Scarred landscapes can be a fantastic memory trigger and a natural way to show your readers what your main character has lost. #writingtips #writingadvice #writingabook #writingtipsfromwriters #writersonwriting

ICYMI: All about my plotting /panting hybrid drafting process - hollyschindler.substack.com/p/act-1-revi... #writingtips #writinganovel #writersofbluesky #editorsofbluesky #writingadvice

My brother's been an antiques and collectibles dealer for...40 years. He started as a kid! So of COURSE we launched a podcast. Our latest episode's on advertising...and it's NOT just old signs: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/get-on-the... #etsyseller #eBaySeller #CollectiblesCommunity #antiques

Threshold spaces can be some of the most overlooked places in fiction! I love using windows, doors, staircases to introduce backstory. #writingfiction #writingtips #writingadvice #writingabook #writingcommunity

Anyone else ready for some heartwarming Christmas vibes? 🎄✨ I turned my short story “Come December” into a mini-audiobook. 🎧 Free listen on YouTube : youtu.be/d6O_D0TpGkE?... 💾 MP3 download to listen offline ($2.99) : payhip.com/b/lxbMt #christmasaudio #audiobook #christmasstory #christmas

I'm a sucker for sweet ghost stories at Christmas...so of course I had to write one! #christmasbooks #christmasreading #christmasstories #christmasvives #christmasiscoming

An easy way to finally SEE your book in its entirety? A three-step method to find your book's emotional core? I'm using my own Golden Thread Method right now: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/im-using-m... #writingcommunity #writeabook #creativewriting #writingtips #writingresources

Setting can be a FANTASTIC vehicle for dramatizing your main character's past. #writing #writinganovel #backstory #writingtips #writingcommunity

EVERY writer struggles with backstory. Here, I share 3 setting types that naturally trigger memories and reveal your character’s past so you never have to resort to the dreaded info-dump! 🎬 🎥 youtu.be/cjPNJVnZ_WQ?... #writersofbluesky #writingtips #writinglife #writingadvice #howtowriteabook

Think your main character WILLING responds to the inciting event? No way. They have to be dragged into this adventure kicking and screaming. More advice for Act 1: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/not-so-fas... #writingtips #writingadvice #howtowriteabook #writeanovel #plotanovel

Mistletoe on Main Street: a cozy holiday read with the sweet Christmas ghost vibe of A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life, but with more love story. #christmasbooks #christmasreading #indieauthorsofbluesky #christmasseries #kindlechristmas

For the Thrift Store #spoonflowerchallenge, I went back to the '80s for a retro glam lipstick pattern. Oh, man, I loved me some Lisa Frank back then! #VisualStorytelling #patterndesign #vintage1980s #popartstyle

Revising? Before you rip that manuscript apart, check your chapter breaks. Pacing can feel off because you're breaking chapters in the wrong place! For more, check out my chapter break course: www.hollyschindler.com/courses #writingtips #howtowriteabook #writingadvice #writinganovel #writingcourse

Diving into the 5-act structure I use to plot my own books, act 1 has 2 big jobs: offer a hook and an inciting event - hollyschindler.substack.com/p/act-1-of-t... #howtowriteabook #writingtips #plotting #writingadvice #creativewriting

The easiest, quickest way to find the theme in your book. #writingtips #writingadvice #writersofbluesky #writingcommunity #howtowriteabook

For the book nuts! On the podcast, John and I talk all things ephemera, and the weird seemingly just scraps of paper we've found can actually sell: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/ephemera-u... #etsyseller #Ebayseller #vintageseller #etsyvintage #EphemeraCollectors

Don't just add one source of tension to your scenes. Layer. It. Up. hollyschindler.substack.com/p/biting-my-... #howtowriteabook #writingtips #creativewriting #writingadvice #writingcommunity

Thoughts on using a 5--yes, 5--act structure to plot your novel: open.substack.com/pub/hollysch... #plotting #howtowriteabook #writingtips #writingadvice #writerscommunity

New at my InkBerry Cards shop...because sometimes, when a friend's having a tough time, all you can really say is... inkberrycardsshop.etsy.com/listing/4389... #greetingcards #SympathyGift #sympathycard #greetingcardshop #friendshipcard

A main character's positive change arc can naturally give you your book's theme (and keeps the theme from being tacked on at the end). #howtowriteabook #writingtips #writingadvice #writingtipsandtricks #writingadvicefromwriters

John got some GREAT questions in for the latest Q&A...This one's all about keeping your records (and sanity) intact...super important in a biz where receipts are rare! pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/you-asked-... #etsyvintage #ebayvintage #vintageseller #antiquesandcollectibles #antiquesandvintage

Have you pantsed or plotted a novel (or several), only to be frustrated by the months and years of revision that followed? Most likely, in either case, you were missing something important: the emotional core of your book. youtu.be/rZH-dopbDjg?... #writersofbluesky #writingtips #writingadvice

You plotted. The story veered off halfway. You pantsed. The draft turned into chaos. The problem isn’t your process. Your story’s missing its emotional core. My Golden Thread Method helps you find it fast. → Grab it now: payhip.com/b/of7Pw #howtowriteabook #writeyournovel #writingtips #writing

I cannot overstate how important it is to craft a solid self-protective lie for your main character. #howtowriteabook #writingtips #writingadvice #writingtipsfromwriters #writeyournovel

EVERY antiques and collectibles shop hits slow times. 9 times out of 10, it's not your fault. But there ARE things you can do to help turn things around. This week on the pod: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/slow-shop-... #etsyvintageseller #etsyvintage #ebayvintage #ebayseller #antiquesandcollectibles

Talk to me: all about crafting realistic dualogue hollyschindler.substack.com/p/your-chara... #howtowriteabook #writingtips #writingadvice #writingdialogue #writerscommunity

Author @hollyschindler.bsky.social talks about her middle grade book THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, her adult holiday romcom MISTLETOE ON MAIN STREET, and penning books in different genres. www.karenbmccoy.com/the-junction...

