articles & stories

articles and guest blogs

• "What Real Revision Looks Like" by Elizabeth Sims
  Curious about the previous lives of published novels? An award-winning author shares her before-and-afters, alongside plenty of tips for improving your own work.
  Writer's Digest September 2015
• "15 Hacks for Characterizing Fast" by Elizabeth Sims
  Learn to paint true-to-life characters in swift, sure strokes.
  Writer's Digest May/June 2015
• "How to Craft Flawless Dialogue" by Elizabeth Sims
  Character conversations are the gems of your story—but just as readers can appreciate fine jewels, so can they spot cheap imitations of the real thing. Use these 7 steps to add quality and clarity to your story’s talk.
  Writer's Digest January 2015
  SIDEBAR EXCLUSIVE ONLINE "Tips for Drafting Dialogue: Starting Rough"
• "21 Fast Hacks to Fuel Your Story With Suspense" by Elizabeth Sims
  When your plot starts lagging behind your word count, try one of these simple suggestions for picking up steam.
  Writer's Digest November/December 2014
  ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Shelf Savvy" by Elizabeth Sims
  Book categorization is key to finding readers and maximizing sales. Here’s what you should know.
  Writer's Digest September 2014
• "Finding the Funny in Fiction" by Elizabeth Sims
  Learn how to punch up your fiction with humor.
  Writer's Digest May / June 2014
• "Mapping Out Your Hero’s Adventure" by Elizabeth Sims
  An excerpt from You've Got a Book in You.
  Writer's Digest February 2014 ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Miscalculations and Missteps" by Elizabeth Sims
  AKA "First-Novel Gaffes to Avoid" or 7 rookie mistakes and how to avoid them.
  Writer's Digest January 2014
• "Transform Your Novel Into a Symphony" by Elizabeth Sims
  Get too focused on any one instrument at play in your story, and you might lose sight of the harmony inherent in truly great fiction. Here’s how to compose the elements of your novel into a masterpiece.
  Writer's Digest November/December 2013
• "Going Public" by Elizabeth Sims
  Cultivating a public author persona can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. These tips will help you ace readings, signings, interviews and more.
  Writer's Digest September 2013
• "Breaking Bad" by Elizabeth Sims
  Using Profanity And Other Raw Talk In Your Fiction
  Writer's Digest May/June 2013 ARTICLE ONLINE
• "True Story" by Elizabeth Sims
  Your truth doesn’t have to be stranger than fiction to be just as compelling. Here’s how to borrow tools from fiction to pen a true-to-life memoir that reads like a page-turning novel.
  Writer's Digest March/April 2013
• "Master Description Through Sensory Detail" by Elizabeth Sims
  Learn ways to call upon all five senses in your work.
  Writer's Digest January 2013
• "How to Develop Any Idea Into a Great Story" by Elizabeth Sims
  Even stories that start with brilliant strokes of inspiration too often fizzle out before we reach The End. Use this four-step method to develop your best ideas to their fullest.
  Writer's Digest November / December 2012 ARTICLE ONLINE
  also see The BADS Technique Illustrated
• "10 Fast Hacks for Fiction Writers" by Elizabeth Sims
  Whether you’re trying to set a scene, define a character or close a plot gap, each of these clever techniques gets the job done fast.
  Writer's Digest September 2012   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "The Reluctant Risk-Taker's Guide to Filling the Creative Well" by Elizabeth Sims
  Great writing begins with an appetite for life. Try these 8 approaches to get out of your comfort zone, break rules and reap rewards.
  Writer's Digest July/August 2012   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "7 Simple Ways to Make a Good Story Great" by Elizabeth Sims
  To stand out to the gatekeepers who hold the keys to publication, it's not enough for your story to be good. Use these techniques to take your fiction to new heights.
  Writer's Digest March/April 2012   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Namedropping: Craft Perfect Names for Your Characters" by Elizabeth Sims
  What's in a character's name? Everything. Here's how to master the neglected art of moniker-making.
  Writer's Digest January 2012   ARTICLE ONLINE
  SIDEBAR ONLINE "The 7 Rules of Picking Names for Fictional Characters"
• "Spin Subplots Like a Master Weaver" by Elizabeth Sims
  Whether you're planning the fabric of a new story or looking to thread depth into one that's falling flat, try these 7 methods to a tightly woven plot.
  Writer's Digest November/December 2011   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Fan Out!" by Elizabeth Sims
  Why fan conferences deserve a closer look.
  Writer's Digest October 2011
• "10 Things for Every Writer's Bucket List" by Elizabeth Sims
  Writer's Digest September 2011
  
  
• "How to Gain Perspective on Your Work" by Elizabeth Sims
  Writer's Digest July/August 2011
  
