Writing Advice

Understanding Reader Assessments: A Crucial Tool for Fiction Authors

A reader assessment for authors is a tool or process used to gather feedback from readers about a manuscript or published work. It provides authors with insights into how readers perceive their storytelling, what aspects are engaging or need improvement, and how effectively they communicate their message to a reader. Here are some common components of a reader assessment: Plot and Structure: Feedback on the overall plot, pacing, and structure of the story. This includes … Read more

What to Expect from a Professional Editor

Publishing today is highly competitive. If your book isn’t nearly perfect, you risk readers trashing your story. Professional editors are one way to make sure you release the best product possible. But it’s not always easy to find the right editor, especially when you are trying to find one for the first time. When hiring a paid editor, a writer should expect several things: Professionalism: The editor should conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout … Read more

Is Your Life Story Worth Telling in a Memoir?

Writing a memoir is a deeply personal and often emotional journey that requires self-reflection, honesty, and vulnerability. Not everyone is suited for the task of writing a memoir, as it requires a certain level of introspection and courage to share one’s life story with the world. So, who should write a memoir and why? Anyone who has a compelling story to tell and feels a strong desire to share it with others should consider writing … Read more

Why Every Story Needs a Little Humor

Humor adds depth, engagement, and charisma to any story, even if it’s a serious drama or an exciting thriller. Injecting an element of laughter into the narrative connects readers to the characters, creates a sense of realism, and provides a much-needed break from the seriousness of the plot. One of the main reasons every book needs humor is its ability to create a sense of relatability with the reader. Humor is a universal language that … Read more

Critique Groups: A Writer’s Lifeline

If you are a writer or aspire to write, you soon discover it’s not as easy as it looks. In fact, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ve been writing professionally for over thirty years. It’s a career where the minute you think you’ve mastered the craft, your editor returns a document covered in markups and comments that triples the size of your MS Word file. Hence, writers learn quickly to stick together … Read more

How a Song Writer Inspired a Story Writer

Today, I decided to share a paper I wrote a few years ago, when I returned to college for a short time. Surprisingly, I had to retake an English class because it had been too many years since I’d had one. I could have challenged the class, but I thought it might be fun to retake it. What’s funny is that they were willing to accept credits for English classes that are much more complicated. … Read more