How do you engage a reader, whether an agent or an editor or just an average customer in a bookstore? How do you grab that reader right off the bat? Start with a compelling bit of action that you’re suddenly immersed in. I think one thing that publishers...

When Hollywood is looking for their next big movie idea, they often look to books. However, for a book to become a movie, the book must meet certain criteria. Ken Atchity, agent, producer, and CEO of StoryMerchant.com, shares what Hollywood wants in...

Middle-grade author Laura Martin didn't set out to write a book series about dinosaurs. After a visit to a dinosaur exhibit at a museum she was left wondering, "What would happen if we brought dinosaurs out of extinction?" She didn't immediately begin...

Writer’s block is a universally understood frustration in the writing community. What if there was a way, though, to turn this obstacle into an asset? Arthur Doweyko, award-winning author and scientist, discusses how he uses incidents of writer’s block...

Today’s market is saturated with content, and it’s important that authors have an extensive writing portfolio. This will demonstrate experience and a large range that agents and publishers will appreciate. Plus, it helps build a platform and a brand...

The process for getting feedback on a manuscript can differ greatly from author to author. Young adult author Annie Sullivan follows a multi-stage process to get feedback on her novels. In the first stage, her manuscript goes to her sister, whom she...

For many authors, their first completed manuscript isn't always the one that gets the first book deal. This was the case for middle-grade author Laura Martin. Her critically acclaimed Edge of Extinction book series was her second book project but was...

Ideas for a novel can come from anywhere. As the former editor for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine, Bob Morris had the privilege of traveling to and writing about beautiful, exotic places. It was while walking the beach in the Bahamas that Morris...

Accomplished writer and author Bob Morris admits that he was very green when he wrote his first novel. He didn't consider if there was an audience for his work or think about a marketing strategy. All he cared about with the first book in his Zack...

Writing is often a solitary activity, but you will eventually involve others in the process, points out Greg Victoroff, Esq., partner at Greg Victoroff & Associates. This may include collaborators, agents, managers, illustrators, and so forth. When you...