For all the authors and playwrights in our community, a place to discuss, share content and post tips and advice.
Guys! Ashely wrote a killer blog for us! If you haven’t seen it yet, RUN to this post (and then implement all the things).
This is incredible!
P.S. I’ve been here for years, and I found this insanely valuable. Whether your new or a Stage 32 vet, check this out.
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Hey Authors and Playwrights,
I'm day 2 of a book tour. This means multiple book appearances in person on the same day and scheduled media. 9 days to go till it's all done. For now. Then I have another booked around Christmas.
I have to be 'ON' constantly... and I feel exhausted. I do remind myself tha...
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Lauren Hackney As a screenwriter, I can relate! The unexpected part is how exhausting it can be to stay “ON” constantly. Exciting, yes but definitely more demanding than you imagine. Wishing you energ...
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Hey, @Lauren. Congratulations on booking another tour! Hope you have a nice rest after the first tour!
As a sci-fi screenwriter, I’m drawn to building cyberpunk worlds when they offer a deep exploration of the darker sides of human nature—and a search for a way out.
Do you see cyberpunk this way too, or do you approach it differently in your writing?
That’s really interesting, Preston. When I saw your image, it made me think of a spacecraft belonging to someone living alone in space—lonely, but mysterious. Did that feeling come from one of your dreams?
A character’s choices often reveal more than their description ever could.
When beta reading, I pay attention to what characters do when the pressure rises.
Do their decisions match their personality? Do their choices create new problems? Do they reveal something about what the character truly wants?
S...
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Hi everyone,
I wanted to share a bit of my journey and ask how you handle moments of pure inspiration.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been a massive fan of crime novels. But for a long time, I was just a reader. Then, one day, a single idea sparked something in me. I didn't have a structured plot outl...
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"Hi Abraham, thanks so much for the support! I'd love to connect. Sending you a network request right now."
Are Ais wrong when it comes to longlines?
Yes logline Mark Anderson
Do you fancy a chat via messages and we can hash this out and try to get a handle why you are getting this? Usually it only happens if AI finds a weakness in the 4 (usually essential) components.. mor...
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It’s alright Mark Anderson im going see what I do to fix it Mark Anderson...
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No worries. Happy to help if you need it. Feel free to message any time and good luck!!
Thank you Mark Anderson i am self conscious when it comes to fixing stuff. I am a perfectionist and I know not everyone is perfect.
So, having joined this platform only a few days ago with a complete idea but no clue which direction to turn, I’ve been absolutely blown away.
The responses, the kind words, and the offers of help and collaboration have been incredible — and from some big names too. Thank you to everyone who’s reach...
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Do you:
A. Finish the first draft
B. Revise it once
C. Proofread it first
D. Wait until you feel completely stuck
There isn't one process that works for everyone. Sometimes, getting another perspective at the right stage can make revision much easier.
What's your approach?
Raven Willow Riley I really like your point about feedback being useful at different stages. Getting developmental feedback in chunks can definitely prevent a writer from spending pages developing som...
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David Taylor Haha, now you’ve got me curious, David. Is this a list of things you check before sending a script out for feedback, or a list of people whose feedback you trust? Either way, I’d love to hear what’s on it.
Debra Holland
I agree, Giving the reader a clean enough draft to engage with the actual story makes a big difference. I especially like the computer read aloud trick because it can reveal awkward dial...
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I look more for story-level feedback on things like character, pacing, and structure, @Grace.
For Bloom, I pushed the draft as far as I could on my own before seeking outside eyes. I went through multiple passes — structural, emotional, character‑driven, and clarity‑focused — and only once I f...
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A character having a goal is important. But what happens if they fail?
That’s where stakes come in.
When the consequences matter, even a simple decision can create tension. During a beta read, looking at both the goal and the consequences can reveal where a story may need more pressure.
Ask yourself: W...
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That's a helpful question to ask, @Grace. Speaking of goals, I give my character a story goal(s) and a life goal(s).
What do you usually notice first when reading someone else’s draft?
A. The characters
B. The opening
C. The dialogue
D. The pacing
E. Grammar and wording
It’s interesting how the same manuscript can stand out to different readers for completely different reasons.
What catches your attention first?
The opening of a story catches my attention first, @Grace, but also the characters in the opening.
Hey Authors and Playwrights,
2026 isn't proving to be a bumper year in sales... well... at least in children's publishing.
Any thoughts on what the next 18 months could look like for authors out there?
Cheers, Lauren
Hey, @Lauren. Congratulations on the sales! Hope you get more the rest of the year and next year!
Not everything that happens in a story makes it onto the page.
Sometimes I know exactly what happened between two characters, even though I've never written the scene. It's simply part of their history—and knowing it changes how I write everything that comes afterward.
Do you have scenes in your stori...
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Hi, Kat Spencer. I have scenes and things that just exist in my outline. I planned on using them, but I ended up not. Knowing those things helps me write the script though. And I saved the scene and t...
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You're welcome, Ethan Reed. And writers could save scenes and things they don't use in scripts because they might help writers pitch the scripts or explain things to producers, directors, etc. about the stories later on during pre-production, production, or post.
Totally. Some of the best things that happen between my characters never make it onto the page.
In a post-war period drama, knowing what happened in private, even if the reader never sees it, is what m...
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I LOVE this idea. Funnily enough, there are so many scenes that never make it into my scripts or novels. BUT! I do usually write them out. For me, it just helps ground me in the story. So I like mapping them out on paper or keyboard. So I usually do write them out, even if it's just for me.
Mine is for a book. I had a whole different and much longer ending planned but ran out of time on my deadline. So I had to come up with a different ending. Surprisingly to me, that book has the most positive reviews/stars on Amazon.
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