Never say never when it comes to writing a book. “I’ll never be a plotter.” “I’d never kill off my protagonist.” “I could never write a series—I’d get too bored with my characters.” As the oft-heard comment goes, each book you write teaches you how to write that book, not the next one. I was…
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Anthology 2026: True Story
If you are an RMFW member, one of the many perks of membership is you can submit a story for inclusion in our next anthology! RMFW publishes an anthology on even-numbered years, and each anthology has a theme. The 2024 theme was “Colorado’s Changing Climate.” Before that, the theme was “Wild.” This year, our theme…
A Story for Every Kind of Mother
My eight-year-old recently asked why so many Disney movies feature deceased or wicked mothers. After a moment to reflect, I answered, “Because if the main characters had positive role models and caregivers, they would get into a lot less trouble and then there wouldn’t be a story.” In Disney’s first full-length animated feature film, Snow…
Making the Most of Your Beta Reads – by Travis Tougaw
Your moment has arrived. After spending months drafting and revising a manuscript, getting feedback from your critique group, and sharing it with your first readers, you’re ready to take the next step. Maybe you’re thinking about pitching to agents or editors. Maybe you’re self-publishing and thinking about formatting and graphic design. Still, a question tickles…
My First Time! Gold Rush Literary Award 2025
I’m new to this. Already having a lot of fun, though. I’m excited to start seeing books from the RMFW community. I have pre-emptive glee at the sense of being a small part in discovering one of the great books to come out in the next few years.