“It just didn’t grab me,” will sound very familiar to anyone who has had a rejection from a literary agent. Your opening chapters are key to ensure capturing their attention.
6 Essential Tips for Irresistible Opening Chapters
The Truth About Writer’s Block
When the inability to concentrate or move forward with your book strikes, you need to re-establish your focus, notch up your concentration levels and really plough head first over that hurdle.
What is a Manuscript Assessment and Do I Need One?
A manuscript assessment, also known as a manuscript appraisal, structural report or manuscript critique, is a report with, in our case, accompanying annotated notes on your manuscript. When should I have a manuscript assessment? The manuscript assessment is usually done in the early stages of the editing process and once the book is finished. You …
Everything you need to know about writing a prologue for your book
The opening of your novel is key in engaging your reader. Writing a prologue for your novel can be very risky – it is a double-edged sword; if not used properly it will be a weight around the neck of your story, used correctly on the other hand and it becomes a very effective literary …
Quick Writing Tips: The Essentials of Character Backstory + worksheets
Read on for the essentials of the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of character backstory. Download our printable worksheets and join in on our character backstory building mini challenge. What is character backstory? Character backstory is a history of the events – particularly those relating to character development – that precede the narrative of the novel. …
7 Essential Tips on Finding Your Writer’s Voice and Translating it to Paper
When literary agents are asked what it is that they are looking for in a manuscript submission, the answer is always the same and has been for as long as fiction has been in publication. In fact, it has been for as long as stories have been told. There are the tangible aspects such as …
Everything You Need to Know About ‘Show Don’t Tell’ in 4 Simple Steps
“Show don’t tell” is a much used phrase, to the point of it having become a bit of a cliche, but one that, when fully understood, has the power to completely transform your writing. Use these 4 simple steps to understand, implement and perfect the “show don’t tell” technique: Avoid summary narrative Appeal to the …
6 Essential Techniques to Master Pacing In Your Writing
One of the number one problems we see from writers is a plot that drags at crucial moments, lacks pace and doesn’t seem to move forward in any particular direction. Rescuing a plot that drags is a self-editing skill that, once mastered, will change the way you write forever. This is an incredibly in-depth topic …
How to Feel More Confident About Your Writing
There is no doubt, putting ourselves and our words out there makes us surprisingly vulnerable and adopting a successful author mindset and building confidence is no easy task. Those words you have toiled and pondered over, those emotions you have poured into characters and narrative, and those confidences you have held between yourself and your …