Where do stories come from? Are writers inspired from deep within the unconscious psyche by forces beyond their control? Or are they compelled by external cues that resonate without invitation – unexpected and accidental? As an editor, I’ve seen the muse arrive in surprising and mysterious … [Read more...]
The blog for writers
The Book Deal
The career-boosting power of your name on a book
Many authors I've worked with have written books that promoted and enhanced their professional lives. Some have written a book precisely with this hope in mind: to advertise their special skills and passions. Other writers have enjoyed the surprise of being propelled in their careers with major … [Read more...]
Timing your book’s launch date for maximum impact
Strategic timing of your book's publication date can give it a jet-propelled boost and have a major impact on its long-term success. Commercial publishers and booksellers have known this forever. Christmas and beyond … [Read more...]
Great reasons to self-publish: 7 case histories
Writers who self-publish often reap enormous benefits that are personal and unique. This goes way beyond the usual notion of self-publishing as either an alternative or a pathway to a traditional book deal. Writing and publishing a book can strike an emotional chord of meaning and importance … [Read more...]
Launching a successful blog tour
"When I was first starting out, I dreamed of being sent on a book tour. I'd travel around the world-at my publisher' expense, of course-and hit the major bookstores, where I'd do readings and signings for standing-room-only audiences," says Jackie Morse Kessler, the author of a four-book YA … [Read more...]
Creating a compelling narrative voice
How does an author of memoir or personal narrative transform a naked self into a compelling voice that tells a story readers can’t put down? This question arises frequently in my work as a developmental editor. One of best books on this technique is The Situation and the Story: the Art of Personal … [Read more...]
Growing a short story into a novel
Do you have a short story work-in-progress that just doesn’t want to fit into 10,000 words or 25 pages? Is it bursting at the seams? Does it feel incomplete and frustrating to read? Then you may have a recalcitrant short story that could be transformed into a successful novel. A case in … [Read more...]
Wake up your readers! How to thicken a plot
Here’s a situation that editors encounter frequently: manuscripts with a large cast of potentially interesting characters, sparkling dialogue, and the glimmer of ideas churning just beneath the surface. But after a little while the scenes become repetitious, the characters and their machinations … [Read more...]
The “New Author Platform” – What you need to know
The author platform isn't what it used to be. A new definition is emerging, based on the reality that in the 21st century, readers don't depend on the Today Show or the feature pages of the New York Times to find a new book to read. Instead, they're looking online and expecting to find a more … [Read more...]
The writer’s toolkit: Breaking the rules of the narrative arc
Feeling boxed in by the rules and expectations of the conventional narrative arc? Tired of the old 1st act, 2nd act, 3rd act routine? Itching to break out and try something new? If so, this post is for you. Ordinarily, I'm a staunch believer in the basics of linear story structure: keep it … [Read more...]