It’s important to craft a book title that’s irresistible. Why is this so important? Because your book title, along with your book cover, are the first things a reader or buyer is going to see …
Read MoreHow to Write Emotional Scenes that Aren’t Sappy
Probably one of the greatest challenges for a fiction writer is writing emotional scenes that are genuine, believable, and moving—while steering clear of the sand traps of sappy, phony, and overdone. Why is it so hard to write an emotional scene that works? I think it’s because the human heart is subtle, so the writing must be incredibly subtle to ... Read More
Don’t Know If It’s Hackneyed? Google It!
As a book editor, I sometimes find my author clients don’t believe me when I tell them an expression is hackneyed. Hackneyed (cliche) expressions are somewhat forgivable in nonfiction writing, but in fiction, they’re the kiss of death. How many times have you read the phrase “rosy-fingered dawn” or “the sweetness of his kiss”? How many more times do you ... Read More
Nonfiction Authors: What Person or Voice Should You Write In?
A nonfiction-author client of mine asked yesterday, “What voice should I write in for my self-help book?” Being an analytical guy, he spelled out four choices he was trying to choose between. “I am sure there are proper terms for these voices,” he added. “When I first started, my style was very direct and used ‘you’ a lot. I looked at a number of books and decided to change it to ‘we.’ What is your opinion?” …
Read MoreDoes Your Book Need a Graphic Designer?
Authors often ask me, their book editor, if they will need a graphic designer’s help after the book is edited and before it’s ready for publication. If you are self-publishing, the answer is always yes, unless the printer you hire offers graphic design as part of the package. (The answer is no if you’re submitting your manuscript to agents or ... Read More