One of the best pieces of writing advice is simple: Read. Read books in your genre. Read books outside your genre. Read new releases and classics. Read debut authors and seasoned bestsellers. And then, read some more. The more you read, the more craft and storytelling wisdom you'll absorb.

In fiction, every scene should operate on TWO levels. And if readers "just aren't connecting" with your story, it probably means you're missing the crucial second layer...

Don't skip comps! Will not having them make agents auto-reject your query? No. But comps are so important in the industry, and saying your book "isn't like anything else out there" can actually hurt your pitch. Here are my quick tips for finding and choosing effective comps. 📚

Three of my followers sent me their first pages for critique… but they ALL open their novel in the wrong place. With the character traveling somewhere. Transit scenes like this are rarely interesting enough to hook a reader (or agent). Here's where to open your novel instead. youtu.be/bVa4nnf9bwg

A dream come true to see my book with QueryTracker featured in Publishers Weekly! 🎉 "A practical and heartening guide for those navigating the book industry for the first time." If you're currently querying or planning to, we wrote this for you. 📘 Preorder it now: modernguidetoquerying.com/

Have a messy first draft and don't know how to start revising? Here's my favorite trick that can help you diagnose almost every issue in your manuscript: reverse outlining. Seriously, if you're stuck, it's your secret revision weapon.

According to Lee Child, every story ever written falls into one of just two plots: 1️⃣ You huddle in your community, scared of something approaching from outside. 2️⃣ You leave your community to find out what lies beyond. So I tested his theory against two recent bestsellers:

I was working with a client who had a strong draft of a murder mystery novel set in the elite figure skating world. Then she read a new release with a similar premise and nearly trashed her draft. But does having an "original" plot really matter? Here's what I think. youtu.be/NSIq-4u7-60

Something I wish more debut authors knew: the first book you write doesn't have to be the one that makes your career. 👉 Stephen King wrote 4 novels before Carrie was picked up by Doubleday and became his debut.

A flat, weak protagonist can ruin your novel. Even if the writing is solid. Even if the plot is riveting. Because at the core, we read to connect with the PERSON driving your story. Here are 3 common mistakes that are weakening your main character — and the questions to ask yourself to fix them.

You can't control: 👉 How many rejections you'll get 👉 How much $$ a publisher will offer you 👉 How many copies you'll sell (at least directly) 👉 How many reviews or ads you'll get 👉 If you'll win an award or reach bestseller status What you CAN control is writing the best book you possibly can.

I've interviewed nearly 100 published authors and literary agents over the past four years. Here's what I always ask them: what's one thing you wish every aspiring author knew sooner? Here are 9 tough truths about the publishing process that most writers learn the hard way (so you don't have to).

I swear I keep seeing the SAME five characters popping up all over TV, film, and books. And I'm tired of them! Tell me if you are too? youtu.be/X-i4PpLWReA

I got plenty of rejections on my book before finding a publisher. And even though I knew it was part of the process, it still hurt every time. There's no way around it. But remember this: A rejection is ONE person's opinion on ONE version of your work on ONE particular day.

If your novel moves too slow, readers will put it down partway through. If it moves too fast, readers won't feel connected to your characters or immersed in your scenes. Pacing is one of the biggest problems I see in manuscripts I edit. Here are 5 practical steps to nail the perfect pace:

The #1 thing I look for in a protagonist? Agency. Give me characters who are working toward something. Who have a specific goal. Who DO stuff in pursuit of their agenda. Because without agency, they become no more than a passenger in their own story.

A bad ending can turn a five-star novel into a flop. And that's all your readers will remember, no matter how brilliant the rest of the story was. That's why your ending HAS to land. Here are the 7 weakest endings I've seen in my 10+ years as a book editor — and exactly how to avoid them.

Writing a book is a MASSIVE achievement. Even if it's not perfect. Even if no one has read it. Even if it never gets published. No matter what happens next, appreciate everything you have done so far. The simple act of finishing a first draft is worth celebrating. You did that. 🎉

Here's a quick tip for any writer who struggles with perfectionism: Try naming your draft document something playful, like "Playground," "Draft Zero," or "Brain Dump." So simple, but it works.

Stuck deep in revisions and feeling like you can't see your story clearly anymore? "Just powering through" typically doesn't work, because the problem is that you're way too close to it. Try this instead:

The authors who sell the most understand this: writing is art, but publishing is business. If you want to do the same, it helps to think of your book like a product you're selling — because that's ultimately what it is. Here are 6 questions to help you write a book that actually sells:

Three of my subscribers sent me their manuscripts for critique… and they ALL make the same mistake: Shallow POV. It's an issue I see in 50% of the manuscripts I edit, and if your readers keep saying they "just aren't connecting" with your story, you're probably making it too. youtu.be/AHZoqFud44U

Can we normalize talking about how emotionally vulnerable writing a book is? It's something I've been thinking about a ton as I count down the months until my book comes out. I can't wait for people to finally read it, but...the thought of people reading it also TERRIFIES me.

Every author you love was once an unpublished writer who had no idea if their story was good enough. They faced the same self-doubt, the same fear of rejection, the same moments of wanting to give up. Here are 5 stories from some of the most iconic authors — BEFORE they made it big:

Do you TRULY know your main character inside and out? Their most memorable experiences, their deepest fears, their habits, their pet peeves, their most intrusive thoughts?

