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 thought of people reading it also TERRIFIES me. Whether you're writing fiction or nonfiction, you're putting pieces of yourself on the page and inviting the world to read (and judge) it.
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Every author you love was once an unpublished writer who had no idea if their story was good enough.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...
Great Book Ideas Fail When Pitching Goes Wrong
I’ve heard thousands of book ideas over my 10+ years as a book editor. Some of them were brilliant. Others were so boring I forgot about them instantly. But that doesn’t mean those books were actually boring—in fact, most writers have a...
Productivity Isn't About Word Count, It's About Momentum
A quick word on word count goals: Setting word count goals can help you keep you writing on track, but it can also be stifling. I've seen authors beat themselves up because they set out to write 1,000 words in their session...
Why Nonlinear Stories Are so Powerful #shorts
The video explains why nonlinear storytelling captivates audiences more effectively than traditional chronological narratives. By breaking the usual "this happened, then this happened" sequence, authors can tap into deeper psychological triggers that keep readers hooked. A core argument is that humans...
Finish Your Book Marathon: Perseverance Beats All Odds
Writing a book is like running a marathon. Many people sign up. Only a fraction actually start the race. Less make it to mile 20. And fewer still actually cross the finish line. So if you ever feel like giving up...think about that...
Nonlinear Timelines Power Bestselling Books and Film Deals
Some of the biggest bestsellers of recent years — books that sold millions of copies and landed massive film deals — use a storytelling technique that most authors overlook entirely. Nonlinear timelines. And understanding the mechanics behind it could be what unlocks...
Your Writing “Why” Fuels Persistence Through Tough Times
I want to know: Why do you write? Most people say they want to write a book at some point in their lives, but very few actually follow through. When writing gets tough (and trust me, it will), the reason you write...
First‑Person Boom Sparks Debate, Not Novel’s Demise
It's undeniable: first person novels are EVERYWHERE. And some people aren't here for it, calling first person writing "lazy" and "juvenile." But does more first person mean the death of the modern novel? I'm not so sure... https://youtu.be/WmcnL_kFhMQ
Constructive Feedback Elevates Authors, Not Destroys Them
Feedback should never tear you down. As a book editor, it's my job to build my authors (and their stories) UP. ⚒️ I recently worked with an author who was struggling after 10 drafts (yes, really). She'd gotten vague feedback from beta...
Write Authentically, Not for Trends, and Connect Readers
Stop writing to trends. Stop writing what you think publishing wants. Stop writing to please others. And start writing what feels right and true to you. When you tune out the noise and instead honor YOUR unique voice, your readers will: 👉 Relate to your...
Add Conflict: The Easy Trick to Deepen Protagonists
I've read several novels recently with flat protagonists. Their lives are pretty stable, they're relatively content, no unhealed wounds. Good for them, but where's the depth? Here's one EASY but super effective way to make your protag more layered, dynamic, and human:
Data‑Driven Guide to Mastering Literary Querying
I've been working on this massive project quietly for almost two years, and I'm SO excited to finally share it. 🎉 I wrote a book with the creator of QueryTracker, the #1 tool writers use to research and track agent submissions. If...
AI Novel Apps Are Gimmicky, Not Creative Boosts
Every week, someone asks me to promote their “AI for novelists” app. I decline them all, and if the main function is to generate the text/story, I die a little. But I’m genuinely curious: is anyone finding these apps helpful? Not...
Intentional Breaks Beat Creative Blocks, Not Phone Scrolling
If you're experiencing a creative block, I know a guaranteed way to overcome it: Take a break. But not just any kind of break. (No scrolling on your phone for two hours.) Here are 3 tips for taking an intentional, creatively restorative break....
Master Time Manipulation to Craft Your Bestseller
What's behind the blockbuster success of novels like People We Meet on Vacation and The Housemaid? It’s not just the prose, the characters, or the plot. It’s how the authors manipulate time to keep readers hooked. In today's video, I reveal how...
What Is Your Story's Message? #booktok #writingtips
The video stresses that authors must crystallize their story’s core intention before entering the developmental editing phase. Without a firm grasp of the intended message, editors cannot reliably assess whether the narrative delivers the desired impact to readers. Key points include...
Writing My First Book Transformed My Life
I wrote my very first book last year, and now that the release date is approaching, I’m excited for sure, but also…nervous. 😬 Is anyone even going to read it? Will people find it valuable? Or did I just waste a ton...
What Is Your Protagonist's Objective?
The video explains that a protagonist’s objective is the engine of story conflict, insisting that writers articulate what the main character wants early in the narrative. It offers a simple fill‑in‑the‑blank exercise—“My protagonist wants X, but Y and Z are getting...