A sub-plot is an important tool for adding depth to any novel. As you sort out the storyline for your novel, it’s important that you enrich your main plot with these elements. Let’s, however, begin with a helpful definition of a sub-plot: Sub-plots are...

What is a Mystery Novel? Going as far back to the Sherlock Holmes series in the late 1800s, the mystery novel has been a popular genre for a long time. These novels are centered around a crime (usually a murder) where the protagonist is an investigator...

The process of creativity is mysterious, wonderful, and magical. Ideas come at the strangest times and in the most incomplete pieces. People tend to look at someone else’s finished movie and say, “I can never do that.” It’s like a giant shopping mall...

Before we explore outlining methods, let's get something out of the way: not all writers use outlines and that's perfectly fine. Winging it, or "pantsing," is a valid writing method, especially for fiction writers. However, many writers benefit from...

So you want to start a blog? You’ve got great content, your fingers are a-ready at your keyboard, just itching to type out your next great blog post. But, there’s only one problem… you don’t have a blog! Don’t worry… let’s start with the pros and cons...

The reason I like being at Gotham is that our philosophy is about working with content creators, people who are coming up with original ideas. The clients I really enjoy working with are the ones who regularly (sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, sometimes...

Sharing information with your audience is a good idea, but you also want to get feedback. Feedback helps you meet the needs and expectations of your audience. It helps you understand if you have been successful at communicating your ideas. Your audience...

You have done your research and your submissions are winging their way to agents and editors. Twenty-four hours have passed and you are biting your nails. Most agents mention the response time on their website. They also indicate if they wish to receive...