What goes into writing a killer love story? Before you get to the meat of the relationship, you need two strong characters who work as individuals, not just as a couple. So when Katie McGarry started to write Beth’s new love interest in “Dare You To,” she knew she needed to make the guy interesting and believable. How did she work out what makes good-guy jock Ryan tick? Read on to find out! Continue reading
It’s summer! It’s time to write! To celebrate, we’re dedicating a week of Daily Theme writing prompts to “This Is Not a Writing Manual” by Kerri Majors. Want to win a copy of your own? Click through to enter our sweepstakes and sign up for our Daily Themes email. Continue reading
Elizabeth Knox, Printz award winner and author of “Mortal Fire,” stopped by Figment to share some writings tips. We’ll be chatting about the advantages of writing in third-person as well as how to let go and enjoy the experience! Continue reading
Stories of star-crossed lovers fill the pages of our favorite books, from Romeo and Juliet to Eleanor and Park. But how do you give a fresh spin to this archetype? Benjamin Percy, author of “Red Moon,” has stopped by Figment to share his star-crossed secrets. Continue reading
C.J. Daugherty was a journalist before she started writing YA novels. It was a photo in the newspaper — and the accompanying caption — that inspired C.J. to write her first novel, “Night School.” Click through to learn more about the secret society that inspired her, and enter our writing challenge for a chance to see your story on the Figment homepage. Continue reading
Love YA literature? You’re not alone! More and more readers, young and old, are embracing Figment’s favorite genre! Paul Rudnick, screenwriter, humorist, and New Yorker writer (!) is a huge fan of teen lit. Today, he stops by Figment to talk about how this passion inspired him to write his own YA novel, “Gorgeous.” Continue reading
Sometimes, when writing, you’re hit with a burst of inspiration and the words just flow. But in the end, you’re left with a lot of . . . er, words. Shandy Lawson, author of the debut novel, “The Loop,” shares his secrets for tightening up your story through careful word choice and smart cutting. Click through to read more and enter our writing challenge! Continue reading
“Writing, once you’re actually getting good at it, is not easy. You better cherish it when you suck, and carry that bright spark as you get better, because you will get better; you’ll start doing it for your friends, and if you’re very fortunate, you’ll eventually get to do it for the money.” Continue reading
We often say “this-is-the-new-that,” but what if we reversed the process? Rachel Shukert, author of “Startstruck” spins the old “pink is the new black” idea on its head. Start reading to find out which new stars are the modern day equivalent of “Starstruck’s “(fictional) old stars? Continue reading
Georgetown Academy authors Jessica Koosed Etting and Alyssa Embree Schwartz were nice enough to stop by Figment and chat about Capitol Hill, writing from multiple perspectives, and the books that influence them to write. Check out their Q-and-A! Continue reading