Spoiler alert: your first draft probably won't be brilliant. And that's completely natural and normal. Think of your first draft as the framework of a house you're building. Revision is where you put in the flooring, paint the walls, and make it livable.

The CEO of Macmillan — one of the top people in traditional publishing — recently sat down for an interview about the state of the industry in 2026. And his insights surprised me in a few places. Here are the 7 key takeaways for authors. ⬇️ youtu.be/H7z9nGMplAQ

Lies authors tell themselves: ❌ Rejection means my story/my writing sucks. ❌ I'm not successful unless my book is a bestseller. ❌ I haven't been published by 30, so now it's too late. ❌ I don't have tons of social media followers, so I'll never get published.

After more than a decade as a book editor, I've finally nailed down the single biggest gap between solid writing and truly great writing. It all comes down to what the author DOESN'T say.

Your first page is your first impression on your reader (or a literary agent). And you might be inadvertently turning them off. Here are the 7 biggest first-page mistakes I've seen in 10+ years as a book editor — and exactly how to avoid or fix them. 👇

A common misconception in fiction is that we have to LIKE the main character. Not true! (Hello, Patrick Bateman!) But we DO need to be able to extend empathy to them and understand why they are the way they are. How do you do that? Make them vulnerable to the reader. Here's how ⬇️

Keep writing. Even when it’s hard. Keep writing through the self-doubt. Through the waning motivation. Through the publishing disappointments. Through the bad reviews. The authors who succeed in this difficult business know that perseverance and consistency matter more than anything else.

The most common mistake I see authors make with their main character? Their objective is weak or unclear. When a reader doesn't know what your main character WANTS — what drives and motivates them — their journey feels directionless, and it becomes very hard to stay invested in the story.

As a developmental book editor, I've never met an author who wrote a first draft that was absolutely perfect and error-free. Just like chefs trial dozens of recipes, making your book as strong as it can possibly be requires multiple drafts. So try to shift your mindset around the revision process:

A quick word on word count goals: Setting word count goals can help you keep you writing on track, but it can also be stifling.

I posted this video less than four hours ago, and it already has 10,000+ views. Might become my most-watched ever. Clearly we aren't done talking about the Shy Girl scandal! Here's my take on what happened and what it means for every author hoping to get published. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucw...

Every author you admire was once exactly where you are. Staring at a draft wondering if it's good enough. Worried that no one will read it — or worse, that people WILL, and they'll hate it. But they kept going, through all the doubts.

Writing a book is like running a marathon. Many people sign up. Only a fraction start the race. And fewer still cross the finish line. So when you feel like giving up...think about that moment when you break through the tape. 🏅 The pride you'll feel looking back will make every step worth it.

Some of the biggest bestsellers of recent years — books that sold millions of copies and landed massive film deals — use a storytelling technique that most authors overlook entirely. Nonlinear timelines.

150,000 YouTube subscribers. 🎉 If you told me back in 2020 (when I started) that I'd be here now, I'd laugh in your face. To every writer who has watched, subscribed, or shared my content — truly, thank you. You're the reason I keep doing this! Here's to helping more writers tell their stories. 📚

The difference between bad writing and great writing has nothing to do with the words. Rather, it's in what the author DOESN'T say. Skilled writers know exactly how, what, and when to hold back. Hemingway called this the Iceberg Theory — and here's exactly how it works. youtu.be/M29_fnEQhWI

If you're stuck in the query trenches, this book is for you. I wrote THE MODERN GUIDE TO QUERYING LITERARY AGENTS with the creator of QueryTracker to show you what agents REALLY want. And it's 25% off this week! 🥳 Grab your copy → www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-moder...

I want to know: Why do you write? Most people say they want to write a book at some point in their lives, but very few actually follow through. When writing gets tough (and trust me, it will), the reason you write is what'll keep you going — so take a second and jot it down. What's your "why"?

It's not true that all agents and editors hate prologues! But they do hate weak ones — and as an editor myself, I see the same mistakes come up again and again. ❌ Using it as an info-dump ❌ Letting it go on for 10+ pages ❌ Making it impossible to follow

It's undeniable: first person novels are EVERYWHERE. And some people aren't here for it, calling first person writing "lazy" and "juvenile." But does more first person mean the death of the modern novel? I'm not so sure... youtu.be/WmcnL_kFhMQ

Feedback should never tear you down. As a book editor, it's my job to build my authors (and their stories) UP. ⚒️

Stop writing to trends. Stop writing what you think publishing wants. Stop writing to please others. And start writing what feels right and true to you.

I've read several novels recently with flat protagonists. Their lives are pretty stable, they're relatively content, no unhealed wounds. Good for them, but where's the depth? Here's one EASY but super effective way to make your protag more layered, dynamic, and human:

One of the biggest issues I see in manuscripts creeps in without authors knowing. Too much narrative distance (the space between the reader and the characters/events of the story).

I've been working on this massive project quietly for almost two years, and I'm SO excited to finally share it. 🎉 I wrote a book with the creator of QueryTracker, the no. 1 tool writers use to research and track agent submissions.