Guest Post

The author of dark- and paranormal romance discusses negative attitudes toward the genre, why sex scenes are the hardest to write, and more.

Central to most of Michael Lewis’ works are larger-than-life characters who find themselves at the center of major industry or societal shifts.

When completing a readable draft left one author exhausted and overwhelmed, these three steps helped him start writing again.

If your subject already has a large existing fandom, how can you quantify that audience, using the data to impress agents, publishers, and editors?

Whether you’re a planner or a pantser, this brainstorming document can take your story to places it might not have gone otherwise.

A prologue can open the door to your story and entice the reader in, or throw up a barrier that delays or prevents their engagement.

A great villain character should have complex motivations and be able to evoke sympathy from readers.

The writers who get their books into the world are those who find a middle ground between refining their work and endlessly tinkering.

Science says these three techniques can draw your readers in, keep them engaged, and provide them with a compelling experience.

If your agent or publisher wants to pitch your book to Hollywood, they need to know the rules—or at least, the rules of the day.

You can mine the first paragraphs of well-written novels for four critical components that keep readers hooked.

What makes a good writer? Relentless internal drive, a thick skin for editorial feedback, and reading voraciously across many genres.

From appealing to short attention spans to offering no-fuss ways to play in another sandbox, short story writing has many benefits.

Writing a book with multiple authors requires trust, vulnerability and patience. But done right, group writing has some surprising benefits.

When we’re dealt life-altering circumstances, how do we stay true to creative ambitions while finding a whole new way of existing?

Your writing might soar to new heights when you make weather—and the words describing it—an important element in your characters’ lives.

Along with sex and death, money is a topic with evergreen appeal. So when you write about money, you put the odds of a breakout on your side.

Some writers struggle with ever getting one word of their Great Idea down on the page, for fear of crafting an imperfect beginning.

In an excerpt from her new book on cover design, Jessica Bell offers tips regarding how to utilize space and color for maximum effect.

Some writers can finish a book all by themselves, but even more of them have support systems, deadlines, teachers, exercises, instructions and help.

To write something that connects on a universal level, concentrate on specifics. Small truths are easier for readers to identify with.

When a Vermont author’s book was accepted by a New Mexico university press, she decided to ask its editors about the acquisitions process.

It’s possible to create connections with readers by utilizing some fun and interesting ways for them to interact with your book.

An elaborately structured plot, without clearly-defined character goals and motivations, is like mapping a trip and calling it a vacation.

A successful nonfiction book proposal addresses market demand and cements the writer’s authority throughout the entire document.