Finishing Your First Draft Deserves Celebration, No Matter What
Writing a book is a MASSIVE achievement. Even if it's not perfect. Even if no one has read it. Even if it never gets published. So no matter what happens next, take the time to appreciate everything you have done so far. The simple act of finishing an entire first draft is worth celebrating. You did that. 🎉
Rename Drafts Playfully to Beat Perfectionism
Here's a quick tip for any writer who struggles with perfectionism: Try naming your draft document something playful, like "Playground," "Draft Zero," or "Brain Dump." So simple, but it works. That small shift makes the whole thing feel less serious and allows...
Treat Your Book Like a Product to Sell
The authors who sell the most understand this: writing is art, but publishing is business. If you want to reach more readers or score a big publishing deal, it helps to start thinking of your book like a product you're selling...
Shallow POV Keeps Readers From Connecting With Your Story
Three of my subscribers sent me their manuscripts for critique… and they ALL make the same mistake: Shallow POV. It's an issue I see in 50% of the manuscripts I edit, and if your readers keep saying they "just aren't connecting" with...
Writing a Book Means Exposing Your Emotional Self
Can we normalize talking about how emotionally vulnerable writing a book is? It's something I've been thinking about a ton as I count down the months until my book comes out. I can't wait for people to finally read it, but...the...
Famous Writers Began As
Every author you love was once an unpublished writer who had no idea if their story was good enough. They faced the same self-doubt, the same fear of rejection, the same moments of wanting to give up. Here are 5 stories from...
Know Your Protagonist Inside Out for Realistic Writing
Do you TRULY know your main character inside and out? Their most memorable experiences, their deepest fears, their habits, their pet peeves, their most intrusive thoughts? The best characters—the ones that come alive on the page—are ones that the author has constructed...
Great Books Start as Rough Drafts; Rewrite Them
Spoiler alert: your first draft probably won't be brilliant. And that's completely natural and normal. Think of your first draft as the framework of a house you're building. Revision is where you put in the flooring, paint the walls, and make it...
Publishing CEO Reveals 7 Must‑Know Truths for Authors
The CEO of Macmillan — one of the most powerful people in traditional publishing — recently sat down for a candid interview about the state of the industry in 2026. His insights confirmed a lot of what I saw firsthand when...
Stop the Lies: Your Writing Isn’t Defined by Myths
Lies authors tell themselves: ❌ Rejection means my story/my writing sucks. ❌ I'm not successful unless my book is a bestseller. ❌ I haven't been published by 30, so now it's too late. ❌ I don't have tons of social media followers, so I'll...
Great Writing Thrives in What You Leave Unsaid
After more than a decade as a book editor, I've finally nailed down the single biggest gap between solid writing and truly great writing. It all comes down to what the author DOESN'T say. The best writers in the world know when...
7 First‑Page Errors That Kill Your Book
Your first page is your first impression on your reader (or a literary agent). And you might be inadvertently turning them off. Here are the 7 biggest first-page mistakes I've seen in 10+ years as a book editor — and exactly how...
Success Comes From Writing Relentlessly, No Matter What
Keep writing. Even when it’s hard. Keep writing through the self-doubt. Through the waning motivation. Through the publishing disappointments. Through the bad reviews. The authors who succeed in this difficult business know that perseverance and consistency matter more than anything else. They continue...
Clear Character Goals Prevent Directionless Storytelling
The most common mistake I see authors make with their main character? Their objective is weak or unclear. When a reader doesn't know what your main character WANTS — what drives and motivates them — their journey feels directionless, and it becomes...
Great Books Require Multiple Drafts, Not First Draft Perfection
As a developmental book editor, I've never met an author who wrote a first draft that was absolutely perfect and error-free. Just like chefs trial dozens of recipes before they nail the perfect balance, making your book as strong as it...