Category
June 18, 2018
Writers are constantly searching for better techniques, better routines, and better strategies to improve their work. But most writing improvement comes back to two simple habits: writing consistently and reading intentionally. No shortcut replaces either one. If you want to become a stronger writer over time, these are the two skills that matter most.
June 15, 2018
Most people try to avoid tension in real life. We dislike uncertainty, conflict, fear, and difficult decisions. In fiction, however, tension is one of the most important tools a writer can use. Whether you're writing novels, short stories, picture books, or memoirs, tension creates curiosity. It gives readers a reason to keep turning pages because they want to know what happens next. Understanding how tension works can dramatically improve your writing.
June 11, 2018
Every year authors are told to pay attention to trends. Which genres are growing? Which categories are declining? Which books are selling? While understanding the publishing industry has value, many aspiring authors make the same mistake. They spend more time studying trends than creating books. The truth is that most publishing trends come and go. But one publishing principle has remained unchanged for decades: readers return to authors who consistently create work they love.
January 1, 2018
Querying a literary agent is the process of pitching your manuscript to agents in hopes of securing representation. In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a query letter, what agents actually want, common mistakes to avoid, query letter examples, and how to track submissions professionally. Whether you’re querying fiction, nonfiction, or children’s books, this guide walks you through the entire process step-by-step.
December 1, 2017
Jo Painter is a freelance illustrator, concept artist, and animator whose creative journey began with little more than MS Paint, a computer mouse, and a determination to improve. Since then, she has worked with authors and companies around the world while building a portfolio aimed at the video game industry. In this interview, we discuss artistic growth, freelancing, client relationships, animation, technology, creativity, and what aspiring artists can learn from building a career in a competitive field.
August 27, 2017
It's been said every sentence is a persuasive argument that succeeds or fails in convincing the reader to read the next. Agree or disagree?
Frankly, I don't agree (completely) because the reader is complex, having a multi-dimensional purpose for reading. One aspect may be truly that each good sentence does cause the reader to continue on. But at the same time, the reader, once personally invested through time, money, promise, or any other act of will may continue reading not for that purposes alone. I listen to audio books during my commute. I have literally finished books only to be able to say I finished them, not because they provided some revolutionary insight or emotional experience. I simply wanted to finish what I started.
August 23, 2017
Depression is a very real, very damaging, very painful experience that can be short term or long term and have long lasting consequences. This perspective of author depression in no way is intended to come across flippantly as if to compare on the same level as chronic or acute depression. An author, however, can learn a great deal about how to process the feelings and thoughts encountered during the road to publication by examining depressive symptoms.
August 22, 2017
Books are often treated like products, but the best books do far more than fill shelf space or generate sales. A meaningful story can challenge beliefs, shape emotions, create connection, inspire change, and stay with readers for years after the final page. That is why writing books is not simply about producing content. Great books provide an experience — one that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.