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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...

Supporting Characters as Source of Information

Internal monologue, action, and dialogue may reveal character, but how far can the writer allow it? Most of us are familiar with this Aristotelian maxim: Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. It is a question worth applying to fictional characters. In the application...

Avoiding Excessive Stream of Consciousness

Stream of consciousness or internal monologue reveals additional information on a character’s thoughts and reveals motivation. Modern-day writers must observe caution in using this technique. It has changed according to the tastes and trends of the times. Stream of consciousness gained favor during the twentieth...

The Myth About Fictional Characters

A three-dimensional character is one of the sturdy foundations of an effective story. How many times have you often heard readers saying that they didn’t like the characters because they are flat, or that they don’t jump out of the pages? This creates anxiety for...

Reasons Why Writing is Good for You

There are many benefits that come with writing. One major benefit is that writing helps in developing a more focused mind. Writing requires concentration and the dedication of your time to a specific task. This helps the mind become more accustomed to solving one task...

Tips on Self-Editing your First Draft

You are done with your novel, now it is time to edit. Self-editing can be a rigorous activity that many overlook yet it is necessary for the success of your book. There are a few tips that you could make use of to create the...

How to Achieve Clarity in your Writing

One of the basic functions of the written word is to communicate a message from one person to another. Achieving clarity in your writing is not always easy, especially if you are writing a longer piece such as a book. Even though challenging, creating clear...

Story Ideas in Anecdotes and Everyday Objects

I once had coffee with an elderly neighbor who was grieving the passing of her beloved cat. As we talked about profound loss inside her living room, I noticed a leather stool standing at a corner wall. The leather cushion seat was riddled with cat...

Protagonist Versus Antagonist

The effectiveness of your hero is determined by the effectiveness of your villain. A villain that is easy to overcome does not make the hero empathic. Resolving conflict for the hero should never come easily. The antagonist, therefore, should have greater leverage in achieving his...

 To Quit or Not to Quit -  Part 2

So, you know you need to quit stuff, but what? “I quit” are two of the most powerful words but only if you know where to say them. According to Seth Godin, a popular blogger, “Winners quit fast, often and without guilt”. Why? Because they work...

To Quit or Not to Quit - Part 1

Are you one of those writers that want to produce an amazing piece of work? Something that has the power to change readers’ minds and hearts, maybe even their lives? Well, you’ve come to the right place so keep on reading and I will tell...