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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 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...

What Authors Can Learn From Broadway

Although the theater industry and the publishing world might feel like two polar opposites, there is a lot we can learn from the Broadway business model. Whether you are an aspiring author or a literature veteran, following these lessons can help you become a stronger...

Finding Your Niche as a Writer

As writers, pitching new material is a constant part of our job. We want to bring new stories to life with substance, nuanced perspectives, and data-driven research that can help readers embrace a new point of view or develop their understanding of a subject. Developing your...

How to Make Your Readers Root for a Villain And Then Regret It!

We all love a good villain. They are supposed to be the bad guys—the ones we despise, fear, and hope get defeated by the hero. But more than that, villains can make unforgettable stories. The best stories play with our emotions, tricking us into sympathizing...

Writing About Grief

Are you ever really sad? I’m sure you are. We all have our moments of grief for a multitude of reasons: loss of a loved one or a loved pet, break-up with a friend or someone with whom you thought you could spend the rest...

What If Your Protagonist’s Biggest Flaw Was Just Terrible Fashion Sense?

When we consider a protagonist's defining flaw, we often think of a tragic backstory, a deep insecurity, or a self-destructive habit. What if I say your protagonist's biggest struggle was just an awful fashion sense and nothing else? Yes! In storytelling, even the most seemingly...

Coping With a Bad Review

Being an author requires thick skin. For many authors, it can feel like a personal attack, but in most cases it is not. Even classic authors like Jane Austen or modern best-selling authors like Stephen King get bad reviews. There are three types of bad reviews. The first...

Think Like a Reader

What do you look for in a book? A compelling plot? Believable characters? Good descriptions? Do you want to feel involved in the story? Perhaps all of these things. If that’s the case, you’re in good company because that’s what most readers seek. So, when...

Goth-Lit for the Modern Reader

Gothic literature has fascinated readers for centuries with its eerie settings, mind-jarring psychology, and a dive into the furthest recesses of fear. While the genre was once defined by haunted castles and supernatural apparitions, today’s gothic fiction has expanded to reflect contemporary anxieties, making it...

Chivalry in Fiction: The Man-sel in Distress

The concept of chivalry in fiction has traditionally centered around male protagonists rescuing women, often portraying men as protectors and women as the ones in need of saving. However, in recent years, adult fiction has witnessed a radical shift with a rise in stories where...