The Writing Craft

Guest post by Emmanuel Nataf You’ve wanted to write a novel for ages, but can’t seem to ever find the time to start writing. Or maybe you’ve started and just keep hitting walls. Why? For most of us, the answer is that commitments like family, jobs, and life keep getting in the way. Or, it […]

How I wish I had known as a teenager what I know now! At 19 I worked full-time as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper. I loved my job, but I was ambitious and wanted to see if I could sell a story to the Features editor. I worked hard on one, on my own […]

Budding writers often ask me: “How do I master Point of View?” The inability to grasp this concept is the most common problem I see in aspiring novelists. Veteran editor Dave Lambert says, “No decision you make will impact the shape and texture of your story more than your choice of Point of View.” So […]

 Guest blog by Joanna Penn New authors worry about piracy, especially in this age of digital publishing and online marketing. Yes, piracy happens, but here’s why you shouldn’t let fear keep you from putting your words out into the world. 1. Serious readers prefer to buy books rather than download stolen copies Most of the reading […]

Acquisition editors have eagle-eyes for both talent and for amateurs. They’re looking for stuff to buy and publish, and most are so overwhelmed with submissions, they’ve learned to quickly spot anything that allows them to set your piece aside. Sound cruel? They don’t want reject your writing. But because of their work loads (and their […]