You’ve spent months drafting your manuscript, revising, and preparing your query letter. You’re ready to land an agent! But when you finally receive a response, your heart sinks— “Unfortunately, I will have to pass on this manuscript at this time.”

Getting that first...

Your novel's title is your first chance to grab a reader's attention. A perfect title will catch the reader’s eye on the bookshelf amidst the hundreds of other books surrounding it, or stop a reader mid-scroll if they are searching for books online. 

So how do you craft...

We all want our novels to be the absolute best they can be before we send them out into the world. But perfect is the enemy of good— and perfectionism can be an excuse to procrastinate.

So what’s a writer supposed to do? How do we know when our perfectionism is really just our ...

The books we write reflect the world around us, whether they’re contemporary, fantasy, or even futuristic. It only makes sense that our stories should also represent the diversity of the people around us! Doing so enrichens our books and allows more readers—across all...

When you're trying to get traditionally published, snagging a literary agent seems like the ultimate goalpost. You may know in theory that a majority of your career happens afterward, but when you're just starting out, it's easy to believe that once you’ve signed with an agent, it...

Editors make your work better. They bring a fresh set of eyes to your writing, not only to catch typos and grammar errors but to work with you to bring your vision to the next level. A good editor is as invested in making your book the best it can be as you are.

The process for finding an...

"Traditional publishing isn’t for everyone." Have you heard this advice before? Whether you’re a cross-genre author writing outside the mainstream, a hybrid author who prefers the control self-publishing offers, or a prolific author with the output and fanbase to succeed on your...

After working for months, or even years, on your novel, the moment you release it to the world will be the greatest time of your life. But whether you’re publishing independently or traditionally, you’ll find that the most discouraging response isn’t bad reviews or unwanted tags...

You’ve done it: You finished your manuscript, revised it, received feedback on it from your critique partners, and maybe even paid to have it professionally edited. If you’re opting for the traditional publishing route, the next step is equally huge. Now it's time to...

Have you ever been asked by a friend, “What’s your book about?” If you’re like most writers, you know what it’s like to feel tongue-tied after hearing this question. How could you possibly boil your magnificent book down to a handful of words? Worse still is when...