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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...

You Have Written Yourself Into a Corner, Now What?

You’ve got this great story idea and you’ve been going along, with everything falling into place. You are in the zone and you know, just know that you are going to power through this story and get it to market fast. Then suddenly you find you’ve...

8 Reasons Why People Balk at Going Freelance – Part 2

Welcome back to my mini-series on why people hold back on going freelance. Has it happened to you? Have you got a skill that you think others would benefit from, but haven’t the guts to take it anywhere? Here are the next four reasons why...

8 Reasons Why People Balk at Going Freelance – Part 1

How many times have you heard someone say, or thought it yourself, “I hate my job, I wish I could work for myself!” Really, what is holding you back? There are millions of freelancers out there, people who have a skill to offer, like writing, web...

Inspirational Places To Write

Sometimes working from home can become a little too comfortable. If you have spent days in your pyjamas with ruffled hair and living on a diet of strong coffee and cereal, then it is time to get out of your office and look for inspiration...

The Myths Of Writing

This is the second instalment of the myths of being a writer. Is writers' block real and a genuine problem? Not really. The truth is that the feeling of writers' block isn’t exactly a block from writing at all. It has little or nothing to do with actually writing. Usually, writers...

Tips For Writing For Children

If you are considering attempting a children's book, you must enter an alternate world, one loaded with different styles. Is your book aimed at toddlers and under fives with a picture or board book, or a novel for teenagers? There are different rules to follow for...

How to Write an Autobiography and Why You Should - Part 1

Writing a Great Autobiography There are many reasons for writing an autobiography. For some people, they have the desire to tell their story and be an inspiration to others, either through the difficulties they have been through or the joys they have encountered. Whatever the reason,...

Three Most Fearsome Mythical Creatures of Brazil

In How to Write a Unique Spooky Story, I wrote about how to write a unique spooky story by either creating your own monster, creature, or horror yourself or by finding a monster that is not well known. I advised finding a monster by researching...

5 Lies About Writing

1. Show Don't Tell If you are not writing visual scenes or giving the reader a visual experience, then you are failing; this is a lie. The truth is you need a mixture of both: you have to tell and show. Telling is called exposition. Showing is...

The Traits Of A Writer

I have been a writer now for over twenty years and in all that time I have experienced many lows and many highs. But the truth is I just kind of fell into writing. A friend of mine had just returned from working in Hollywood...