Last month, I took a break from writing, and decided to use my time to read instead. I dug out my library card, and headed
Author: Alison Potoma
Alison Potoma writes quirky and adventurous science fiction and fantasy books for readers of all ages. When she isn't writing, teaching art to middle schooler's, or designing a set for a play, she putters in the garden, gets lost in the world of video games, and builds things with power tools. Alison lives in Derry, NH with her husky dog, Koda.
Describing Characters
I recently started revising my YA science fiction novel. I have very vivid pictures of each character in my head. When my critique partner read
Inspiration for Writers from Action Painters
As an art teacher, I find a lot of inspiration for my work comes from my students, and their experiences in class. My self-published chapter
Conferences in your Pajamas
In my travels over the interwebs, I came across The Manuscript Academy, a website partnered with Manuscript Wish List, that provides classes and conferences that
How to Edit a First Draft
So you’ve finished the first draft of your new novel. Now what? I’ve edited half a dozen manuscripts in my writing endeavors, each one requiring
So you want to write Flash Fiction?
In the spirit of Flash Fiction, this post will be 500 words or less. The previous words count. So do these. You get the idea.
Thoughts for Writers from a 24 Hour Play Festival
Last month, I participated in a 24 Hour Play Festival as a playwright. Essentially, I was locked in a theatre with a group of writers
Word Counts from the NYT Best Sellers’ List
The story of the word count I imagine most resembles the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The aspiring writer steps into a publishing house,
Need a Word Count Tracker?
I participated in NaNoWriMo this year, knowing full well that I was not going to make the 50,000 word goal. I write on average, according
Establishing a Writing Routine
The school year has started. Long gone are those endless days of summer where thousands of words flow out of me at my leisure. Being
Instagram for Writers
I’m a little late to the party, but, Instagram might be my new favorite thing on the internet. I’m often flummoxed about what to tweet
Plotting a Novel with Sticky Notes
This pantser has gone plotter, and for one particular reason: Speed. My first attempt at a novel took me two years. I wrote it by
Five reasons getting a rejection letter isn’t the end of the world
Over the past month, I have been sending out query letters to agents for my middle grade science fiction manuscript. Writing the query letter took much
Book Reviews: Samurai Santa, Gingerbread Pirates and Zombelina
The best part of being an auntie is sitting down with my nephews and nieces and reading a good book together before bedtime. I have
