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Colleen McCracken

Fantasy & Sci-fi Author

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Writing Tips

How to get the most out of writing prompts

colleenmccrackenOctober 25, 2022October 24, 2022

Do you ever start something and then kind of forget you were doing it and accidentally abandon it for months?

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Analysis Writing Tips

Diegesis: breaking down the most confusing term in literature

colleenmccrackenAugust 27, 2022August 27, 2022

Despite having taken every single literature class I had the opportunity to take throughout high school, I was well into

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Writing Tips

Writer, you need an alpha reader

colleenmccrackenAugust 13, 2022August 13, 2022

I was perusing the Nanowrimo forums the other day and I stumbled across something absolutely magical. It’s a thread called

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Writing Tips

Present tense? Past tense? Here’s how to choose!

colleenmccrackenAugust 8, 2022August 8, 2022

People have really strong opinions about tense. I know this because I write mostly in the present tense, which means

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Writing Tips

What to do when your story doesn’t make sense

colleenmccrackenAugust 4, 2022August 3, 2022

One of the most common things to hear from new writers seeking help with their work is, “My story doesn’t

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Writing Tips

Why you should stop editing and start rewriting

colleenmccrackenJuly 25, 2022July 24, 2022

Editing sucks. I’m in the middle of it right now, and I can tell you, 80,000 words looked a whole

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Analysis Reviews

Stranger Things Season 4 has some important lessons for writers

colleenmccrackenJuly 22, 2022

Believe it or not, I planned to publish this the same weekend Part 2 of Stranger Things Season 4 released,

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Writing Tips

What are three-dimensional characters, anyway?

colleenmccrackenJune 28, 2022June 28, 2022

Writers, bookworms, and critics alike love to talk about “three-dimensional characters” – how great it is when stories have them,

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Writing Tips

So, you want to retell a fairy tale

colleenmccrackenJune 20, 2022June 29, 2022

Once upon a time, I got bit by a story bug and spent the entire weekend doing barrels and barrels

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Reviews

Stranger Things Season 4 Part 1: a (mostly) spoiler-free review

colleenmccrackenMay 30, 2022September 2, 2024

If I call this review spoiler-free, does that mean I have to not say anything to do with Hopper? Or

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About Me

Hi, I'm Helen! I write fantasy and sci-fi under the pen name Colleen McCracken. I'm a bookworm and literary analysis junkie from the Pacific Northwest heading down the road toward publication, and sharing advice, analysis, and updates along the way. My debut fantasy novel, Hunter of Seals, comes out October 28th, 2025!

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Recent Posts

  • Hunter of Seals is AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER!
  • Big HUNTER OF SEALS Update: Cover reveal, release date, & ARC signups are live!
  • So you need to pick an editor… now what?
  • So you got some feedback… now what?
  • The magic and terror of sharing your writing

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