Do you start your novel with a Prologue? Or do you dive right into Chapter One? The choice can determine whether readers are drawn in or never get past the first page. I lean away from a Prologue whenever possible. When I do use one, it’s only because there’s backstory the reader cannot do without. […]
Read MoreWant Jerry as Your Mentor? Learn More You know writing a book is going to be hard, even grueling. But synopsizing it should be easy. So, why does it feel so intimidating? It’s not just because you must convince an agent or a publisher (in as few as 500 words) that your novel or nonfiction […]
Read MoreYou’ve done the hard part. You’ve spent ages researching, writing, and rewriting until you finally feel your book is ready to share with the world. Not so fast. Your next step is one of the most important. Writing a query letter can determine whether a literary agent asks to see more or sends you a […]
Read MoreYou’ve heard this writing advice a thousand times, and you’ll hear it a thousand times more: Show, don’t tell. But what does it mean? If you struggle with the difference between showing and telling, you’re not alone. Once you’ve got it, it seems simple. But until you do, learning this technique can be as frustrating […]
Read MoreWant Jerry as Your Mentor? Learn More You may have heard the terms memoir and autobiography used interchangeably. They often live on the same shelf in bookstores. Both are nonfiction and contain facts from someone’s life, so what’s the difference? Let me walk you through the differences so you can be confident which you […]
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