"A fast-paced, atmospheric mystery. Sims shines." —Melinda Bargreen, The Seattle Times
"Spot on dialog and well drawn female characters." —Ryan G. Van Cleave, Scene Magazine
"Byrd is a very likable amateur sleuth and Sims is a really entertaining storyteller." —Andrea L.T. Peterson, Woman's Monthly
"Appealing characters, and a rabbit mascot." —Library Journal
"A nerve-tingling thriller, rich with characterization and humour." —Vancouver BC Public Library
"Hilarious. Lillian is a true original." —Kirkus Reviews
"Unforgettable characters, lovely moments and brilliant dialogue." —The Lesbian Review
"Elizabeth Sims proves herself a true writer's friend." —Jamie Morris, Director, Voice Heart Vision
"Sims' wry commentary on life in Hollywood is dead-on." —Publishers Weekly
"An intelligent thriller." —Jay Strafford, Richmond Times-Dispatch
"You just have to love Rita." —Kirkus Reviews
"Sims is a master of word choice, sentence structure, and plot development." —Mensa Bulletin
"I flat out loved this book." —Sheryl LeSage, Liberty Press
"ANYONE assessing America’s best short story writers needs to include Elizabeth Sims." —New Pop Lit
"Much charm and deprecating humor." —Kirkus Reviews
"A nifty little puzzle solved by a most intriguing female detective." —Rex E. Klett, Library Journal
"Don't overlook the work of this excellent and entertaining author." —Denise Pickles, Mary Martin Bookshop
"What more could a reader ask for?" —Cheri Fuller and Nikki Little, Curve Magazine
"The quality of writing and the entertainment value are high." —W Spice
"Packs a twelve-week writing course into 280 pages." —Julie Compton,
author of Keep No Secrets
"Intricate and surprising, this is a gripping read." —Kristine Huntley, Booklist
"The two leads, Rita and George, are engaging and believable." —Hallie Ephron, Boston Globe
"Sims orchestrates the action—and occasional comic relief—for maximum impact." —Publishers Weekly
Awarded the Silver Medal in general fiction. —Florida Book Awards, April 11, 2018
"A rollicking good mystery." —Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review
"Your evening read will keep you up 'til dawn." —Whitney Scott, Booklist
"Colorful episodes involving trailer parks and luxury cars." —Kirkus Reviews
"Sims has created one of those heroines who you wouldn't like to be but you'd like as a friend." —Sharon Wheeler, Reviewing the Evidence
"You'll be surprised over and over." —Caroline McCullagh, Mensa Bulletin
"Each of these four stories is a tiny gem." —Neil S. Plakcy, author
"The approach is always positive and well worth the price of admission." —Ellen Hart, award-winning author
"A page-turner from stem to stern." —Kirkus Reviews
"Goes down easy, like a perfect cup of coffee." —Crimespree Magazine

Articles and Guest Blogs

from various magazines especially Writer's Digest Magazine where Elizabeth is a contributing editor

Pick up a copy of Writer's Digest at a newsstand or Click here to subscribe.

Many of Elizabeth's Writer's Digest articles also appear in reference books published by Writer's Digest Books.

