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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...
Craft Your Masterpiece - Free Book Writing Software for Novice Writers
When I decided to write a nonfiction book, I realized that word processing software like Word or Google Docs wouldn't suit my purposes. Thus, I started researching the available book-writing software. But popular programs like Scrivener, Plottr, Atticus, and Novelpad were too pricey for me—and...
Cryptic Cafés: Writing Stories Inspired by the Unusual Regulars of a Mystery Coffee Shop
Picture yourself in your beloved café, immersing yourself in the atmosphere as you interact with fellow patrons and savor your coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee is not about fixing your caffeine craving; it's about tapping into a whole world of creativity. By discovering...
The Office Supply Olympics: How Writers Turn Stationery into Tools of Creativity
In the diverse world of creative expression, artists have endless avenues to explore their imagination. Likewise, writers rely on a unique set of tools to craft their stories. Pens, paper, and sticky notes take on a new role as instruments of creativity. They're more than...
A Humorous Examination of Writerly Anxiety
Being a writer is like going on a wild roller coaster ride through a minefield. Sometimes, it's super exciting; other times, it's terrifying, and now and then, things blow up unexpectedly. We swing between feeling really happy and creative, when ideas flow easily, and feeling sad...
The Diary of a Commuting Writer: Navigating Plot Twists on Public Transportation
When you take a bus ride, you're drawn to the vibrant scenes outside your window; the lively streets, towering skyscrapers, and the joyful laughter echoing from parks and playgrounds. These moments are everyday scenarios and not exactly the highlight of anyone's day. But for a...
Language and Dialect: How Local Speech Patterns Contribute to Authentic Dialogue
Language is the most effective key to communication. However, different people speak even the same language differently. The verbal communication among people from similar communities living in different geographical locations might differ. This difference in language can be referred to as dialects. Within dialect, thus,...
Language of Flowers: Incorporating Floral Symbolism and Meaning in Writing
Flowers have been used for ages in the works of literature, poetry, and art as timeless symbols for expressing secret emotions, ideas, and hidden meanings. This non-verbal communication through the means of assigning specific meanings to the flowers is called floriography, and it provides subtle symbolism...
Green Writing: Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Practices for Authors
E-books have become more popular over the past decade, but physical books are still in demand. Many people enjoy holding a book while they read. There is nothing wrong with that. However, printing books has a significant impact on the environment. Authors, publishers, and sellers...
Artistic Cross-Pollination: How Different Forms of Art Inspire Creative Writing
As human beings, we have a natural desire to explore novel concepts and inventions. One method to enhance our abilities and maintain originality is by blending ideas from various creative fields. This concept is called cross-pollination. Cross-pollination enables us to gain a fresh outlook and...
The Art of Writing by Candlelight: Exploring Creativity in Dim-Lit Environments.
Writing by candlelight has a special allure. It creates an ambiance filled with mystique, where creativity flourishes, imagination thrives, and words flow. In the connection between dim-lit settings and writing, a bond resonates through history and endures in the present day. The tradition of writing...