For a publisher, producing a successful book series is like winning the lottery. The rewards can be enormous and ongoing. Check out these numbers The Harry Potter behemoth towers over all the rest, with more than 400 million copies sold. Nancy Drew? The 175 installments of the beloved mystery series have sold more than 200 [...]

Photograph © Cheryl Rinzler Why would one of America’s most distinguished literary publishers jump at the chance to sign up an unknown hillbilly-noir writer whose history so far consists of gritty short stories published online by pulp fiction e-zines? Here’s why: Mystery and crime fiction is booming – there are more debut authors, more acquisitions [...]

OK, it’s a trick question. The answer is that every “I” narrative has not one, but two points of view. Think about it: You – the writer – embody the second POV. You stand behind the curtain of literary creativity, directing everything that happens in the story; what to include and what not, what other [...]

You thought you’d finished up a darned good manuscript ready to send out into the world, so you decided to give yourself a well-deserved vacation. Upon your return, you started rereading your opus and began unexpectedly to channel your stern fifth grade teacher Mrs. Spellman. Remember her? In a blinding flash, you realized you’d produced [...]

Q: There’s so much for a writer to think about: platform, query letters, agents, marketing. What’s the most important thing to focus on? A: That’s easy. Focus on the content of your book. There’s nothing more important. Content is king Before all else, keep your attention on the core concept and execution of your book [...]

The most creative minds in publishing are racing to develop iPad app editions of upcoming titles that will utilize the new device’s unique audio, video, interactive and social networking capabilities. The excitement is contagious! As a writer, you may want to start looking at how these apps can extend and expand the creative canvas of [...]

Listening in on random conversations — okay, blatant eavesdropping — is a time-honored technique for writers fine-tuning their ear and seeking authentic feelings with distinctive ways of expressing them. Norman Mailer did it If you practice eavesdropping, you’re in good company. Norman Mailer used to whip out a little spiral-bound notebook at parties and write [...]

It takes courage and character to be a writer. It means accepting the risk of revealing yourself and overcoming fears of putting your honest feelings and dangerous ideas right there on the page. Facing that blank page in the privacy of your own mind and stripping away your defenses to confront hard truths requires an [...]

“A voice journal will keep your characters from becoming little versions of you.” That advice comes from James Scott Bell, author of The Art of War for Writers, a new book of strategies and exercises for fiction authors. “You’ll find yourself excited about your characters. You’ll think about them even when you’re not writing. They [...]

Q:  There’s some background information I need to include so my narrative makes more sense.  How can I do that without breaking the flow of the story? A:  Many writers struggle with blending in historical context and a who’s who of key characters from the past whose influence has led up to their protagonist’s current [...]