"Bridge Characters" By Elizabeth Sims
What they are and how to create them to advance your story, solve problems, and engage your readers.
Writer's Digest September/October 2025
"Childhood: Our Touchstone for Wonder" By Elizabeth Sims
How to get in touch with Little You and create big new work for today.
Writer's Digest September/October 2024
"The Ecology of the Family" By Elizabeth Sims
Build and leverage a family ecosystem to develop and deepen your fiction.
Writer's Digest July/August 2024
"Los Angeles: Boundless, Disturbing, Inspiring" By Elizabeth Sims
On doing research for her novel,THE ACTRESS, in Los Angeles.
Mystery Readers Journal Southern California Mysteries, Volume 40, No. 1, Spring 2024
"Building the Essential Linkages" By Elizabeth Sims
Ten ways to craft the connective tissue your story needs.
Writer's Digest July/August 2023
"Writing Those Pesky Ratings, Reviews, and Blurbs Without Stress" By Elizabeth Sims
Requests for positive reviews, blurbs, and ratings will. Never. Cease.
Writer's Digest May/June 2023
"How to Write a Dynamite Last Chapter" By Elizabeth Sims
When it comes to the end of a novel, how can you write a last chapter that sticks with readers long after they finish reading? Elizabeth Sims analyzes the final chapter of 5 standout novels and identifies how you can make their approaches work for you.
Writer's Digest November/December 2022
"11 Writing Career Crossroads" By Elizabeth Sims
Writers will face numerous career-altering decisions during their writing lives. Here’s one author’s advice for navigating 11 of the toughest choices.
Writer's Digest July/August 2022
"Behind the Curtain" By Elizabeth Sims
Readers may not care how a writer crafts a great story, but for writers, reverse engineering how that story is told can reveal the magic of techniques they might also employ. Elizabeth Sims breaks down pieces of several well-known works so writers can see what goes on behind the curtain.
Writer's Digest November/December 2021
"The Quest for the Edge" By Elizabeth Sims
Writing is full of choices that require bravery on the part of the writer, from hitting “send” on a submission to an agent, to insisting/prioritizing your writing time in the face of naysayers or other obligations, to admitting you need to change direction in a project you’ve invested time and energy on. Elizabeth Sims gives tips for how to confront and move forward in the face of these and other scary choices.
Writer's Digest July/August 2021
"The Time and Energy Game: Maximizing Your Inner ROI" By Elizabeth Sims
Tangible, easy-to-implement ways to minimize the time and energy you spend on tasks that take you away from the more fulfilling parts of your writing life.
Writer's Digest March/April 2021
"100 Ways to Buff Your Book" By Elizabeth Sims
Bite-sized bits of advice to improve your writing. From practical to aspirational, these 100 quick tips stand the test of time and will help make your novel ready for the world.
Writer's Digest November/December 2020
"Creating a Writing Retreat for One" By Elizabeth Sims
When you’re a freelance writer or have other work obligations, it can be hard to make time to focus on writing your passion project, be it a novel, or memoir, or something else entirely. Find time to refocus your attention on your work-in-progress by designing a solo writing retreat. Elizabeth Sims offers advice based on her own experiences, including cost-saving tips.
Writer's Digest July/August 2020
"The Frugal Writer’s Guide to Everything" By Elizabeth Sims
From the basics writers need to draft all the way to publishing and promoting your work, every cost adds up. Here’s how to save money without cutting corners.
Writer's Digest March 2020
Related:The Indy Author Podcast Episode 036 - Frugal Tips for Writers with Elizabeth Sims
"Truth and Consequences" By Elizabeth Sims
How to Ethically Borrow Real-Life Experiences for Your Stories
Writer's Digest November/December 2019
"Plotting Your Way" By Elizabeth Sims
As a new novelist, it is easy to become overwhelmed with the smorgasbord of possible plot devices. Getting unstuck means finding the right outlining style to fit your personality.
Writer's Digest September 2019
"Writing Queer" By Elizabeth Sims
While the roots of LGBTQ literature stretch back to the ancient Greeks, only in the modern era have works that openly address the experience seen the sun. Here we trace the history of—and current opportunities for—queer authors.
Writer's Digest February 2019
"The Pen Is Mightier (Than the Word Processor)" By Elizabeth Sims
21st-century technology has undoubtedly made writing more convenient—but is it actually holding us back? One writer investigates.
Writer's Digest November/December 2018
Meet the Authors
The Florida Book Awards including Elizabeth Sims' Silver Metal in General Fiction for her novel, CRIMES IN A SECOND LANGUAGE, are announced in the Fall 2018 issue of FORUM Magazine from the Florida Humanities Council.
Writer's Digest November/December 2018
"Funny People" By Elizabeth Sims
From jester to jackass, comedic characters can lend a story some much-needed levity. Find out which classic type best suits your fiction—no matter the genre.
Writer's Digest July/August 2018
"Should You Go There?" By Elizabeth Sims
Politics and religion might not make for polite dinner conversation, but the topics can add depth to your fiction if handled with care. Here’s how to proceed.
Writer's Digest January 2018
"Fiction Lab" By Elizabeth Sims
Every great story invention starts with an experiment. Awaken your inner scientist with these 8 steps.
Writer's Digest September 2017
"The Lake Effect" By Elizabeth Sims
A personal essay about being a Michigan writer.
Mystery Readers Journal Midwestern Mysteries, Volume 33, No. 1, Spring 2017
"Knock 'em Dead" by Elizabeth Sims
Do you aspire to speak at writing conferences? Here are 15 tips to earn you rave reviews.
Writer's Digest March/April 2017
WRITER’S WORKBOOK: Secondary Characters "Stepping Up Your Sidekicks" By Elizabeth Sims
Writer's Digest February 2017
"21 Ways to Pivot Your Plot" by Elizabeth Sims
Need more tension, momentum or just an unexpected turn? Try these strategies.
Writer's Digest January 2017
"It’s the Little Things" by Elizabeth Sims
The best writers know that every word counts. Here’s how to nail the small stuff—without sweating it.
Writer's Digest September 2016
"Make a New Commitment to Your Writing" by Elizabeth Sims
Whether you have yet to pop the question or it’s time to renew your vows, try this 10-step plan to keep your love alive.
Writer's Digest Writing Basics 2016
"Power Tools" by Elizabeth Sims
It’s not the size of your writer’s toolbox that matters—it’s how you use what’s inside. Become proficient with these 2 tools, and you can fix most any story problem.
Writer's Digest January 2016
"Characterizing Quick" by Elizabeth Sims
Develop dynamic characters in no time with these 15 easy hacks.
Novel Writing 2015 Writer's Digest Yearbook (Magazine Single Issue)
"Make a New Commitment to Your Writing" by Elizabeth Sims
Whether you have yet to pop the question or it’s time to renew your vows, try this 10-step plan to keep your love alive.
Writer's Digest November/December 2015
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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.
"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
"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
"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

Reporting and photography
for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 2011
"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:

The Jane Friedman Blog, October 26, 2022
20 Reasons Why Everybody Should Write Short Stories

Queer Writers of Crime, April 28, 2022
They Will Find You

The Lynne Show, August 29, 2017
Recorded interview by Dr. Lynne Bernfield

Jane Friedman, July 13, 2016
Internal Dialogue: The Greatest Tool for Gaining Reader Confidence

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