• "The Long and Short of It" by Elizabeth Sims
  Would your great idea work best as a novel or as a short story?
  Writer's Digest March/April 2011   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "It's All Relative" by Elizabeth Sims
  Depicting convincing relationships could just be the key to writing better characters. Try these 8 ways to do it.
  Writer's Digest February 2011   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "8 Ways to Write a 5-Star Chapter One" by Elizabeth Sims
  Writer's Digest January 2011 and Writer's Digest Yearbook presents Writing Basics   ARTICLE ONLINE also see   More Great Chapter Ones
• "On the Loose in LA" by Elizabeth Sims
  Lessons From The Road by an awesome newcomer
  crimespree #38 Sept/Oct 2010
  
• "10-Minute Fixes to 10 Common Plot Problems" by Elizabeth Sims
  in the Writer's Digest Big 10 issue and Writer's Digest Yearbook presents Writing Basics
  Writer's Digest September 2010   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Write This, Not That" by Elizabeth Sims
  Forget formulaic junk-food mysteries. Infuse your story with all the ingredients of savory suspense.
  Writer's Digest May/June 2010   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Handsell Your Book: 10 Simple Steps" by Elizabeth Sims
  Yes, your own efforts really can make an impact on your sales, one reader at a time. Here are 10 simple steps to word-of-mouth success.
  Writer's Digest March/April 2010   ARTICLE ONLINE also see The Essential Handselling Kit
• "How to Make Your Novel a Page Turner" by Elizabeth Sims
  Never underestimate the power of suspense in any genre. Use these surefire techniques to make your book one readers won't be able to put down.
  Writer's Digest January 2010   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "How Even a Bad Conference Can Make You a Better Writer" by Elizabeth Sims
  18 Lessons you can learn from any writing conference.
  Writer's Digest October 2009 see   Excerpt and Tips
• "A Notebook, a PT Cruiser, and a Week in L.A." by Elizabeth Sims
  Elizabeth tells about her research for the Rita Farmer mystery series
  Mystery Readers Journal for Summer 2009 - Los Angeles Mysteries I
• "What Not to Expect When You're Expecting" by Elizabeth Sims
  A veteran author tells you writer to writer, what geting published is really like—and confronts the seven biggest myths.
  Writer's Digest July/August 2009.   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "Rough It Up" by Elizabeth Sims
  Rough up your first draft to get to the good stuff.
  Writer's Digest, February 2009. and Writing Basics 2009   ARTICLE ONLINE also see   the example rough draft page from The Extra.
• "Face-to-Face with an Agent" by Elizabeth Sims
  You’ve got an agent. You’ve got a deal. Is it worth it to fly to New York--on your own dime--for some face time?
  Writer's Digest October, 2008   ARTICLE ONLINE
• "A Hollywood Hunt for Deep Background" by Elizabeth Sims
  Writer's Digest December, 2007
• "Start Me Up!" by Elizabeth Sims
  feature in Writer's Digest, December, 2006.

• "Store Wars" by Elizabeth Sims
  lead article in LOGOS: Journal of the World Book Community, vol. 13, issue 2, (2002).
• Book reviews by Elizabeth Sims
  for The Detroit Free Press:, 1991-92.

Elizabeth's
Guest Blogs:

Writer's Digest,September 9, 2013
Tapping Your Inner Villain

Jane Friedman, May 14, 2013
To Be Great, Strive to Be Ordinary

Writer's Digest, May 13, 2013
Zest + Small Things = Great Writing

Abbott Press, April 25, 2013
THE "STRESS-FREE" ART OF WRITING

Writer's Digest posted an excerpt from
You've Got a Book In You April 23, 2013
STORMWRITING: WHAT IT IS AND WHY YOU SHOULD TRY IT

articles included in reference books

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2015 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market

The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published

Rachel Randall, editor

Elizabeth Sims, Contributor

"GOING PUBLIC" p. 104

Published by Writers Digest Books; (September 8, 2014)

The best resource for getting your fiction published!
The 2015 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market is the only resource you'll need to get your short stories, novellas, and novels published. As with past editions, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market offers hundreds of listings for book publishers, literary agents, fiction publications, contests, and more. Each listing includes contact information, submission guidelines, and other important tips.