One of the MOST fun parts of doing author interviews is that I've been doing it long enough to see interviewers become authors themselves! www.karenbmccoy.com/the-junction... #AuthorLife #authorinterview #authorinspiration #writerscommunity #writerslife

Working on a new writing resource for finding your story's EMOTIONAL CORE. This is a perfect first step to take when writing any novel. AND...get this: it works for plotters AND pantsers! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/what-makes... #howtowriteabook #plottingvspantsing #writingtips #writingadvice

John and I are Gen X-ers, and it's so hard for us to believe that Y2K stuff is actually now collectible! This week, on the pod, we discuss buying collectibles for the different generations: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/the-nostal... #antiques #antiqueshop #etsyshop #EtsySellerTips #eBaySeller

Plotting 101 #howtowriteabook #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #writingtips #writingadvice #writinglife #writingtipsandtricks youtube.com/shorts/GdgGb...

I love drawing anything vintage related, so I had a blast putting this year's tea towel calendar together. This one features Pyrex dishes with the Gooseberry pattern! www.spoonflower.com/en/home-deco... #graphicdesign #teatowelcalendar #2026Calendar #pyrexjunkie #kitchendecor #kitchendesign

In honor of Banned Books Week, I'm reiterating my promise: Your story is powerful. If stories weren’t powerful, banning never would have existed. It's why I'm offering courses and writing resources. Together, we’re going to get your important story out. #BannedBooksWeek

Ever wonder what plotters REALLY do when they outline their books? I'm getting started over at the I Have an Idea for a Novel. Now What??? video writing series: youtu.be/QyoUtba76nU?... #writingtips #WritingForBeginners #howtoplot #howtowriteabook #writingadvice

I had to say goodbye to my dog this weekend: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/i-had-to-s...

Get hooked on Ruby's Place: books 1-3 and books 4-5 now available for less than the price of most print books! Also available at KU. Books 1-3: www.amazon.com/dp/B0FTFR5JDS Books 4-5: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ5HZ5TP #KindleUnlimited #kindledeals #christmasbooks #christmasseries #holidayreads

Antiques and collectibles sellers: What's the worst item in your shop? The thing you plain cannot move? You can reframe them to sell for Halloween or Thanksgiving! More on the pod this week: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/harvesting... #etsyseller #ebayseller #antiques #antiquestore #collectibles

That is not a typo. Seven years, 1,000 rejections. Keep going. Your book deserves to be on the shelf. #writersofinstagram #amwriting #rejection #writinginspiration #writingcommunity

Best (easiest) way to ensure your book will be an emotional read? START with character emotion: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/why-starti... #howtowriteabook #writingtips #writingfiction #writingemotion #writingadvice

Chapter 1 of this year's Ruby's Place story! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/exclusive-... #christmascountdown #christmasbooks #christmas2025 #rubysplace

Can "viral" really mean 1 view? Yup. At least, it can when you're selling antiques and collectibles. John explains why: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/can-antiqu... #etsyseller #ebayseller #antiquesdealer #antiques #collectibles #collectiblesforsale

An inconsistent main character's voice will yank a reader out of a book every time. So how do you stay consistent? hollyschindler.substack.com/p/three-pill... #writingcommunity #howtowriteabook #howtowriteanovel #fictionwriter #voiceinfiction

There is NO SUCH THING as pure 100% pantsing. My reason + the method I'll teach in the I Have an Idea for a Novel. Now What??? series. (Hint: it's not 100% pure plotting, either.) youtu.be/zu0RGSBQ13s?... #writingadvicefromwriters #writingcommunity #howtowriteabook #FictionWriting #writingtips

For the jewel-toned boho #spoonflowerdesignchallenge, I whipped up a New Orleans Rock and Roll Boho. Love doing these geometric patterns. #InteriorDesign #fabric #sewing #sewingcommunity #patterndesigner #artistsofinstagram #boho #bohofashion

John is definitely seeing signs from his Etsy and eBay shops that the Christmas season is upon antiques and collectibles dealers. On the pod this week, he shares key steps you can take right now to ensure maximum holiday profits: pickforprofit.podbean.com/e/deck-the-h... #etsyseller #ebayseller

What the heck IS voice, anyway? (It can immerse your readers faster than just about anything...) hollyschindler.substack.com/p/what-the-h... #authorsoffacebook #writingcommunity #writingtips #writinglife #writingadvicefromwriters

The proof for the paperback of Mistletoe on Main Street just arrived! #authorsofbluesky #writingcommunity #christmasbooks #christmascountdown #christmasseries

This year's Ruby's Place installment is officially live! hollyschindler.substack.com/p/its-live-m... #christmascountdown2025 #christmasbooks #christmascountdown #christmasseries #christmaskindle

It was only going to be one book! All about the Ruby's Place series: hollyschindler.substack.com/p/back-to-ru... #christmasbooks #christmasseries #Christmas2025 #christmasseason #christmascountdown2025

For the last #spoonflowerdesignchallenge, I whipped up a tartan plaid using fall chrysanthemum colors. Now I want to use this color palette for the latest garden challenge. Hmmm... #patterndesign #surfacepatterndesign #fallvibes