#244 How to Create Characters Readers Will Love (5 Essential Elements)
Readers don't fall in love with likable characters. They fall in love with characters who want something specific, stand to lose something personal, and can't quite get out of their own way. Here's ho...
21 Huhti 21min
#243. What to Expect When Working with a Line Editor (With Two Birds Author Services)
What does line editing actually involve, and is your manuscript ready for it? Here's everything you need to know. Line editing is a stage in the revision process that can feel really confusing, especi...
14 Huhti 33min
#242. 5 Revision Mistakes That Keep Writers Stuck in Editing Hell
You finished your first draft. And for a minute, it felt amazing. But then you open your manuscript to revise, and suddenly everything feels unclear. Where do you start? What do you fix first? And how...
7 Huhti 20min
#241. Do You Really Need to Hire a Book Editor Before You Query?
Discover why the answer to hiring a book editor before querying isn’t a simple yes or no—and how to make the right call for your manuscript. If you've finished your draft and you're thinking about que...
31 Maalis 11min
#240. 10 Writing Mistakes That Make Readers Put Down Your Novel
Are you revising the same chapters over and over, but nothing you change is actually fixing the problem? Most writers go straight to the prose when their story isn't working. They tighten sentences, s...
24 Maalis 23min
#239. Student Spotlight: How J.J. Henley Finished Her First Draft in 8 Months (With Two Kids and In 15 Minutes at a Time)
She wrote her first novel in 15-minute increments—in drive-through lines, at the dance studio, at swim lessons—while raising two kids and walking through one of the hardest seasons of her family's lif...
17 Maalis 49min
#238. How to Market Your Book in a Way That Actually Feels Good (With Beth Barany)
Learn how to market your book in a way that aligns with your values, builds genuine reader connections, and feels sustainable instead of draining. Book Marketing. These two words make most writers wan...
10 Maalis 32min
#237. 3 Signs Your Novel Doesn't Need a Prologue (& What To Do Instead)
You wrote a prologue for your novel. But now you're wondering if you really need it. Here are three honest signs your story might actually be stronger without one. Writing a prologue feels like the ri...
3 Maalis 16min
