We have a special post for the holidays, compiled by freelance editor M. J. Bush. I first met M. J. when she included Ruth and me in one of her great quote compilations: “99 Essential Quotes on Character Creation”. I appreciated all the work that went into her post and asked if she’d like […]
How to Write Chapter Endings That Make Readers Want to Turn the Page
by Jessica Bell A good chapter ending is like having one mouthful of your favourite food left on your plate, but not yet feeling full, so you go for seconds … and we hope, thirds, and fourths. The key to a great chapter ending is to introduce a new conflict. It doesn’t have to […]
How Not to Start a Novel: Four Things to Avoid on Page One
In these days of the “look inside” feature on retail sites like Amazon, the opener of your book is more important than ever. Whether you’re going the query route or self-publishing, your first page is essential to the success of your book…and may be your most crucial sales tool. Those first 250 words can […]
8 Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Your Book—Tips from a New York Times Bestselling Author
This week we have some serious nuts-and-bolts advice from our own Ruth Harris. Ruth learned this stuff from both sides of the editorial desk, as an editor at Bantam & Dell, publisher at Kensington–and as a New York Times bestselling author of women’s fiction and thrillers. Since I’m in the middle of editing my […]