How to get the story out of your head and on the page. A collection of blog posts full of writing tips and encouragement. Writing is an ongoing learning experience and whether your a successful novelist or about to pen your first book, there's always room for tips and encouragement. I'll be posting weekly instalements here and I hope you find something that helps you with your writing. Cheers! And if you're thirsty for more, I've compiled some of my most popular writing posts all in one place on my blog under the 'For Writers' tab.

I'm CJ Lyons. And I'm a writer.... If you also need a twelve-step program to stop writing, then you've come to the right place. I don't like rules. I don't like people telling me what to do. I don't like complex formulas or graphs or charts that I have to consult because that's the "right way" to create a compelling story. So I've taken everything I've learned about the essence of good storytelling and I've distilled it all into a few simple concepts. Things so easy that by the time you've finished this book and practiced using these techniques, you'll be able to not only craft a great story but also to complete your novel. In fact, by the end, you'll be saying: Wow! This is so easy, it makes so much sense! I can use this every day I write... NOTE: I’ll be uploading parts of this how-to book every Thursday. If you’d like to buy the complete book it’s available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XTWZA2 (and was previously published as No Rules, Just WRITE!) There's also a companion workbook available on NoRulesJustWrite.com ABOUT CJ: New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-one novels, former pediatric ER doctor CJ Lyons has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge Thrillers with Heart. Winner of the International Thriller Writers’ coveted Thriller Award, CJ has been called a "master within the genre" (Pittsburgh Magazine) and her work has been praised as "breathtakingly fast-paced" and "riveting" (Publishers Weekly) with "characters with beating hearts and three dimensions" (Newsday). Learn more about CJ's Thrillers with Heart at www.CJLyons.net

How do I get more reads, votes, and comments? If you find yourself asking that question, then I have some answers for you. What can you do to reach out to readers and potential readers? How can you encourage readers to comment and vote? What are all the different ways you can promote your stories? This #1 ranking guide is written by a Wattpad ambassador and especially geared for new Wattpad authors. Lots of tips, advice, and personal opinions await you - including everything thing I've done to promote my own Watty's finalist and winning stories - but only if you turn the page. Reader testimonial by @AyushiPandey-- 'I read your guide for Wattpad success when I first started writing my story last year in August, and now it has been an entire year when I stumbled upon it again. I just have to say, I loved reading it again, it has the best tips one can find (take it from me, I have read many, many guides here). Thank you so much for taking out your time to compile such an amazing book!' Reader testimonial by @suspishfishy-- 'I have to thank you again! As soon as I wrote a book that focused on what I wanted to write, instantly people started to read my books and give me feedback!' **THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO ADVERTISE YOUR STORY. This is where you'll find detailed instructions for the proper places to advertise and find readers. If you ask people to read your story here, your comment will be removed.** Thanks to @EnjxiiBlxck for the cover.

I am asked several times each day to read the stories written by young writers here on Wattpad. As there is no way that I could possibly read and offer quality feedback to all who ask, this book is my Advice to Young Writers, based on my own 20 years of teaching writing to junior high to university students, on my 20 years of working as a freelance editor, on my publishing of two nonfiction books, and on the recent Fan Fiction Writing Class I taught online. I hope that young authors will find some good advice that will help them on their writing journeys here. Best wishes to all writers!!! :)