"If you can't go to every literary cocktail party in New York, get this book. It's an instant network." -Elizabeth Sims, best-selling author of You've Got a Book in You

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Creating Characters

The Complete Guide to Populating Your Fiction

Writers Digest Editors

Elizabeth Sims, Contributor

"NAME-DROPPING" p. 21

"USING PROFANITY AND OTHER RAW TALK IN YOUR FICTION" p. 90

Published by Writers Digest Books; (November 1, 2014)

Create characters that leap off the page--and into readers' hearts!
Populating your fiction with authentic, vivid characters is a surefire way to captivate your readers from the first sentence to the last. Whether you're writing a series, novel, short story, or flash fiction, Creating Characters is an invaluable guide to bringing your fictional cast to life.
This book is a comprehensive reference to every stage of character development. You'll find timely advice and helpful instruction from best-selling authors like Nancy Kress, Elizabeth Sims, Orson Scott Card, Chuck Wendig, Hallie Ephron, Donald Maass, and James Scott Bell. They'll show you how to:

• Effectively introduce your characters
• Build a believable protagonist
• Develop strong anti-heroes and compelling villains
• Juggle multiple points of view without missing a beat
• Craft authentic dialogue that propels the story forward
• Motivate your characters with powerful objectives and a believable conflict
• Show dynamic character development over the course of a story

No matter what your genre, Creating Characters gives you the tools necessary to create realistic, fascinating characters that your readers will root for and remember long after they've finished the story.

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2014 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market

Everything You Need to Know to Write Great Fiction

Rachel Randall, editor

Elizabeth Sims, Contributor

"HOW TO DEVELOP ANY IDEA INTO A GREAT STORY" p. 6

Published by Writers Digest Books; (August 14, 2013)

The best resource for getting your fiction published!
The 2014 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market is the only resource you'll need to get your short stories, novellas, and novels published. As with past editions, Novel & Short Story Writer's Market offers hundreds of listings for book publishers, literary agents, fiction publications, contests, and more. Each listing includes contact information, submission guidelines, and other important tips.

buy e-book buy paperback find in a library

2013 Guide to Literary Agents

Everything You Need to Know to Write Great Fiction

Chuck Sambuchino, editor

Elizabeth Sims, Contributor

"8 WAYS TO WRITE A GREAT CHAPTER 1" p. 37

Published by Writers Digest Books; (September 6, 2012)

The Best Resource Available for Finding a Literary Agent!
No matter what you're writing--fiction or nonfiction, books for kids or adults--you need a literary agent to secure a book deal. The 2013 Guide to Literary Agents is your essential resource for finding that literary agent--without fear of being scammed--and getting your book published. This new, updated edition of GLA includes:

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Crafting Novels & Short Stories

Everything You Need to Know to Write Great Fiction

Elizabeth Sims, Contributor

Chapter 3: "Depicting Convincing Relationships"

Chapter 13: "Write a Five-Star Chapter One"

Focus on the Writing Life: Beating Writer’s Block "Start Me Up"

Chapter 34: "How to Gain Perspective on Your Work"

Published by Writers Digest Books; (December 15, 2011)

Learn How to Create Stories That Captivate Agents, Editors, and Readers Alike!

Inside you'll find the tools you need to build strong characters, keep your plots moving, master the art of dialogue, choose the right point of view, and more.

"You’ll find many exercises already in the book, waiting for you. Don’t know what to write? Try Elizabeth Sims’s 'Random Sentence Kick-Start' on page 129." —James Scott Bell

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The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing

Everything You Need to Know About Creating & Selling Your Work

Elizabeth Sims, Contributor

Chapter 31: "Rough Up Your First Draft"

     Get messy with your first draft to get to the good stuff.

Chapter 38: "Write This, Not That"

     Forget formulas. Infuse your mystery with suspense.

Published by Writers Digest Books; 2nd edition (August 22, 2010)

Get advice from the best in the business on every part of the novel writing and publishing process!

In The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 2nd Edition, you’ll learn from the invaluable advice of established writers. Discover new ways to generate ideas, implement intriguing techniques, and find the inspiration you need to finish your work. This fully-revised edition includes a revamped marketing section that covers the unique challenges of today’s publishing market and the boundless opportunities of online promotion.

Inside you’ll find expert advice from dozens of bestselling authors and publishing professionals.

fiction and poetry

• The Smudge, a populist-style literary journal based in Detroit (now defunct). Poems in Spring 1978, Summer 1978, Winter 1978-79.
• Moving Out, a feminist literary annual (now defunct):
  • Short story "Beautiful" vol. 13, 1987.
  • Short story "Cleva" vol. 14, 1989. Co-winner, prose contest.
  • Elizabeth also served on editorial board, 1992-93.

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A Woman's Touch

edited by Valerie Reed. Published 2003 by Alyson Books

An anthology of love stories with "For Faye", a short story by Elizabeth Sims.

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Best Lesbian Love Stories, 2004

edited by Angela Brown. Published 2004 by Alyson Books

This collection of love stories includes the short story, "Play Money" by Elizabeth Sims

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Lesbians on the Loose: Crime Writers on the Lam

Edited by Lori L. Lake and Jessie Chandler Published 2015 by Launch Point Press

This collection of crime stories includes the short story, "Untold Riches" by Elizabeth Sims