Finding and landing a literary agent when you're a new author is difficult. And daunting. 

Literary agent Don Gates claims most clients come through existing authors he's already working...

by Dave Goetz

Experience alone is not enough to write a successful nonfiction book.

And yet, your experience is what gives your book authenticity, authority, and the ring of truth.

These are two...

Publishing a book isn't enough to get people to see it. You have to promote your book. And Amazon Ads is one of the most cost-effective marketing techniques for promotion. Founder of "Author Ad...

Scenes are the building blocks to good storytelling.

But too many new writers struggle to conceptualize their story in scenes. They think a scene is a dinner table conversation. Or a mere stroll...

When my son was on his high school mock trial team, I was given a crash course on the objections in law. 

To name a few, there’s “Objection! Argumentative.”...

 My sister and I love to watch Pride and Prejudice (2005).

Historical romance with a witty, relatable main character who refuses to settle for a loveless marriage? Yeah, it’s a favorite...

A strong book proposal is key to landing a publisher. Former HarperOne editor Mickey Maudlin provides two tips on what publishers are looking for in a book proposal. Agent representation is...

One of the most common questions we receive from fiction writers is “How do I plot my book?”

It’s the question that dominates writing conferences and a simple Google search...

We live in a small house with a total of one closet. It’s problematic for a modern family. And especially for a self-professed clothes horse.

When we moved in, we carved out a small section...

Most writers don't take the time to ask themselves why they're writing a book. They don't know the "why" of their book.

In this Author Gas Stops, Donna Freitas encourages writers to spend time...

Every book needs a developmental edit. Even professional writers do. In fact, professional writers crave developmental editing, because they know they don’t know it all.

But too many new...

I am a story snob.

I’m not as bad as my cousin whose critiques are borderline nitpicky. But I have high expectations for the media and literature I consume.  

I don’t like to waste...