Freytag’s pyramid is a term that any writer obsessed with story structure will inevitably encounter. Conjuring up notions of dark, ancient tombs, this intimidating-sounding theory is actually very easy to understand. The pyramid, also known as ‘Freytag’s triangle’ or ‘five act structure’, is a straightforward way of organizing narrative. Read on to discover the five ... read more »
“When you leave a beautiful place, you carry it with you wherever you go,” lifestyle author Alexandra Stoddard once wrote. She was referring to real-life places, but the same is true of fictional ones — the setting of a story can be just as affecting and memorable as a place you’ve actually visited. But how ... read more »
We all had our favorite children’s book illustrators growing up. From Quentin Blake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame to Julia Donaldson of The Gruffalo, the best illustrators not only helped us visualize stories, but also made us fall in love with the sheer possibility of imagination. If you’re writing a children’s book, you, ... read more »
Want to know how to get a book deal? From polishing your writing and crafting a query letter, to securing a literary agent and that ever-desirable contract, the process of selling your book to a publisher is fairly straightforward: you just need to be meticulous, patient, and a little bit lucky. Based on our experience ... read more »
The LGBTQ+ community has been historically underrepresented in publishing. But with the growth of online books sales and a greater mainstream appetite for diverse characters and stories, there has been a resulting boom in LGBTQ+ books and publishers specializing in this blossoming niche. To help you find the right home for your book, we’ve gathered ... read more »
Ah, fall. Cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and… writing marathons? While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind, for many people that’s exactly what this season signals. Every November, writers all over the world sign up for NaNoWriMo and take the next step in their writing journey: writing a novel in ... read more »
Can’t wait to share your children's book with the world? Use our 6-step guide on how to publish a children's book to help you get there.
Defining the short story form may seem like a simple task, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. “How long is a short story?” can be a particularly tough question to answer — yes, a short story is short, but how many words does that entail? Moreover, which qualities determine a short story, ... read more »
A professional editor is the one collaborator that no author can do without — even blockbuster writers with dozens of publications to their name. While writing the first draft is often a solitary affair, the process of revising a manuscript eventually requires the objective eye of someone who knows the ins and outs of storytelling ... read more »
What is a novella? Well, if you’re struggling to finish a novel, transitioning from short stories, or looking to test-run a book series, then it might just be the answer to your writing prayers! In this post, we’ll show you how to write a novella, how long it should be, how it differs from a ... read more »
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