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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...

Writing an Engaging Plot Twist - Part Two

In my previous article about creating a great plot twist, I discussed planting red herrings and using your characters to establish effective false directions in your story. Here we explore the art of plot twists further.  One way is to plant a plot twist within another plot...

How to Write a Clever Plot Twist

When I read a book, I always marvel at the cleverness of plot twists and turns, it is something that turns an everyday story into one that draws you totally into the world of the characters. If you want to know the techniques behind writing...

How To Think Like A Writer

So, you want to write but have no clue where to begin. What made you want to start? That could be your starting point. If you are simply plum dry of topics, I have made a list of small things to do. I am not a...

How To Edit Your Novel

Learning how to edit your novel is not an enticing prospect, but one that is necessary if you are to take the next step in your career. You can, of course, hand your completed manuscript to an editor, and that is always the best option...

How To Record An Audiobook

I am sure, as an author, you want your book to reach as wide an audience as possible. Did you know there is a huge group of people out there that do not even know your book exists because they only listen to audiobooks? Hopefully,...

Waiting to Hear From a Publisher is a Mug’s Game

I’ve just finished writing the biography of the nineteenth-century Ukrainian poet and songster, Benjamin Ehrenkranz. Yes, he’s totally forgotten today, but back then, his tunes and words of protest drew quite a crowd. Wild, unconventional, itinerant, he was the sort of man who shared with...

Mistakes to Avoid when Writing Fiction - Part 2 of 2

Lack of Suspense Your plot needs to be suspenseful. If the reader already knows what will happen at the end of the story, there will be no reason to stick with it to the end. For some genres, such as romance novels, the ending may be...

Mistakes to Avoid when Writing Fiction - Part 1 of 2

Even for prolific writers, writing fiction can pose a few (if not many) challenges. When you know what to watch out for, you will be better at avoiding these mistakes and creating a story that readers will love. Here are a few mistakes to avoid...

Simple Practical Tips on How to Become a Better Writer - Part 2 of 2

Be Adventurous Try out new writing styles, read books from other genres, try changing things around. By looking for new ways of writing, you build excitement so that you are not settling down every day at your desk to write in the same style that you...

Simple Practical Tips on How to Become a Better Writer - Part 1 of 2

Sometimes becoming a better writer requires just taking simple steps consistently until you start to notice that you are growing and finally becoming the kind of writer that you want to be. Here are a few easy steps or tips you should take to get...