What Is a Book Editor’s Job?

I break down what it is, exactly, that book editors do and do not do for our clients.

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Why Books on Writing Can Be Your Best Tools or Your Biggest Obstacles

“If one would employ a book such as this most usefully, let him determine to begin writing immediately.” - Samuel Selden, An Introduction to Playwriting

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Why Every Author Needs a Commonplace Book — And What to Put in It

A commonplace book can be a great tool for just about anybody, and it can be particularly useful for authors as a repository for inspiration, ideas, and notes that can help us win our battles with writer’s block.

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The “I Want” Song: What Musicals Can Teach Authors about Character Development

This song comes early in the show and spells out, in no uncertain terms, the protagonist’s most heartfelt desires. And it can teach us a lot about developing character objectives for our own novels.

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What "How I Met Your Mother" Can Teach Us About Developing Character Backstory

Whatever else happened in season 9, the creators delivered a crash course in backstory creation.

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6 Ways to Brainstorm Bingeworthy Characters

Learn how to develop engaging characters from the inside out and from the outside in.

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Short on Time? Try Writing in Bursts

Writing time doesn’t have to be perfectly curated — you can get words down anywhere, any time.

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What Is Your Book About?

It’s a surprisingly difficult question, isn’t it?

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Twelve Questions to Ask to Find the Right Book Editor or Writing Coach

Finding the right editor can be overwhelming, but take your time and be persistent.

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Talking Characters: How to Write Better Dialogue

We use terrible grammar in real life, we interrupt our sentences with fillers, and we often let our thoughts trail off before we get to the point. Let your characters’ dialogue be messy like that.

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