Scene and Summary | What’s the Difference?

Scene and summary are the key building blocks of any novel. Some novelists devote more of their page count to scenes. Other writers use fewer scenes and more summary. Sometimes, publishers want writers to cut a book's length, and writers are forced to compress moments in the tale when they might … Continue reading →

Could ARCs Help You Get More Amazon Reviews?

Ever wondered how authors get tons of reviews the first week of their launch while you’re writing groveling emails to your family and friends, asking them to please, please, please read your book and write a review? The answer is that authors who get reviews provide free ARCs (Advanced Review … Continue reading →

Ten Questions for Robert J. Emery

In this column I’m asking subscribers to share their knowledge about writing, publishing, and marketing their books. I’m calling it “Ten Questions.” Thank you, Robert J. Emery, for giving readers insight into a writer who has successfully made the transition from writing for the screen to … Continue reading →

A Protagonist Must Have a Goal

Every protagonist must have a goal. Your protagonist (Frodo Baggins) wants to throw the Ring in the fires of Mt. Doom or, in the case of Harry Potter, defeat the evil Lord Voldemort. These are the protagonists' "big picture" goals. A big picture goal describes the entire arc of the novel, from the … Continue reading →

Ten Questions for Saralyn Richard

In this column I’m asking subscribers to share their knowledge about writing, publishing, and marketing their books. I’m calling it “Ten Questions.” Thank you, Saralyn Richard, for allowing us to share in your excitement about your new book release, Murder in the One Percent.–Marylee … Continue reading →

Marylee MacDonald

How To Write A Novel

Scene and Summary | What’s the Difference?

Could ARCs Help You Get More Amazon Reviews?

Ten Questions for Robert J. Emery

A Protagonist Must Have a Goal

Ten Questions for Saralyn Richard