16. Wonder if maybe this whole novel should be in first person.

Comping to both of them is a little like saying, "I've made this brand new cola. t is going to sell like Coke and Pepsi combined."

here are a few reasons you might want to fast-draft, and here are some tips to help you write a whole lot of words in very few days:

Dan Wells 7-point plot system, combined with Save the Cat, added the Scene-Sequel strategy, and wrapped in the 3-Act structure.

Pay attention to submission guidelines, keep your emails brief and professional, and only nudge when necessary.

NONE of this is more important than a good book. This is all just a few ways to keep your querying process organized.

“I want to be surprised by the story!” I told myself (and anyone who would even pretend to listen).

Jim and Jan are in the parking lot. They’re both lonely. They’re both sad. They’re both frustrated and fed up with their circumstances.

Rory Gilmore was always awful. She’s the character we should hate to love.

So kill your darlings. Kill them dead and don’t look back. Don’t be George Lucas.

Remember that those offering advice might like different cookies than you do.

This advice is different than most advice you’ll see on this subject. For that, I do not apologize.

I read it thinking it would be a positive experience. Here are my reactions, as they came to me the first time I read it.

Pitchwars was involved and she originally contacted me via a PitMad event this past summer.

I can help you with your twitter pitch.

I have been writing since I was two-years-old and have taken, like, five community college classes on writing, if you count English 101

Until that book is published, until the tv show airs, until the movie premiers, that story belongs to the creator.

Sometimes you need to skip over the “important” parts. Sometimes that’s what serves the story best.

We all know books that have been a huge success but have been riddled with problems, things that make most authors tear their hair out.

When is it okay to requery?