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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...
3 Types of Publishers and How to Avoid Being Scammed
Many authors are confused by the variety of publishers that are out there. Many publishers lure in prospective authors with amazing sounding deals (“We’ll get your book into the hands of thousands of readers!”) or unsupported claims (“Become a bestseller overnight!”). Authors are tempted by...
What Editors Do For You – And What They Won’t Do
Editors play a vital role in the success of your work but what exactly do they do? And, perhaps more importantly, what won't they do? What They Do Manage Submissions and Acquire Work The editor's role will vary depending on who they work for but most have the...
4 Facts About Self-Publishing That Might Surprise You
For many authors, self-publishing is the easiest route to go down because it provides freedom – from agents, poor royalties and to publish when and where you want. However, in many respects it isn’t the rosiest of routes; it may have its advantages but it...
5 Steps to Publishing with a Hybrid Publisher
Hybrid publishing is a combination of self-publishing and traditional publishing, the modern way of publishing that gives the author a real hands-on experience of publishing with the guidance and assistance of a traditional publisher. It isn’t that much different from doing it all yourself so...
Adding Humor to Serious Fiction
Many people seem to be of the belief that humor has no place in a serious fiction novel, like a general thriller or a political thriller. Good fiction, especially thrillers, should be reflective of the real world and real life and that means injecting humor...
Comic Book and Graphic Novel Publication
The publication process for comic books is quite similar to that of other literary publications, however, most up and coming comic book writers don't realize all the other elements involved. Let's begin with the basics that one must know when it comes to publishing your work: 1....
How to Get More Acceptance Letters
Fed up with rejections? Fed up with not even hearing from an agent you submitted work to? Do you want to know how to get more acceptance letters? Then here’s how: Get the look. The only way to get people to take you more seriously is...
What is Previously Published Writing?
Literary agents and journals commonly reject previously published writing but what is it exactly? Why won't most agents risk taking on work that has already been published somewhere else? When can you send in previously published writing? These days, with the internet playing such a...
What Does That Mean? Publishing Terms and Vocabulary
Whether you are publishing short stories or have a full novel with a literary agent, it is important that you understand the publishing language. Fluency in the terms that they use will give you an edge and it gives you more control over the sale and...
10 Ways to Maintain Sanity When Your Book is With the Editor – Part 2
If you still need a way to stop yourself from going round the bend while your book is in editing, try these few ways. Get on Social Media and Conduct an Audit When your book is released, you want everyone to know about it. You will need...