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Book Review & Contest Insights from Real Reviews and Submissions
What separates great books from the rest? Below are articles with insights from real reviews and contest submissions—what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve your book. You’ll also find a wide range of articles covering writing, publishing, marketing, and more. Each article has a Comments section so you can read advice from other authors and leave your own.
Why Some Books Win Awards (And Most Don’t) — Insights From Real Contest Submissions New!
What separates award-winning books from the rest? After evaluating contest submissions across a wide range of genres, certain patterns become clear. Some books consistently rise to the top. Others, even with strong ideas and clear effort behind them, fall short. The difference is rarely dramatic—it...
What We’ve Learned From Reviewing Hundreds of Thousands of Books (And Why Most Don’t Stand Out) New!
After reviewing and evaluating books across thousands of submissions over the past two decades, certain patterns become impossible to ignore. Some books immediately stand out to reviewers. Others—even well-intentioned ones—fade into the middle or fall short. The difference is rarely luck. It comes down to...
Top 10 Useful Websites to Help You with Writing
Do you feel that you are in a creative slump? Do you feel the need to improve on certain areas like grammar, character development, world building, or story composition?
No matter how good you think your writing is, there are always some aspects about it that need to be polished. These ten useful websites can help improve your word skills and take them to the next level. Feel free to check them out any time you need some inspiration and advice.
1. Lit Reactor
This website is a hub for writers where they can learn tips and tricks from experts. It boasts a large, active community of freelance and professional authors. You can even sign up for online classes and seminars on various writing aspects such as basics of story mechanics, science fiction writing, and how to create interesting fictional characters. There’s also a writing workshop where you can let other people view your pieces or review other people’s work.
2. Goodreads
If you need fresh ideas for your upcoming book, try Goodreads. This site can provide you with recommendations on your favorite titles and genres. There is also a feature where you can see what your friends have read or are currently reading. In addition, you can read book reviews or share your own opinions.
3. Men with Pens
It has a voluminous archive of more than 1,000 articles that will help writers on context-marketing, freelancing, web design, and even how to build a small business.
4. Writer Unboxed
This site provides simple and practical articles about improving one's craft and getting work published. These articles were all created by expert wordsmiths so neophyte writers will surely learn a lot from every article.
5. Mystery Writing Is Murder
Although the name of the website sounds scary, it actually provides all the essential tricks that you need in creating a very compelling story for all genres. There are also articles on how to use social media and how to start a very productive writing day.
6. Grammar Book
This website provides free and comprehensive lessons on grammar and sentence construction. It has a list of rules that you can check while writing your piece. To keep your skills sharp, Grammar Book also has some fun grammar quizzes.
7. Lousy Writer
Aside from grammar, it offers lessons on different writing styles, parts of speech, misused words, and a whole lot more. It has interactive tutorials using pod casts and videos to hone your skills.
8. The Creative Penn
Follow the popular indie author and marketing expert Joanna Penn as she gives you pieces of advice on self-publishing, platform building, and being an author-entrepreneur.
9. Novel Publicity
A one stop hub for your publishing, social media, and creative writing needs.
10. Writers Helping Writers
This website is a fun community offering great advice in honing your craft, creative tools, and a friendly support for neophyte writers. It is very rich in available webinars, workshops, and writing resources.
Final thoughts
These are just some of the highly recommended sites that you can visit to help improve your writing. Although all of them are useful, it is also important that you have the determination to learn and the will to practice your skills. By combining knowledge and experience, you will be able to utilize the best of your abilities.
Stephanie Chapman
I found several services that cost money and that tends to cause beginning writers to balk at using the services. You mention several good options in this article.