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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...

French Horrors of Myth, Legend, and History

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...

Breaking the Big Bad Writer’s Block

You’ve been working on your story for months. You breathe your character’s air, see what they see, feel what they feel. You live in them and through them and with them. Then, one day, it happens. That thing you dread. What you hear whispered about...

Want to Write a Short Story? Consider These Tips

Given the popularity of short stories and their many merits, some would ask the best way to go about writing one. This article aims to guide any author considering writing a short story as their next project. Unique skills are required when writing short stories, which...

A Case for Writing Short Stories

There some convincing reasons for an author to consider writing short stories. These reasons vary, but are essential to understanding the potential that lies in short stories. Some of their advantages are discussed in this article. The Benefit of Flexibility Using short stories to build a book gives...

Tools To Become A More Productive Writer

"Not enough time to write." This is the number one excuse for millions of writers to never complete their work in progress. This article can help you break through the time-sucking barriers and give you the tools to become the best version of your writer self.   Time Management Many times people do have...

What Is A Beat Sheet?

As an author, rejection comes in many forms. Mostly it comes from an unhappy editor or dissatisfied recently queried agent. They may say things such as the storyline was flat; the story suffers "saggy-middle syndrome," or the ending didn't have a satisfying climax; it ended too abruptly,...

Laying The Foundation For Your Novel: Step Two

What motivates our characters to wander into danger, risk everything, and face a fate worse than death? Outer conflict. Now that we have created a Conflict Map, let's look at ways to deepen the conflict and uncover what drives our Hero(ine) and Villain. We will expand our character's story...

Five Tips on Writing Non-Fiction

Use Simple Language No reader wants the extra work of decoding information. Simple words go a long way to ensuring that readers stick to reading your book to the end. This, therefore, means that the author should build an engaging concept as readers are attracted to...

Spooky Monsters, Creatures, and Horrors from German Myth and Legend

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 myths...

Writing Places: College Campuses

There are multiple temporary writing places that have been found to inspire writers. One often overlooked place of writing and inspiration is a college campus. Most people think of college campuses mainly as places for student learning. In doing so, they neglect thinking of college...