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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...
Using Foreshadowing and Tie Backs
Foreshadowing and Tie Backs are two useful literary tools. Foreshadowing means a writer provides a hint about an upcoming event. Here’s an example from my first novel, with a news reporter speaking to my protagonist. The foreshadowing passage goes like this “I ran across Bradshaw...
Show or Tell, But Not Both—Usually
Showing instead of telling is one of the first tips new writers learn. Newbies may write, “he looked embarrassed,” but as they gain experience they write, “he covered his face with his hands.” Now we know he’s embarrassed without having to be told. However, for some...
Use The Psychology of Threes to Enhance Your Writing
You’ve no doubt noticed how often items are grouped into threes. Because you’re a writer, think about well-known stories . . . Goldilocks and the Three Bears . . . the Three Little Pigs . . . the Three Musketeers. Marketing slogans often use three...
Real Consequences, Real Heroes
Here’s a common story in literature: A rebellious child goes against the wishes of a parent. As a result, this child causes all kinds of trouble for the family and society. This theme is present within two stories I enjoyed reading, both with a female protagonist who...
Who is Your Target Audience?
There’s an old story about a man who invented a new product. Someone asked him, “who is your product for?” “It’s for everybody!” he replied. It wasn’t, because no product, no matter how vital it may seem, will appeal to every person on the planet. The same...
Using Proper Punctuation and Structure in Dialogue
I recently edited a book that included the sentences below. Both contain common punctuation errors. (I changed the details to protect the writer’s privacy.) “I can see you’re surprised,” he raised an eyebrow. “Tell me more about your day.” She said with a...
Online Editors and the Polished Product
When writing a book, letter, review, or anything that other people will read, it is imperative to use proper grammar and spelling. So how do you check your writing? A professional editor or proofreading service would be a good idea for a novel. Reader's Favorites,...
Know the Three Defenses Against Libel
We all know that there’s abundant pleasure in being a writer. Seeing our words in print and knowing they’re teaching or entertaining others brings boundless satisfaction. But being a writer also has enormous responsibility. Our words carry large impact, and although most people write to...
Help Your Readers Achieve Willing Suspension of Disbelief
Anyone who reads fiction engages in a practice called the willing suspension of disbelief, sometimes called just the suspension of disbelief. This means readers know a story or movie they’re reading or watching isn’t real, but at some level, they pretend it is. It’s an agreement...
Understanding how Power Changes a Leader
One psychological concept that writers would benefit from understanding is how power can change the psychological functioning of a leader. Writers can benefit in that such an understanding will help them to explain how and why their character has changed since acquiring power. The fact that power...