Latest Blog Posts

  • Creative Ways to Use Comp’s

    In the fiction and non-fiction writing world, “comps,” also known as comparison titles, are books that have a similar tone, feel, conflict, goal, or voice, and could appeal to a similar readership as your novel. Comps provide acquisition editors ways to benchmark the audience and potential sales. Marketing teams use comps to strategize where a Read more

  • One Thing Pre-Querying Authors Can Do Now… Pay It Forward

    At a recent Writing Day Workshop in my home state, during the Q&A with agents, a writer asked, “I’m 6 months out from querying. What’s one piece of advice you could give to someone like me to do right now?” “Great question,” I answered. Most people are likely editing, revising and word-smithing every sentence, especially Read more

  • Controlling the “Controllables” in Writing

    I recently had the opportunity to speak to writers about a topic close to my heart, “Controlling the Controllables.” It’s a saying I have used in 15+ years in project management. All projects (esp. software) are unique and many face unplanned issues. Controlling the Controllables refers to focusing on what we can control in achieving Read more

  • Great First Pages, by Najla M.

    Writing a novel that captures a reader’s interest in the first page takes hard work, and may require quite a few revisions. As noted in my blog post, “Great First Chapters,” (linked below), the first chapter should include an engaging opening paragraph, a cool, compelling character, a strong voice, the perfect starting point, the setting/place/decade, Read more

  • Writing in 2023

    Mid Year Check in With more memoirs ranging from the life of a cartoonist from the New Yorker and Britney Spears’s ‘The Woman in Me,” unique people stories continue to grow. In addition, Nelson buying a history of the In-N-Out Burger franchise, and Amistad buying a book by couture designer B Michael about his friendship Read more

  • Conflict is your best friend in writing

    What makes good conflict? By good, I don’t actually mean positive or joyful. I am referring to quality conflict, which shows your character, builds momentum, and pushes the story forward. It’s value-added conflict vs. false conflict. (False conflict frustrates readers. Examples include conflict that doesn’t make sense or relate to the character’s personality, environment, or Read more