haven’t raved about the Silo trilogy enough lately, I’ll do it one more time. To me, fiction has a social obligation to contain some sort of message. Maybe it’s as simple as “always double-tap in the zombie apocalypse.” Maybe it’s something deeper. Wool encompassed several serious, important themes, and that was one of my favorite parts of the novel. How can you impart themes or messages you care about in your own works?
There you have it! Three quotations I adore, why my bookworm brain loves them, and quick considerations for the writers in the crowd. If you’re up for it, take on the challenge yourself, or leave a quotation of your own in the comments!
Filed under: Blog Awards, Musings & Bookish Things Tagged: 3 days quotation challenge, blog challenge, books, buffy the vampire slayer, comics, hugh howey, literature, lolita, poetry, quotations, quotes, science fiction, wool, writing advice, writing tips
