Self-publishing your book is not for the faint of heart. While self-publishing has tons of benefits such as bigger royalties and complete control of your rights, it’s also a time-consuming task that will launch you into a whole new universe. The majority of my author… Read More »The Ultimate Checklist for Self-Publishing Your Book
When you’re writing a high-stakes action scene (like a shootout between your character and the bad guy, or a life-changing car accident), one of the greatest disservices you can do to yourself as an author is to write the scene so that the pacing goes… Read More »How to Slow Down Time in an Action Scene
In my nearly ten years as a book editor, I’ve edited a range of books with touchy subjects: extreme political beliefs, sexual content, or other taboo or risqué topics. (And full honesty here: Some of these books go against my personal beliefs or even make… Read More »How I Handle Editing Touchy Subjects
“Even after it’s printed, something will drive me crazy.” I’ve heard this line from somany authors, especially those who are publishing a book for the first time. Many first-time authors find it difficult to stop making minor tweaks on their book, even after it’s been edited.… Read More »No Book Will Ever Be “Perfect”
If you’re a self-published author, it’s going to happen eventually: You’ll get a negative review on your book. What a drag, right? Feelings of self-doubt come rushing in. You might start to wonder where you went wrong and what you could have done differently. This happens… Read More »How to React to a Bad Book Review
Between self-publishing, independent publishing, and traditional publishing, there are a number of ways to get your book published. The majority of clients I cater to are self-publishing authors, but I still work with a fair number of authors whose dream it is to be traditionally published. Many… Read More »Publishing Traditionally? Why You Still Need Editing
Ah man, I love my job. It has become my passion, my identity, my purpose. And as I look back on the past seven years in business, I’m filled with gratitude. But few people know that I didn’t always plan soon becoming a book editor.… Read More »The Best Things about Being a Book Editor
Your book’s beginning—specifically, the first five pages—are the most important for your novel. Why? The first few pages of your book set the tone for the entire novel. Readers who aren’t sure if they want to buy your book will start reading at Chapter 1 and,… Read More »How to Nail Your Book’s First 5 Pages
Finishing a book is bittersweet—even more so when the author creates an impactful last line. The final line of a book is important as it is the last thing the reader will read and will stay with them long after they have finished the book.… Read More »How to Write Your Book’s Final Line
Pacing is everything in a hard-to-put-down novel. In the current market, readers prefer plot-driven fiction, which means that they prefer to read a story about a character overcoming a major obstacle by the end of the book. Yet when your book has underdeveloped sources of conflict, no… Read More »Common Pacing Issues and How to Avoid Them