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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...

The Freedom of Writing On a River

The gentle lapping of water against steel, morning mist rising from the canal, and the distant call of waterfowl – this is the ‘office’ of a narrowboat writer in the UK right now. While the romantic notion of crafting stories while floating through picturesque landscapes...

Interviewing Techniques

Standing no taller than 4 feet, 10 inches, Sister Ellen Pickette looked at me and seriously asked, "Why are you here?” I’ll always remember the nun I interviewed for a special person’s story I was working on. She was quite the character and took over...

Using Poetic Techniques to Enhance Prose Writing

Although poetry and prose writing are two unique disciplines, writers can benefit greatly by incorporating poetic techniques in their novels. Think of poetry as coloring, and adding rhythm, flow, and greater imagery to your writing. In this article, we will discuss some possible steps to...

When and How to Work With a Mentor

We all need help at one time or another. It’s not just the writing game that strikes fear in our hearts and confusion in our minds. It’s reassuring to know that there’s help out there. But what kind of help do we need? Where do...

Write Nonfiction – It Can Be Both Easy and Profitable

Why should you write nonfiction? At the top of the list are two reasons. First, writing nonfiction is a great way to launch your writing career. Second, nonfiction is much more profitable than fiction and it outsells fiction 5 to 1. Other reasons? For starters,...

Past Life Regression Therapy for Creatives

The first time I heard about Past Life Regression Therapy, or PLRT, a member of my family had just had two pretty intense sessions. PLRT is a form of hypnosis that its advocates say is a way to guide people to tap into potential past lives....

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Novel

When writing a Christmas-themed novel, the quintessential Hallmark movie formula serves as an excellent blueprint. A small-town setting bursting with holiday charm, a warm-hearted protagonist, and a clean romance full of serendipitous moments are cornerstones of this genre. Your characters should face relatable problems—mending a...

Preparing to Write Good Prepper Fiction

Prepper fiction, a subgenre of speculative and survivalist literature, is appreciated by a unique readership fascinated by resilience, resourcefulness, and the “I knew I was right” preparedness that comes from a specific type of person in a post-apocalyptic world. That person is the prepper. Most preppers...

Should You Use a Pseudonym?

What are the advantages of using a pseudonym (also known as a pen name or nom de plume)? It allows writers some sense of anonymity, though I wonder how much of that is possible in this era where everything is blatantly revealed. Some may view...

Find a Character's Perfect Home with Real Estate Listings

Where a character lives, visits, or, in the case of horror, gets roped into, is a reflection of who they are, or who they hope to be. I'll be the first to admit that details on architecture don't exactly flow from my imagination. One of...