I'm Holly Lisle, a full-time novelist on a mission--I believe in paying forward. I have the best job in the world, and if you want to write for a living, too, I want to help you make that happen. So here you'll find not only information about my many novels, but a massive amount of information on how to write your own, and how to make a living doing it. Believing in your dreams and taking the action to turn them into reality is not just for other people. It's for you, too. Welcome to my home on the Web. 

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Writing Diary

Pocket Full of Words
Writing Diary of Novelist Holly Lisle

More About ?C? In Its Current Incarnation
First a note on “Genie In a Bottle.” I got it wrong, but I was in a bookstore that didn’t have the book, and I was working from memory. I’ve never made any bones about the fact that I’ll learn from anyone who can teach me. There’s a screenplay writer named Blake Snyder who [...]
?C? is BACK!
Every writer needs to have a secret project, I think. Something that you’re revved about, something that drives you completely crazy, something that you keep on the hard drive and tinker with and dream about and work on when you’re stuck on the things that are paying you money. I’ve had a number of secret [...]
How To Write Page-Turning Scenes Is LIVE
The course is done, it’s in the shop, and it’s available now. So… what’s in Page-Turning Scenes? The two critical parts EVERY scene must have? (Page 13)   The FIVE [...]
The Words of Doom?Trouble Ticket
Cranky Phone Guy is deep in the quicksand. At least he’s really funny about it.
Page-Turning Scenes + 4000 words
I’ve written an additional 4000 words today, filling in exercises for Pacing and adding an entire new section on Transitions. So when the course goes on sale next week (Monday for list members, Tuesday for everyone else), it’s going to have some bugs my beta-testers didn’t have a chance to test. And some new ones [...]
Page-Turning Scenes Cover Art
Getting close now.
The Air Force Kid Update
Aaaaaghh! I should have details, but I am so grateful for what I do have that I’m posting it anyway. Have not heard from the AFK in ages, because he’s been doing missions—he warned me in advance that this would be the case, and in theory I should have been at least relatively calm, because [...]
What Do You Want In the Newsletter?
I’m just about to a sanity point. Just about finished with a whole bunch of work, just about to have a breather before the next work starts. That’s a good time to ask questions and think about the answers. So. You probably know I do a writing newsletter. (Holly Lisle’s Writing Updates) Odds are fairly [...]
Beta Version Of Page-Turning Scenes Is Done
The first draft of How To Write Page-Turning Scenes is finished. It came in at 92 pages (which means it’s a full course, not one of the Critical Skills short courses I’d planned to make it), and after I finish putting in the beta test worksheet, I’ll upload it into the February Sucks bundle so that [...]
Two Little Miracles
The kid checked out the disastrous Painted Lady experiment just a few minutes ago, and discovered that, in spite of everything, (including fire ants, handling, bumping, dropping, and his dad and me looking at those pathetic little chrysalids every night once the kid was asleep and being sure they were dead), he had two very [...]

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My Upcoming Novels

The Ruby Key (Book I of Moon & Sun)

On the most dangerous night of the year, fourteen-year-old Genna and her twelve-year-old brother Danrith go into the forest to find a healing tree sap that could save their mother's life. But they don't come back. Instead, they are drawn into the world of the dangerous nightlings, and into a bargain with the immortal nightling kai-lord--find a missing child, or they and their mother will die. (Scholastic, May 1, 2008)

Preorder your copy at your local bookstore, or at:

• B&N
• BooksAMillion
• Amazon

A young Tonk woman stolen from her family as a child and raised as a slave in the far-away Ossalene Citadel is given the choice--be free and be nothing, or give up every hope and dream you had, give up everything you cherished, give up your own life, and fight to save what remains of the people who were once yours--people you don't know and may never live to meet. More than anyone imagines rests on her choice. (Tor, June 24, 2008)

Preorder your copy at your local bookstore, or at:

• B&N
• BooksAMillion
• Amazon

My Writing Courses

• The Clinic Bundle
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