Six useful subplot patterns are romantic, mirror, contrasting, complicating, antagonist, and thematic subplots. These are not rigid or mutually exclusive categories: a single secondary storyline can be romantic and thematic, or complicating and antagonist-driven. Use the labels as a revision…
A subplot feels woven into a novel when the main plot and secondary storyline change each other. The connection may come through a shared character, piece of information, resource, setting, consequence, or decision—but it needs to exist on the page,…
A subplot that shares characters, settings, and scenes with the main plot may cost very little extra narrative space. A subplot that needs a new location, supporting cast, conflict, and sequence of scenes costs far more. Two novels with the…
Someone can read your book without buying a new copy—they might discover it at the library, borrow it from a friend, buy it used, pull it from a shelf at home, or access it through a subscription service. That distinction…
Consider raising your ebook price when the increased royalty per sale can offset a reasonable decline in unit sales and the higher price fits what readers already expect from comparable books.
Publishing a book is only part of the process. Authors also need ways to help reviewers, librarians, booksellers, journalists, and other book professionals discover it. NetGalley is one of the publishing industry’s best-known platforms for doing that. It allows publishers…
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Nonfiction books are still selling, but readers do not buy “nonfiction” as a category—they buy books that satisfy a specific interest, solve a recognizable problem, illuminate a world they care about, or tell a story they cannot get elsewhere.
Book awards can be worth it for indie authors when three things are true: the program is credible, your book is genuinely competitive in its category, and you already know how you would use a win or finalist placement. If…
How many ISBNs you need depends on the number of separately marketed formats and editions you plan to identify. Paperback and hardcover editions need separate ISBNs. Digital requirements vary by distribution channel: some platforms do not require the author to…
Selling books direct to readers means accepting payment through a store you control and fulfilling the order yourself or through connected vendors. You keep the retail relationship, but your net income is the sale price minus payment fees, storefront fees,…
To option a book for film or TV is to give a producer or studio an exclusive, time-limited right to purchase specified screen rights later. You still own the underlying book during the option period, but you generally cannot grant…
These seven elements—character, plot, setting, point of view, theme, style, and structure—form the bones of any solid narrative. Whether you’re outlining your first draft or deep into revisions, understanding how these components work together can help you craft a more…
The publishing world has changed dramatically in recent years. Gone are the days when authors had to choose between going fully traditional or completely solo. Now there’s an exciting middle ground: hybrid publishing! For authors seeking their path forward in…
The concept of archetypes has been widely discussed in literary theory, notably by Carl Jung, who proposed that archetypes are part of the collective unconscious. In literature, archetypes can manifest in various forms, from character roles to narrative structures. Understanding…
I stopped writing after my father discovered the secrets he forced me to keep laid bare in black and white. I stopped writing for myself, that is. I was assigned the task of writing synopses and treatments for the music…
Writing characters who know each other is difficult because the writer has to reveal years of shared history without making the characters explain things they would already know. Old friends, siblings, exes, long-term partners, rivals, and former classmates do not…
There is a particular kind of suffering that comes from carrying an experience no one around you is willing or able to acknowledge. In scientific terms, trauma is a negative incident or experience that overwhelms your brain’s ability to cope.…
Artificial intelligence is already reshaping publishing, and we believe it is important to be honest about both its possibilities and its harms. At Atmosphere Press, our approach is rooted in a simple principle: AI may be used as a tool,…
Substack for authors can be a useful way to publish regularly, build an email audience, and create stronger relationships with readers — but it should not replace your author website, your broader book marketing plan, or the parts of your…