Author Services
Author Articles
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...
Maintaining Consistency
There’s nothing worse for a reader than settling into a good story only to discover that you no longer know who’s narrating the story. Some writers consistently jump from one character’s point of view to another. Take Jodi Picoult, for example. Her novels employ multiple...
Your Antagonist Needs a Hobby—Here’s How to Make It Weird!
As readers, we often think about protagonists and believe they have been exemplary in inspiring us with their traits, struggles, or hobbies. But antagonists can also be astonishingly good at playing excellent roles and making an impact through their weird hobbies. A thoughtfully crafted antagonist...
Writing a Plot That's Just a Series of Unfortunate Coincidences!
Crafting a story by relying on the ordinary can get stale. To write a great story, writers have to unleash their imaginations and dive into the extraordinary. Imagine a plot that unfolds as a thrilling series of unfortunate events. Won't that keep readers on the edge...
Your Protagonist’s Morning Routine Could Reveal Their Deepest Flaws!
Have you ever wondered what a character's morning routine says about them? Writers spend hours for backstories, quirks, and emotional arcs, but sometimes, when getting to know a character, the first hour of their morning routine in a day says it all. How about we explore...
What is Your Story’s Theme?
While working on my first novel, “Spring” (PublishAmerica: 2005), as well as the subsequent books in the series, “Summer” (Baico: 2007), “Autumn” (Baico: 2009), and “Winter” (Baico: 2012), I never gave any thought to the idea of ‘theme.’ Why would I? I was writing a...
Dealing With Rejection – The Plague of Every Writer
“Don’t send us any more of your work,” one publisher wrote. Another publisher did a complete edit of a work I submitted on spec, pointing out everything needed to make my story publishable. I did the corrections and sent it back only to get a...
Your Characters Need a Therapist—Here’s How to Write Their Sessions
Therapy is a safe space where you rediscover yourself, heal old wounds, and learn to navigate life with a little more grace and a lot more courage. What if I suggest that your character needs therapy, which would allow you to create fantastic scenes by...
The Healing Power of Writing: Embracing Sadness as Inspiration
Writing has always been seen as a creative outlet, but it is also a form of therapy, especially when you’re feeling down. While many people turn to books and poems for comfort, fewer are aware that writing, too, can serve as a therapeutic tool. We...
Using What If To Enhance The Plot
Have you ever asked yourself, “What if”. If you haven’t, then perhaps you should. There’s a whole wealth of story possibilities out there that all begin with that simple question, “What if”. What if it rained non-stop for weeks? I remember one year it rained...
How to Write a Scene That's Just Two People Arguing But Feels Like a Battle!
When writing a scene where two characters are arguing, it's easy to get caught up in the shouting match. But to make such a scene feel more like a battle and less like mere bickering, you need layers—emotions, stakes, and subtext. Let's break down how...