Yes, it’s a cliché…but isn’t that because it’s mostly true? There’s a literary joke so well-established we barely even need to explain for everyone to get it. You’ll have seen the memes. If you’ve been around the bookish internet for a while you’ve probably...
When good books don’t sell, it could be because ‘quite sellable’ isn’t good enough anymore ‘I think this manuscript might have found a publisher ten years ago, but I’m not convinced it stands out enough in today’s market.’ I know as I write this sentence...
Many writers strive to create realistic fiction, believing that realism automatically makes a story more believable. But realistic fiction and believable fiction are not the same thing. One surprising thing I sometimes say during a manuscript assessment is that...
You’ve probably heard that every character needs flaws. That is true, but incomplete. Flaws can make readers love the flawed character, or they can make readers stop caring what happens to them. The difference isn’t the flaw itself, but how it’s...
Getting vague or confusing feedback from beta readers? The problem may not be that they don’t know what’s wrong with your manuscript. It could be they’re trying very hard not to hurt your feelings. Something I hear often from writers is that they need better or more...
If your novel isn’t working and you keep rewriting the plot, you’re probably avoiding the real problem I commonly hear from writers that they’ve rewritten the plot three times. Or five. Or ten. They’ve added new twists. Removed subplots. Changed the...
Wondering why readers aren’t connecting with your main character? Here are some of the most common reasons a protagonist feels unlikeable, and how to fix the problem before you submit your manuscript. One of the most common, and most stubborn, problems I see in...
What do literary agents look for in the authors they want to represent? Contrary to some popular misconceptions, it’s not necessary to be famous, have thousands of followers on social media, or be a personal friend of some grand poobah of publishing in order to get a...
A big part of choosing the professionals you will work with on your writing career is finding the right match for you and your work. You need someone who is able to provide what you need at the time you need it. Some editors or consultants are not going to be a match...
Research, whether for a non-fiction book or a novel, is an important aspect of writing a book. Ideally, research will provide you with the depth and detail a really good book requires, and at the very least, it will help you avoid the kind of howler that undermines...
