Rebel Writing Courses
by Libby Copa
I help writers strengthen their writing and creative practice, navigate the publishing world, and turn their art into an act of rebellion.
The 3 Weirdest Books I Have Ever Read
4000+ Rebel Readers Howdy Rebel, I have read a lot of weird books over the years. I love rebel writers and so I gravitate toward risk takers and unique voices. I thought I would share with you some of the weirdest books I have read and that I like to recommend to others. I think we can learn from these books and I think they are special gems in the book world. Let’s get right to it. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski - I guess I still don’t fully understand this book, even after all these...
13 days ago • 3 min read
The Creative Drought
Hi Rebel, Since I haven't been talking about my own creative projects that much, I've been getting some people asking about them. To be honest, I haven't been up to much. I've been keeping a low profile because, well, there simply hasn't been anything exciting to share. Not only is there nothing exciting…there has basically been just a lot of nothing… It’s been a year since I released my last book. Over the year, I’ve dabbled here and there, but I was not inviting the muse in and she was not...
20 days ago • 4 min read
Tips for using Goodreads to reach more readers
4000+ Rebel Readers Hi Rebel, Some authors I know loathe Goodreads.com, but I love it. It has looked basically the same for over 15 years. I like that. I know what I am getting. Before I get into how authors can utilize Goodreads, let’s talk a little bit about why you should consider it. Goodreads is now owned by Amazon. Over the years they have played with how they profit from it. At one time they tried to blend Amazon and Goodreads ratings – this was a disaster. People HATED this. One...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
The Art of Imperfection – Writing Flawed Characters
Hi Rebel, When I was writing A Low Diving Bird, I knew I would come up against some deeply flawed characters. A novel set in the aftermath of the American Civil War, predominately told from the viewpoint of people on the losing side of the war, these characters have had a difficult and violent few years. With their circumstances came a hardness and harshness to their being. I was knee deep in character flaws. Can you love a character with serious flaws? How deep can I push it? I found myself...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Substack Mastery: Insights from Author Charlotte Dune
Date: March 1, 2024 4400+ Rebel Readers Hi Rebel, I'm thrilled about today's interview. Charlotte Dune is here to share her Substack journey, and her insights are pure gold for anyone looking to grow their own community. Charlotte launched her Substack in 2022, but it wasn't until 2023, when she committed to a weekly schedule and introduced paid offerings, that her subscriber count soared to over 800 eager readers. Let's just dive in. Interview with author Charlotte Dune Libby: How did you...
2 months ago • 10 min read
To Prologue or Not to Prologue
Hi Rebel, To prologue or not to prologue that is the question a writer sometimes finds themselves asking their critique group, their editor, and of course, themselves… Over the last several years, prologues have gotten a lot of shit. Literary fiction has always considered them a no-no, but prologues have started to get a bad rap across the board as an overused writing technique. But I don’t think we need to write them off completely. If done well, I like a fun prologue that pulls me into a...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Finding your voice in your author newsletter
Hello Rebel, The saturation of emails flooding our inboxes is getting worse by the day. Eventually, there will be a breaking point. People will begin to subscribe to only a few newsletters, their absolute favorites, to keep their inbox from making them insane. ::Sigh:: The world of technology and how people consume information changes so quickly. Actions taken by Google and Yahoo this year to crack down on spam are keeping author newsletters out of sight from their readers. (Oh hey, if this...
3 months ago • 6 min read
Writing Controversial Books
4400+ Rebel Readers February 2, 2024 Hi Rebel! Not everyone wants to write a controversial book, but since you subscribe to this newsletter, I think you are at least rebel-curious. Creating controversy in literature can be a way for writers to provoke thought and spark conversations that need to happen. Crafting characters who are morally complex and morally ambiguous ignites debate. These characters can challenge readers' sympathies and lead to introspection about the gray areas of human...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Is setting really that important?
Date: January 26, 2024 4400+ Rebel Readers Hi Rebel, When we imagine our settings as a force, a living entity intertwined with our narrative, we begin to craft immersive environments that pulsate with new life. The setting becomes more than just a place a character lives or a place they are having an experience and adds layers of circumstance and emotion that help to shape our protagonists into complex characters. Strong setting is more than a backdrop; it's a mirror reflecting your...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Memoir as a form of activism and rebellion
4000+ Rebel Readers January 12th, 2024 Hello Rebel, A pep talk. I know sometimes you are unsure of putting your story out into the world - but writing your truth is an act of self-affirmation and empowerment. By sharing your journey, you validate your experiences and provide a voice for those who may have faced similar struggles or are currently down in it. Memoirs humanize complex issues, giving way to understanding and empathy. Throughout history, oppressive systems (and specific people)...
4 months ago • 2 min read
I help writers strengthen their writing and creative practice, navigate the publishing world, and turn their art into an act of rebellion.