Playlist for The Way of the Cicadas

Here are the songs that I listened to while I drafted The Way of the Cicadas.

Audrey HenleyJune 8, 2022writing, write tip, inspiration, musicComment

Nine Steps for Defining Character Motivation

I created this worksheet for myself to make sure that I had a clear understanding of my main characters’ motivations.

Audrey HenleyNovember 20, 2020writing, write tip, youtube, listicle, list, character, character motivation, revisingComment

Intermediate Microsoft Word for Writers

From working with critique partners, I’ve learned that many writers aren’t comfortable using some of Word’s handiest features.

Audrey HenleySeptember 9, 2018writing, microsoft word, how-to, technologyComment

What Counts as a Diverse Read?

Recently on Twitter, I participated in #PWPoePrompts for Pitch Wars, where I answered prompts once a day for a month. One of the prompts asked about our favorite diverse read.

Audrey HenleySeptember 3, 2018reading, diversity, irl, ownvoices, write tip, writing Comments

In Remission

A couple of years ago at a follow-up visit, I told my psychiatrist that the medicine he’d prescribed had really helped with depression. My symptoms were still there, but they were manageable.

Audrey HenleyAugust 30, 2018writing, irl, inspiration Comments

I Got My First (and Only) C in Creative Writing

It was my last semester of college, and I was in my “thesis” course: Advanced Creative Writing. The instructor had a strict policy: for every absence over two, no matter the cause, your grade was lowered by half a letter. He told us he didn’t care if our grandma had died.

Audrey HenleyJuly 13, 2018writing, inspiration, irlComment

A Comprehensive List: Podcasts and YouTube Channels for Writers

I was never a podcast fan before, but in the past year I’ve fallen in love with programs that focus on writing advice. Hearing other people talk about their writing struggles helps me feel a little less crazy.

Audrey HenleyJune 7, 2018writing, write tip, podcasts, inspirationComment

Outlining and Plot Structure

For those new to the terms, “plotters” refers to people who staunchly follow an outline while “pantsers” refers to people who write their stories by “the seat of their pants.”

Audrey HenleyMay 24, 2018plot, character, pantsing, outling, plot structure, beats, writing, editingComment

Write Your Second Book Already

You’ve written a book. It took you thirty years and eighty-million revisions. You’ve gotten some positive feedback from agents/ editors/ critique partners/ your mom, but you can’t seem to ramp it up to the sales-ready level.

Audrey HenleyMay 22, 2018shelving, writing, revising, inspiration, perseveranceComment

How to Set Word Count Goals

I don't "get" NaNoWriMo. I haven't since I first tried out a NaNo club in college. Strangers sat next to each other, unblinking eyes glowing in the lights of their laptops, caffeine-addled hands clacking against their keys.

Audrey HenleyMay 20, 2018writing, word counts, perseverance, inspiration, editing, nanowrimoComment