Hilari Bell


Biography

Hilari Bell has been called the poster child for persistence. The first novel she sold was the fifth she'd written, and when it sold she was working on novel fourteen. She now has seventeen conventionally published novels with two more under contract, and is now branching into epublishing her backlist novels and her writing tips.

She likes board games and "decadent" camping. (In a pop-up trailer with a space heater, a stove--even a toaster!) She says camping is the only time she gets to do enough reading...though when it comes to reading, there's really no such thing as enough.

She's also a member of the best writing critique group in the universe. (Her opinion, anyway.) And you can find their webpage at http://thewildwriters.com/

Where to find Hilari Bell online


Books

Rise Up & Commit: Story structure points 5 & 6    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1050 words. Published on May 4, 2012. Nonfiction.

Discusses the 5th & 6th points of novel structure: the second rising action (otherwise known as the middle) and the end of second act escalation.
Foiled Plans: Story structure points 3 & 4    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1050 words. Published on May 4, 2012. Nonfiction.

Discusses the 3rd and 4th points of novel structure: the first rising action, and the end of first act plot twist.
Lights, Camera, Kickoff: Story structure points 1 & 2    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1830 words. Published on November 11, 2011. Nonfiction.

Discusses the first two points of novel structure: the inciting incident and the establishing shot.
Scoring in the Elevator & 4 other tips on How to Get Published    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 5760 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection includes 5 tips on hunting agents and editors, writing a good synopsis & a good log line (two sentence) pitch, and whether or not to revise on spec.
Hunting for an Agent: Shotgun or target pistol?    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1270 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

Send to a one perfect agent, or send to everyone? Pros and cons.
Writing the Dread Synopsis: A synopsis system that works    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 740 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

The 5 story structure points that make up a good synopsis.
A Tale of Two Synopsises: More on writing a synopsis that works    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 2190 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

What your synopsis needs beyond those five points.
Scoring in the Elevator: All I know about writing a good two sentence pitch    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1170 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

Crafting a good two sentence pitch.
Do you want a Cookie? The question of revising on spec    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 730 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

Whether you should make substantial revisions for an editor or agent who hasn't bought your book.
Doghouse on Malibu Beach & 4 other tips on Structure and Villainy    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 6420 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection contains 5 tips on what to do with the beginning, middle and climax of your novel, how to make the best use of your villian, and what constitutes a "high concept" story.
Doghouse on Malibu Beach: What you should, and shouldn't, put in the first five pages of your manuscript    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 2260 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

What should and shouldn't appear in the first five pages of your novel.
Middle-of-the-Novel Mud: How to winch your way out, and stay out    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1040 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

What should and shouldn't happen in the middle of your novel.
Rising to the Occasion: The climax of your novel    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1480 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

What absolutely must happen in the climax of your novel.
High Concept: Whether your plot or your premise is stronger, and why it matters    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 810 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

What "High Concept" means, and whether you need it.
Villains: Because a good bad guy is the author's best friend    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1170 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

Putting your villian to work, to make your novel great.
Exploding Writing Myths & 4 other tips on Critique and Process    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 5440 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection contains 5 tips on how to find/create a writing critique group that works and lasts, and how to make the best use of what they can offer you.
Exploding Writing Myths: Some things "they" say might be true for them but not for you    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1310 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

Exposing some writing "truths" that aren't necessarily true for everyone.
The Art & Necessity of Critique (Part 1): How to find (or create) a writers' critique group    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1000 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

How to find or create a good writing critique group.
The Art & Necessity of Critique (Part 2): How to give and take criticism without coming apart at the seams    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 810 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

Criticism is hard--how to give it, and how to take it.
The Art & Necessity of Critique (Part 3): Size matters    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1830 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

How to keep your critique group alive and thriving. Also, how and why novels must be critiqued differently from short pieces.
The Irrational Optimism of Writers: Why this particular form of insanity is a good thing    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 830 words. Published on August 29, 2011. Nonfiction.

You have to be crazy to get into this business, and that’s why craziness is essential for writers.
What Color Hat does your Universe Wear? & 4 other tips on Science Fiction, Fantasy and Writing for Kids    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 4090 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection contains tips specific to writing Fantasy and Science Fiction, and what makes the teen/kids market different from selling books for adults.
Making your Reader Believe: Whether he wants to or not!    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1150 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

Suspension of disbelief in SF & Fantasy.
But What do the Trees Say? Or, the unimportance of worldbuilding    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 530 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

Worldbuilding in SF & Fantasy--and what it can't do for you.
Taking Away the Easy Button: Bell's three rules for writing about magic    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1510 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

How to use magic in your story without abusing it.
What Color Hat does your Universe Wear? How the world you create changes the reader's view of your characters    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 680 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

How the tone of your world can make or break your characters.
Writing Children's Books vs. Adult Books: Why you'd be crazy not to    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 550 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

(4.00 from 1 review)
Some big differences between the Children’s and Adult book markets.
Taking out the Trash & 4 other tips on POV and Voice    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 6170 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection contains 5 tips on POV, past vs. present tense, and your personal writing voice.
Taking out the Trash: How to dig out your unique writer's voice    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1310 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

