The answer is in most of the manuscripts that cross my desk, the ones that were written without editorial input or guidance. Many, if not most, have structural issues that will mean taking them apart…
“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.” The late novelist Terry Pratchett is one of many writers who’ve said some variation of the above. That’s because it’s pure truth. You can’t tell…
So you've been writing and writing, and at this point, you want to throw your manuscript - or maybe even your entire laptop - across the room. You can't stand to look at it anymore.…
Writing is like a sport. If you don’t practice, you don’t get any better. Rick Riordan We were all taught how to write at some point. But what most of us learned was centered around…
Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler's heart, kill your darlings. ~ Stephen King Few writers are as prolific as Stephen King. As of mid-2022, King has written…
"Your book is coming out next spring!"This is one of the sweetest missives a writer can receive. Especially those of us who always knew - who hoped - we'd one day write a book. When…
Some authors see their books primarily as brochures for their businesses. They give readers an overview of their coaching programs or services with just enough detail to get people interested in hiring them, but not…
Ever watched a TED talk? They’re given by people with big ideas to share. People like Bill Gates, Brené Brown, Richard Branson, Seth Godin. A few years ago, one of them was given by me. My big idea was and…
