Author Services

Author Articles

Hundreds of Helpful 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. 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...

Horrific Inspirations: The Zodiac Killer

The zodiac chart is a famous tool people use to find out more about their personalities, birthdays, and at times, futures. And I’ll admit, I’ve delved into the zodiac a bit, but whether it be out of sheer curiosity or reverence, I’ll leave that to...

Horrific Inspirations: Charles Manson

Imagine meeting a co-worker’s friend for the first time. He’s handsome, kind, charismatic. He’s the kind of person who, in your opinion, can lead revolutions, stage rebellions, probably even steal anyone’s spouse and get away with it. In the back of your mind, you know...

Two Editors You Will Need

What is a good writer without editors? Usually, we hear talk about writers only ever having one editor, those editors are usually cast as tough and precise because they know what they're talking about. But what most independent authors, especially new authors, don't realize is...

Writing Graded Readers - Part 3

How do you write a well-paced story that flows naturally within the structural and lexical constraints of a graded reader? These books, otherwise known as learner literature, are far more than simple school books. Whether they're at an elementary, intermediate or advanced level, they must...

Writing Graded Readers - Part 2

You've decided you'd like to try your hand at writing a graded reader. What's the next step? If a friend asked you for advice on how to become a marathon runner, you'd tell him to go running. Likewise, if you'd like to write graded readers,...

Writing Graded Readers - Part 1

What is a graded reader? Whether you're an experienced writer or a newbie, you may be wondering what a graded reader is. They are books that are written or adapted for language learners. Graded readers help people read and enjoy the language they're learning. This is important...

Knowing and Reaching your Audience - Part 2

Audiences love pieces that ask questions and provoke thought. They want to feel like they are part of the process and not mere outsiders. They also like taking something away with them after reading an article or book. It could be a new perspective or...

Knowing and Reaching your Audience - Part 1

A critical part of the writing process is knowing your audience as a writer. Sometimes this is clear but, for many writers, it is not always easy to identify the specific audience you intend to write for. There are tips discussed in this article that...

Things to Consider While Hiring an Editor

Editing a book is a skill that many people believe they have, but very few people actually possess. Editing a book is not easy. It is more than just removing a few words here, adding a few words there. Authors have to be very careful...

Drowning the Voice of Self-Doubt Part 2

Only compare yourself to you In the modern world we live in, it is a constant struggle not to compare yourself with the next person. As a writer or author, this can become frustrating. As hard as it might be, refraining from comparing yourself with other...