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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...

How Long Does It Take To Write A Book – Part 2

Getting into the habit of writing every day is the first step in producing your masterpiece but it doesn’t answer the question of how long it will take. You don’t just take the type of book into account, nor is it all about the estimated...

How Long Does It Take To Write A Book – Part 1

So, how long should a book be? Nine times out of ten the answer to that question will be “it depends” or something like it. On what? Well, to start with, it depends on what type of book it is. Whether it is a fictional novel...

Quick Ways to Relax your Mind as a Writer- Part 2

Take time off social media The demand placed on our minds as we process different information constantly starts to slow us down and becomes a source of stress. The shift of focus as you try to multitask between different activities also places a strain on our...

Quick Ways to Relax your Mind as a Writer- Part 1

Reading and writing are intense processes that require a lot of mental energy. As a writer and reviewer, you can subject yourself to strenuous schedules that are demanding not only on the brain but also on the body as a whole. There are quick and long...

Computer Tips for Writers – Part 2

Welcome back. Computers are an integral part of most writers’ lives and getting the right hardware and software plays an important part in your success. But there is more to it than that. You also need to know how to use your system to manage...

Computer Tips For Writers – Part 1

So many writers know how to write, they know what they want to write but few have any idea about the technology they need to write. Unless you are planning on writing your entire book using pen and paper, you need to give consideration to...

12 Cool Tips on Writing Faster – Part 2

How much faster are you writing now? The first six tips should have boosted your productivity quite a lot but if you still need that extra push, read on for more. Tip 7: Use Text Expander Text Expander is a cool app that lets you insert a...

12 Cool Tips On Writing Faster – Part 1

Every writer wants to know how to write faster; who doesn’t want to get more done in less time? After all, being able to write faster means meeting your targets quicker and having more time to spend with your friends and family, not to mention...

Fiction vs Non-Fiction – All You Need to Know – Part 2

Now you know what fiction is, what about non-fiction? What is Non-Fiction? Non-fiction is a narrative that concentrates on facts. The writer may well be giving their own opinions as a response to the facts but non-fiction work has one purpose – to communicate facts and truth. The...

Fiction vs Non-Fiction – All You Need to Know – Part 1

If someone asked you, “How do you know if a book is fiction or non-fiction?” what would you say? Most people think they have a good idea of the difference between the two. It’s simple – fiction isn’t real, non-fiction is, right? Not so simple –...