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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...
Why the Evil Sorcerer’s Castle Should Have a Gift Shop!
Villains love theatrics. Monologues. Lava pits. Armies of flying things with bad dental plans. But once the hero wins, what’s left? Maybe a burned bridge and a tragic violin swell. That’s a waste because every terrifying fortress should also have a gift shop. Why a Gift Shop...
Designing a Fantasy Tavern Menu That Could Start a Plotline!
In most fantasy tales, the tavern is just background noise: a place for ale, gossip, and that mysterious hooded figure in the corner. But what if the menu itself could spark a quest, hint at political intrigue, or foreshadow the fate of a kingdom? A good...
How to Write a Prophecy That’s Mostly Just Gossip!
Prophecies are usually painted as ancient, mysterious, and heavy with importance. But what if the one in your story isn’t fate speaking at all? What if it’s just rumors wrapped up in dramatic flair? That’s when you’ve created the prophecy that’s mostly gossip. And it’s not...
The Silent Clue: Mastering Subtlety in Detective Novels
Some of the most gripping detective stories don’t hit you over the head with obvious hints. Instead, they whisper, letting the reader notice, or miss, the small details that will later explode into revelation. This subtlety is where real suspense lives. When done well, silent clues...
Your Magical Kingdom Needs Weird Holidays—Here’s How to Invent Them!
Picture this: you live in a kingdom where the year isn’t just a march from New Year’s to Harvest Day to the King’s Birthday. Here, the calendar is crammed with days like The Day of Flaming Pudding, The Moonlight Sock Parade, and the legendary Annual Talking...
How to Use AI Responsibly as a Fiction Author: A Straightforward Guide
I was a published author before the recent boom of AI, so I feel very comfortable writing about this topic. AI has taken the world by storm, especially in the writing and publishing world. But is it possible to use this tool ethically and to an...
Writing for a Series: Keeping Readers Coming Back
There’s something special about a book series. Readers grow attached to the characters, anticipate the next adventure, and feel a sense of belonging in a fictional world that unfolds over time. But for an author, writing a successful series isn’t just about stretching a story—it’s...
Tips for Writing a Children’s Book That Parents Will Love Too
Children’s books are rarely read in isolation. More often than not, a parent, grandparent, or caregiver is reading right alongside the child, sometimes for the 12th time that week. This means a truly successful children’s book isn’t just one that delights the child, but one...
The Art of Writing a Grumpy Mentor Who Secretly Loves Their Hero!
Ever noticed how the grumpiest mentor in a story is often the one who ends up caring the most? They sigh a lot, insult people, and look permanently annoyed. Still, when the hero is in trouble, they're the first to act. Writing this kind of...
Creating Curses That Are More Annoying Than Deadly!
What’s worse than a deadly curse? One that isn’t deadly—just endlessly irritating. The kind that doesn’t kill your character but makes them wish it did. Welcome to nuisance curses. Magical hiccups that don’t wreck the plot but twist the screws just enough to drive everyone...