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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...
Do You Want To Be A Writer Or An Author?
A writer is a person that writes, regardless of the format they use. It can be a book, short story, novella, blog post, web content, etc. Thus, any blogger, journalist, ghostwriter, screenwriter, etc. using the writing process, is a writer, regardless of whether their work...
Writing in Negative Spaces
A negative or alternative space is a place in which you feel uncomfortable or not yourself. It is a space where you are going through something hard or something out of your control, and yet you are creative. Take me for example; I was in a...
Explore the Meaning, Significance and Examples of Zoomorphism
Zoomorphism is a literary device that gives animal-like qualities to things that aren't animals, such as gods, humans, and inanimate objects. This literary device is popular, employed in similes, metaphors, and imagery to create evocative descriptions for readers. In this article, we examine the meaning,...
What is Tmesis? Types, Rules and Examples
Tmesis is originally a Greek word, which means “to cut.” This rhetorical device involves breaking down a phrase or word into two parts with another word or phrase. A good example is "abso-freaking-lutely," or "Get the hell out." In this article, we examine the unique qualities of this...
What's Self-deprecation?
Have you ever heard of self-deprecation? Before you start thinking about your answer, I’ll give you an example to help you relate quickly. Now you remember how much people who didn’t know how to play football were mocked in junior school and high school. Assume you...
Understanding Tautology: Definition, Function and Example
Tautology is a literary device involving using different synonymous words in a sentence. This language usage can be redundant in writing. But writers often use it to create emphatic and rhythmic effects, permitted as poetic license. In this article, we explain various types of tautology...
What is Synecdoche? Meaning, Types, Functions and Examples
Synecdoche is a literary device that is commonplace in everyday conversation. When you say, "Can I buy you a glass?" That's a synecdoche. It refers to using a part of something to refer to the whole or vice versa. In literature, it creates rhythmic, artistic,...
Understanding Symbolism in Literature
Symbolism is a literary device that employs an object, word, or action to portray ideas beyond literal interpretation. A symbol can be an action, a word or phrase, a person, location, color, description, or object. Writers can use these symbols to evoke a certain mood...
What is a Soliloquy? Explore Its Function, Uniqueness and Examples
A soliloquy is a literary device employed in dramatic literature. Here, a theatrical character expresses thoughts, emotions, or an exposition directly to the audience. It also helps a playwright fill in the role of a narrative for the audience. In this article, we explore the...
What is Diacope? Types, Functions and Examples
Diacope is a rhetorical and literary device where repeated words are separated by a single or few intervening words. Derived from the Greek word “thiakhop,” meaning “cutting in two, ” this device can be used to create emphatic, persuasive, and rhythmic effects in writing and...