Agents and editors all look for a strong, unique voice--how to find and polish yours.
Tense Persons: Point of view, part one    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1150 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

The pros and cons of using 1st or 3rd person, and past or present tense
Single Spy to Teeming Horde: Point of view, part two    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1720 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

How many POV characters should you have?
A POV Footnote: How many beginner mistakes can be avoided by writing in close 3rd person    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1390 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

Why writing in close third (or first) person lets you avoid many common beginner mistakes.
Writing the Other: Writing from the viewpoint of the opposite gender    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 950 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

(5.00 from 1 review)
How to create a believable character of a gender (or background) you don't share.
A Point of E-tiquette & 4 other tips on Professionalism    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 4720 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

5 tips on presenting your writing professionally in the digital age.
The Pesky Typo Hunt: Why you should take the trouble to track them down and eliminate them before they can breed    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1060 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

The best technique I know for finding the errors in your own manuscript. It takes some effort, but it works.
A Point of E-tiquette: Does your T-shirt have holes in it?    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 530 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

This tip explains why it's so important to take a moment to run your spellchecker!
Badge & Handcuffs: Writing with authority    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 890 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

What people mean when they talk about writing with "authority," and why you must do so.
Pitching to the Pros: What you can (and can't) expect if you ask someone to evaluate your writing, and what kind of sample you should offer them    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1410 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

What you can expect, and what you should do, if you can ever convince a pro to evaluate your writing.
The Editor is Never Wrong, Mostly: Well, hardly ever    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1170 words. Published on August 28, 2011. Nonfiction.

How to respond when you disagree with your editor.
How Big a Hammer? & 4 other writing tips on Emotion and Theme    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 3140 words. Published on August 27, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection contains 5 tips on building emotion and meaning into your fiction--and why it matters.
Beating the Evil TV: The most valuable tip I'll ever give you--and it's short, too    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 650 words. Published on August 27, 2011. Nonfiction.

Why getting into your characters’ heads matters more than anything else.
Setup and Payoff: Creating more emotional impact in your story    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 670 words. Published on August 27, 2011. Nonfiction.

How building up your conflict throughout the story makes your climax matter.
Playing for Higher Stakes: Why your dog is more important than the universe    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1010 words. Published on August 27, 2011. Nonfiction.

Why saving the universe is less important to the reader than saving your dog.
How Big a Hammer? Is it important for the reader to understand your theme?    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 570 words. Published on August 27, 2011. Nonfiction.

How to make your point, without making the reader feel like you're preaching--or hitting them over the head with your theme.
TV or Not TV isn't the Question: Why we don't care what kids do instead of reading    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 590 words. Published on August 27, 2011. Nonfiction.

A lot of writers regard anything that takes kids’ time and attention from books as the enemy. This is why you shouldn't.
Show & Tell: & 4 other tips on Avoiding Common Mistakes    by Hilari Bell
Price: $2.99 USD. 7970 words. Published on August 21, 2011. Nonfiction.

This collection contains five tips on how to use summary (telling) correctly, keeping your protagonist active, finding time to write and whether or not you should try to self publish.
Are you the Next American Idol? Some things to think about before you self-publish    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 2860 words. Published on August 21, 2011. Nonfiction.

(5.00 from 1 review)
American Idol has proved that few people can accurately judge their own talent--but that said, the publishing world is changing significantly. To self-publish while you improve your craft, or not--this is the new question.
A Time to Write: How to phrase your New Year's resolution properly    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 650 words. Published on August 21, 2011. Nonfiction.

“Finding” time is like finding money--never happens. Time, like money, must be made, and this short essay discusses how to do it.
Fixing the Most Common Intermediate Mistake: How scene sequel structure forces your protagonist to become active    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1590 words. Published on August 21, 2011. Nonfiction.

This short essay talks about how to use scene/sequel technique to force your inactive protagonist to get off his butt and run your plot!
The Most Common Intermediate Mistake: Inactive Protagonists    by Hilari Bell
Price: $0.99 USD. 1650 words. Published on August 21, 2011. Nonfiction.

This short essay discusses what an active protagonist does for your plot, and why they are essential.
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Hilari Bell’s tag cloud

active protagonist    agents    authors voice    beginning of novels    characters    charater    climax of novel    close third person    critique    critique groups    critiquing    culture building    editing    editors    elevator pitch    email    emotion in fiction    fantasy    fiction climax    finding time    first person    get published    high concept    hilari bell    inactive protagonist    inciting incident    indie publishing    literary agents    logline pitch    magic    magic in fiction    magical systems for writers    middle of the novel    motivation    multiple pov    novel climax    novel opening    novel structure    optimism    ordinary world    past tense    pitching    plot    point of view    pov    pov characters    present tense    professionalism    revising on spec    revision    scene sequel    science fiction    self publishing    setting    short pitch    single pov    spellcheck    story beginning    story structure    suspension of disbelief    synopsis    synopsises    talent    theme    third person    typo    typos    villians in fiction    world building    writers groups    writers voice    writing    writing craft    writing fantasy    writing fiction    writing for children    writing for young adults    writing groups    writing myths    writing novels    writing opposite gender characters    writing science ficion    writing voice    writing ya