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. 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

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)

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...

Writing Places: Parks

There are multiple temporary writing places that have been found to inspire writers. One often overlooked place of writing and inspiration is the park. Most people think of parks mainly as places for children, sports players, joggers, and dog walkers. In doing so, they neglect thinking...

Analysing the English Language: Don't Leave It Up to Spell Check!

There, their, they’re – tired of figuring out which there is theirs? Or, for that matter, yours because you’re overwhelmed by the confusion. And the spell check really isn’t helping. It’s amazing how the inconsistencies and unusual nuances and innuendoes of the English language can confuse...

Writer Networking

It was a special occasion. My husband and I decided to drive to a nearby town, browse the historic section and enjoy a lunch out. After walking about, we settled in at an out-of-the-way family restaurant, small, quaint, but reported to have good, homemade (freshly...

Eat, Sleep and Drink

What makes life interesting? Life is intriguing when there is something that excites you or gives you the ability to feel special. It is the same with writing. When you write, you want to share something that you have experienced; whether the feeling is good or...

The Rapture and After

As I’ve stated before, writers tend to draw their inspirations from their cultures, whether they know it or not. From the fiery brimstone illustrations Southern preachers have claimed, to the nuclear war today’s leaders may or may not start, to even alien invasions or parasitic...

Writing Places: Libraries

When it comes to writing, many writers have a specific place where they prefer to do their writing. Some writers use a home office while others prefer an internet cafe or coffee shop; then there are others who prefer the more natural writing environment of...

Writing Places: Cruise Ships

When it comes to writing, many writers have a specific place that they prefer to do their writing. Some writers use a home office while others prefer an Internet cafe or coffee shop; then there are others who prefer the more natural writing environment of...

You're Never Too Young: Writing as a Teen

There’s something magical about books. Not only do they create these worlds and stories for people to explore, but they also bring people together as they read them. It doesn’t matter what age you are, you can suddenly be on a space ship or on...

How to Get Over Writer's Block

Many writers end up suffering from writer’s block at some point in their writing career. It is simply a normal part of writing that the writer at some point, or at multiple points, runs out of things to write, does not know what to write...

The Third Person Narrative

Like many other forms of narration, the third person narrative presents its own share of advantages and technicalities. Depending on what the author is striving for, there are valid reasons for them to select the third person’s point of view to tell their story. Writing in...