If you’ve been following my blog this year, you may know that I’m expecting a baby. Little Boy is due July 5th. I’ve arranged to go on a bit of a “Maternity Leave” so I can focus on my growing family over the next few weeks.
But don’t worry! In an effort to keep your email and social media full of great writing content, I’ve arranged for my friends and fellow writers from around the web to write a series of guest posts for you. There are some fascinating topics being covered over the next few weeks, so I definitely encourage you to tune in. You’ll see their blog post on Tuesday of each week, and then Friday, instead of Why I’m Not Writing, you’ll get a chance to learn more about the author and their work.
I do have a few reviews and interviews mixed in there too, though, if you’re more interested in that sort of content. In late July, early August, expect to see a review for the sequel to one of my favorite books, The Bond, and a brand new and exciting book called Lobinzona. Mark your calendars!
My maternity will start next week, so you’ll see me one more time this Friday for Why I’m Not Writing, and then I’ll be back in early October with you full time. You may see me on social media during this time, so feel free to reach out. I will still have access to my email, but may be slower to respond than usual. As a reminder, I am no longer offering editing or coaching service starting this year.
We’re at the end of 2021, the year that felt like three. It’s been a great year for sarahfoil.com with amazing guest posts, interviews and new content. I hope you all have enjoyed my blog. Here are the 5 most popular posts from 2021:
As we count down the days to Christmas, you may be stuck finding the perfect gift for your favorite reader or writer. So I’m here to help with 5 gift ideas for the writer in your life:
One of the most common questions I get asked is how to get started writing book reviews. I absolutely love that a big part of my job is getting to read stories and help readers find the best of them. And it’s definitely something I recommend to writers looking to stay involved in their genre while they work on publishing their own work. So here are five simple steps to get started:
I have a confession to make… I’m obsessed with subscription boxes. There’s nothing like getting a special surprise every month or two with goodies that are perfect for you. Here are 5 great subscription boxes curated just for writers!
If you’re an aspiring author, you need to stay up to date on the latest publishing news and trends. But if you’re like me and spend your day chasing your children/animals, working your day job, and keeping up with your sanity, in your free time you want to actually work on your book instead of researching publishing updates. Podcasts are a great way to listen to news and interviews while doing your other daily work. Here are five great podcasts for aspiring published writers.
We’re not even halfway through the year and my blog has already hosted some amazing guest posts, accomplished author interviews, and awesome new releases. In case you’ve missed out, here are the most popular posts this year:
A believable and well-developed world is important for any story, but for Fantasy and Science Fiction writers, their world can make or break their story. But, for new authors, it can be hard to know exactly how to build their setting. Here are 5 resources that I hope will help you with this process:
I am always open to thoughtful and unique guest posts and guest authors for my blog. There is no cost for you to be featured, and I’d love for you to reach out.
So you've written your book, you’ve revised and edited until you’re crossed-eyed, and your gut is telling you that you’re ready to send your book out into the world! If you’re looking to publish your book traditionally, you’ll need to first query agents and find representation.
Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.
Every avid reader dreams about having their own personal reading nook. So, if you’re one of them, you’re at the right place since we’ll now discuss some of the amazing ways how to design it and incorporate it into the rest of your home design. Feel free to take a look at our ideas and add your personal touch to them as well.
While you can always count on your laptop or any regular old notebook to get your ideas down when you really need to write, there's tons of gadgets out there to make your writing even easier!
Recently, my husband and I watched The Truman Show on Netflix. I had first watched this movie in middle school as a part of my language arts class. It had a huge impact on me and when I found out Daniel had never seen it before, I was excited to show it to him. The movie lived up to my memory and, in talking to Daniel about it, it also gave me a writing epiphany!
Pacing in fiction has always been one of my great struggles because I get excited about a scene idea and rush to get there. It’s finally sinking in though that I need to slow down in order to get the interiority I want for my narrator and protagonist. But how do you slow down the pace of a scene? The trick is knowing when to show versus tell.
Last week we got the chance to talk about some of the faux-pas writers have encountered with their friends in the past. It probably left you with some questions about what exactly could you do if you didn't want to offend your friends? Here's some ideas!
NaNoWriMo starts in exactly two days and every writer on twitter is either jumping with excitement or trying not to cry with despair. It's the most exhilarating and terrifying month of the year. If you're not in the know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and is hosted by the Non-Profit Group NaNoWriMo. It's a challenge to write 50,000 words in one month, which is roughly 1667 words per day. So let's get down to it, what exactly are you going to write?
As I'm getting ready to start this grand experiment into running my author's website and blog, after managing other business' pages for over three years, I'm reminded of an open mic night or any reading, actually. I'm standing at the podium (or in my undergraduate days, standing in the middle of the smoker's patio with a security light shining behind me on a semi-frigid night right before mid-terms) and all eyes are on me. I've been practicing my reading for a week straight, nipped and tucked to fit a scene into a five-minute time slot, and have decided this is as good as it's going to get.
We’re at the very end of 2021 and it’s been an important year for me. I’m raising a toddler, working on a few new book projects, advancing my career, and thinking hard about what I want in the future.