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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. Below that are hundreds of articles on topics all authors face in today’s literary landscape. Get help and advice on Writing, Marketing, Publishing, Social Networking 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...

To Be Continued…

Give your story a strong ending. There’s nothing a reader dislikes more than that endless tag at the end that reads: “To Be Continued…” Teaching creative writing to young people always earns you a chuckle or two. Not that I’d laugh at the student writer,...

It’s All Greek to Me! Ancient Philosophy and the Modern Writer

One of my favorite jokes to unleash at a party and impress absolutely nobody goes a little something like this: Why did the Greek philosopher bring a pencil? Because he wanted to draw a conclusion! Bah-dah-chhhhh! And then somewhere out there the thinkers, lovers of...

Weapons of Mass Distraction: Over-explaining War Fiction

I come from a family that served in the US Military for many generations, and war fiction has lined the bookshelves of our home since before I was born. Its appeal is in how effectively it delivers gritty action, death-defying stakes, and characters who walk...

Using Weather as a Character: How to Make Rain Feel Like Sadness!

Have you ever wondered how weather can influence a story, just like a character? Weather is not just a background; it can be used as a tool to reflect the mood, create tension, and symbolize emotions. Writers often use rain as an emotion that evokes...

Writing In and About Your Garden

Are you an avid gardener? Do you spend hours outside planning your garden, or browsing nurseries looking for the next unique plant to add to your plot? That’s me. I also browse online and communicate with other garden enthusiasts, looking for ideas to enrich my...

Alpha vs. Beta Readers & Why You Need Both

Congrats! You've accomplished writing your book, and have even polished a couple of new drafts. Well done! Now the real work begins. Wait....what? Enter alpha and beta readers—two indispensable groups of early readers who provide feedback at different stages of the writing process. For absolute clarity: while...

Plot Development, Subplots and Tangents

What if? How often do you ask yourself this question while weaving your story’s plot into action? Are you writing in a straight line – Johnny did this and this happened and this was the result? Perhaps you need to add some subplots and tangents,...

What If Your Character Finds a Journal That's Writing About Their Own Future?

Let's say your character finds a dusty journal in the attic instead of old notes or scribbles. What would your character do if they found out that it was not a regular journal but could write down the future? Not vague guesses, but detailed events...

Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Children's Books

Children’s books have evolved with many modern stories showcasing strong, independent female characters. However, even today, unconscious bias in gender stereotypes persists, shaping the way boys and girls are depicted. From the clothes they wear to the roles they play, these messages influence how children perceive...

The Rise of the Muslim Terrorist Trope

Following the 9/11 attacks, Muslim terrorists became a common trope in thrillers across literature, film, and television. These portrayals were a reflection of North American and European anxieties about terrorism, with Muslim villains often depicted as dangerous extremists plotting attacks. I don't know how many...