Tips, insights, and guidance from our editorial staff for fiction and nonfiction writers of all genres.

How Ten Bestselling Authors Introduce Their 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 |2024-07-08T19:26:23+00:00|Behind The Bestsellers, The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on How Ten Bestselling Authors Introduce Their Protagonists in First-Person Narratives A guide for novelists of all genres

EDITOR’S EAVESDROP: Award-Winning Bestselling Author Joe Ide Dishes Truth on Getting Traditionally Published (And making a living as a novelist!)

[by Ross Browne]

Joe Ide is a brilliant, critically acclaimed author. He also turns out to be a refreshingly straight shooter on what aspiring writers need to know about the business of publishing and how to maximize their chances of making a successful career out […]

By |2024-01-06T22:51:11+00:00|Getting Published|Comments Off on EDITOR’S EAVESDROP: Award-Winning Bestselling Author Joe Ide Dishes Truth on Getting Traditionally Published (And making a living as a novelist!)

FLASHING THE READER: A Practical Guide to Clearly Managing Transitions of Time, Place, and Viewpoint in Fiction

[by John Robert Marlow]

TRICKY TRANSITIONS

Few works of fiction relate events in a continuous flow, from start to finish. Sometimes the story moves back in time (as with flashbacks); more often it jumps forward, sparing the reader the dull details of ordinary life. Frequently, the transition will take the reader from one location (and set of characters) […]

By |2024-01-13T19:00:05+00:00|The Writer’s Craft|Comments Off on FLASHING THE READER: A Practical Guide to Clearly Managing Transitions of Time, Place, and Viewpoint in Fiction

How JK Rowling (Writing As Robert Galbraith) Sustains Reader Engagement in a Very Long Mystery

[by Ross Browne]

If you’re a fan of JK Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith, you’re probably well aware how much longer her latest release is than the other four books in the series.

My own first reaction to the size of the hefty tome—darn near 1,000 pages in hardcover—was mostly: Terrific! More […]

By |2024-01-18T17:39:39+00:00May 11th, 2021|Behind The Bestsellers|Comments Off on How JK Rowling (Writing As Robert Galbraith) Sustains Reader Engagement in a Very Long Mystery

THE URBAN SETTING THESAURUS & THE RURAL SETTING THESAURUS A working author's perspective on two unique resources for writers of any genre

Ackerman & Puglisi have published several helpful thesauruses for writers. This review covers both their urban and their rural setting thesauruses, which they recommend be used together.

The Urban Setting Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to City Spaces

Drawing Readers in Through Emotion-Driven Imagery and Realism

Introductory Chapters

The first part of the book consists of eight chapters filled with advice. […]

By |2024-01-07T20:55:47+00:00April 6th, 2021|Recommended Reading|Comments Off on THE URBAN SETTING THESAURUS & THE RURAL SETTING THESAURUS A working author's perspective on two unique resources for writers of any genre

WRITING A KILLER THRILLER by Jodie Renner Review from the perspective of a working writer

In Writing a Killer Thriller, Jodie Renner covers all the elements necessary to create a compelling thriller. Clearly structured and easy to read, with examples from popular novels and movies, Writing a Killer Thriller offers a wealth of important information for the new (thriller) writer and can serve as a helpful refresher and reference book for […]

By |2024-01-07T20:56:34+00:00March 11th, 2021|Recommended Reading|Comments Off on WRITING A KILLER THRILLER by Jodie Renner Review from the perspective of a working writer
Go to Top