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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...

Five Killer Tips to Creating a Compelling Opening in Storytelling

A good story starts strong. You don't want to start yours on a weak note. From the opening, you need to get your readers hooked; that is one of its main jobs, and if not executed properly, your readers may not likely go on reading....

The Reader is King: How to Write Stories that Meet Readers' Expectations

When it comes to readers' expectations, there seem to be three kinds of writers: those who write the story they would love to read and hope the reader feels the same way; those who write according to the reader's expectation; and those who do a bit of...

How to Create a Compelling Villain That Gives the Hero a Run for His Money

Most times, writers spend much of their time and effort crafting a compelling main character and do a lazy job of presenting him with an equally fascinating antagonist. The aim of an adversary is never to steal the shine from your hero. Yet, a villain...

What the LOCK Elements is All About

Simply put, a great story has a great plot, and a great plot is the bedrock of every successful story. But what makes a good plot that works? You might ask, and here comes the LOCK system with a practical answer. The LOCK system is...

Understanding the Three Act Structure of Storytelling

The rules for different kinds of writing seem to favor dividing a write-up into three parts. In humor writing, there is the setup, the delay, and the punchline; in academic and business writing, there is the opening, the middle, and the closing. And narrative fiction...

Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing the 7 Point Story Structure.

You must have heard about the seven-point structure and how it enhances your storytelling process. Well, all you heard is the truth. This story structure divides your story into points that hold the crucial elements of any story. These points are: 1. The hook introduces the fascinating...

What You Need to Know about the Seven-Point Story Structure

There are many ways to write a story. You can choose the traditional three-act structure or Joseph Campbell's concept of the Hero's Story. Or you can follow a formula that has proven to be more effective for whatever kind of story you are planning on...

7 Rules of Descriptive Writing for Effective Storytelling

Characters come alive and places feel realistic when a writer describes them perfectly. With excellent descriptions, you pull your readers closer to your characters, their surrounding universe, and the actions that are unfolding. This skill is essential to efficient storytelling, and you need to hone...

Crazy Techniques and Tips for Crafting Mind-blowing Plot Twist

A plot twist is a deviation from the suggested direction of a story, and when executed effectively, creates an element of surprise that intrigues the reader. Readers may not remember all the plot points of your story, but they will never forget a perfectly executed...

5 Sure Ways to Come up with Amazing Story Ideas 

Are you considering writing a story, but you seem to be running low on story ideas, or maybe you don't have any at all? This issue is a common setback among writers; while some get ideas almost every other second of the day, the rest...