Writing your book
Novel Word Count by Genre
Novel word count by genre is a useful publishing benchmark, but it’s not a measure of literary quality. Length affects reader expectations,…
Nov 13, 2026 · 12 min read
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Writing your book
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Writing your book
Should My First Novel Be a Series or Standalone?
For a debut novelist, the decision involves more than choosing how many books to write. It affects how you develop your first…
Oct 27, 2026 · 9 min read
Writing your book
How to Handle Editor Feedback: When to Take It (or Not)
You've spent months, maybe years, on your manuscript. Then the edit letter arrives: pages of notes, questions, and suggestions. Some feel exactly…
Oct 6, 2026 · 6 min read
Writing your book
Why Your Children’s Book Needs a Professional Illustrator
In a picture book, the illustrations aren't decoration. They're half the story. Children "read" the pictures long before they can read the…
Oct 6, 2026 · 7 min read
Writing your book
15 Tips for First-Time Authors: From Draft to Debut
Writing and publishing a first book is a big undertaking, and much of the learning happens along the way. Most first-time authors…
Oct 6, 2026 · 6 min read
Writing your book
What Does it Mean to “Know Your Audience”?
As a writer, knowing your audience is crucial. Writing without knowing who you’re writing for is like trying to hit a target…
Oct 6, 2026 · 7 min read
Writing your book
When to Resolve Subplots: A Guide to Timing Your Story’s Loose Ends
A satisfying ending rarely resolves every storyline at the same moment. Some subplots need to close before the main confrontation can happen.…
Oct 2, 2026 · 7 min read
Writing your book
How to Know When to Cut a Subplot
Consider cutting a subplot when removing it makes the novel clearer, faster, or more focused without costing important character development, pressure, information,…
Sep 29, 2026 · 6 min read
Writing your book
How to Write a Romantic Subplot
To write a romantic subplot without letting it take over the story, give the relationship a clear progression, make the main plot…
Sep 25, 2026 · 6 min read
Writing your book
Types of Subplots: A Guide to Choosing the Right Secondary Storyline
Six useful subplot patterns are romantic, mirror, contrasting, complicating, antagonist, and thematic subplots. These are not rigid or mutually exclusive categories: a…
Sep 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Writing your book
How to Weave a Subplot Into Your Main Plot
A subplot feels woven into a novel when the main plot and secondary storyline change each other. The connection may come through…
Sep 18, 2026 · 6 min read
Writing your book
How Many Subplots Should a Novel Have?
A subplot that shares characters, settings, and scenes with the main plot may cost very little extra narrative space. A subplot that…
Sep 15, 2026 · 6 min read
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