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Clash of the Query Letters 2023—3rd Place
February 10, 2023
As her search for Dad gets persistently derailed, Laurel is plunged into a world of espionage, murder and betrayal. She learns a deadly virus has been weaponized for Russia. By Dad. And her stepmother Audrey isn’t who she seems to be, either.
- Contest updates
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The Heart of Fiction: Character versus Plot
February 08, 2023
This is life. It’s the human experience. And it’s at the heart of why characters either come to life on the page or flatline.
- On the craft
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Do I need an MFA to be a writer?
February 06, 2023
Is it necessary in order to become a published author? No. But I don’t think anyone who embarks on it will regret their decision.
- On the craft
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Book Broker—an interview with Samantha Fabien
January 30, 2023
"I’m hungry for mysteries, thrillers, suspense, and horror for adults and young adults."
- Agent interviews
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The Synopsis Skirmish is on!
January 30, 2023

Our judge, Michelle Barker, will be asking herself one question: does this synopsis convince me that I'm in the hands of an adept novelist with a unique and engaging story to tell?
- Contest updates
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Building a Novel: Scenes, Chapters, and Pacing
January 26, 2023
If the scene is the fundamental unit of fiction, chapters are more of an organizational tool that relate to both structure and pacing.
- On the craft
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Book Broker—an interview with Rita Rosenkranz
January 25, 2023
"I look for books that speak to our current needs and preoccupations."
- Agent interviews
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- 1 comment
Book Broker—an interview with Darlene Chan
January 24, 2023
"I don't think I've ever received a bad query which resulted in a good submission."
- Agent interviews
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Who Killed the Omniscient Narrator? A Brief History of POV
January 16, 2023
In deep third, the narrative voice belongs to the focal character. Every scene filters through their sensory awareness and cognition. Anything described is necessarily what they see, hear, feel, smell, and taste.
- On the craft
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Building a Fictional World: A Novelist's Guide
December 10, 2022
Repeat this to yourself: the world is merely the backdrop. It is not the story. It will want to be the story. It will try. But you can’t let it.
- On the craft
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- 3 comments
Is Save the Cat! for lazy novelists?
December 09, 2022
You’ll never be able to create an engaging plot with deeply nuanced and compelling characters simply by using a formula.
- On the craft
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Reading Deliberately
December 08, 2022
Whenever I’m editing someone else’s work, I always read it more than once and am astonished by what I missed the first time around.
- On the craft
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