Editor’s Eavesdrop: What Agents and Acquisitions Editors Really Want in a Nonfiction Book Proposal Insights from the Authors Guild Panel

[by Ross Browne]

If you’re a nonfiction author pursuing a traditional publishing deal, understanding what agents and editors truly look for in a book proposal is essential. The Authors Guild recently hosted a panel that offered more than the usual checklist of proposal components—it delivered actionable, real-world clarity on what […]

By |2025-07-01T16:37:23+00:00|Getting Published|Comments Off on Editor’s Eavesdrop: What Agents and Acquisitions Editors Really Want in a Nonfiction Book Proposal Insights from the Authors Guild Panel

Spotlight on Ghostwriting Insights and guidance on what to expect for the ghostwriting-curious

[by Charles Kingsley]

Thinking About Hiring a Ghostwriter? Here’s some food for thought…

Many aspiring novelists, screenwriters, and business professionals have a powerful story idea inside of them. A clear insight. An ambitious chronicle. A narrative vision they want to share with the rest of the world. And yet, inevitably, so few of these individuals ever bring their […]

By |2025-06-25T19:32:05+00:00June 16th, 2025|Industry Insights|Comments Off on Spotlight on Ghostwriting Insights and guidance on what to expect for the ghostwriting-curious

Anatomy of a Character-Driven Mystery A guide for authors striving for emphasis on characterization in all genres of popular fiction

[by Ross Browne]

“Character driven” is a phrase one hears a lot in editing and publishing. In simple terms, it’s something we say when the experience of a book is shaped as much (or nearly as much) by the characters as by the story itself. 

It’s generally a compliment and often thought […]

By |2025-02-12T22:06:11+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on Anatomy of a Character-Driven Mystery A guide for authors striving for emphasis on characterization in all genres of popular fiction

Perfectly Good Words Christian Writers Need to Avoid Why Faith-Based Language Can Confuse—or Alienate—General Readers

[by Marcia Ford]

Christians, and much of the population outside that demographic, realize that, as with any subgroup of society, believers have their own lexicon—a collection of words that convey specific religious concepts common to their everyday experiences, but words that are often misunderstood by those beyond the fold.

Take the term “born again.” […]

By |2025-06-30T17:38:02+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on Perfectly Good Words Christian Writers Need to Avoid Why Faith-Based Language Can Confuse—or Alienate—General Readers

How Ten Bestselling Authors Introduce Protagonists in First-Person Narratives A guide for novelists of all genres

[by Ross Browne]

I’ve been editing novels for more than 30 years, and one thing that still fascinates me to no end is the art and craft of introducing (and cultivating quick engagement with) viewpoint characters when writing in the first person.

Like many readers, I enjoy first-person narratives because of […]

By |2025-02-12T22:12:19+00:00|Behind The Bestsellers, The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on How Ten Bestselling Authors Introduce Protagonists in First-Person Narratives A guide for novelists of all genres

News, Insights, and New Resources for Authors Considering Self-Publishing

It sometimes seems like too much is changing too fast in the publishing world. But there’s at least one area where all that change is for the better in our view: self-publishing. […]
By |2025-05-10T16:28:57+00:00|Self Publishing|Comments Off on News, Insights, and New Resources for Authors Considering Self-Publishing
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