https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-best-writing-is-rewriting-e-b-white 2023-09-19T17:51:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Best_Writing_is_Rewriting.jpg?v=1695171058 "The best writing is rewriting" Why do people say the best writing is rewriting? What do they mean? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-end-for-now 2023-09-19T10:46:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/aged-antique-classic-429246.jpg?v=1541965688 The End... For Now – how to proceed beyond your novel's first draft https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/no-real-ending 2023-09-19T17:43:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pablo-garcia-saldana-100086-unsplash.jpg?v=1543129369 Beginnings & Endings https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/self-publishing 2019-04-18T07:57:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Book-Marketing-101-for-beginners.png?v=1543280902 Self-Publishing: Book Marketing 101 with Dave Chesson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/dear-writer 2023-09-19T10:54:19-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/broken-danger-daylight-1411397.jpg?v=1543606121 "Dear Writer" – How to deal with rejection https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/driven-to-distraction 2023-09-19T10:50:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_1100715878.jpg?v=1695145824 Driven to Distraction Quote about distract writers by Jonathan Franzen: "it's doubtful that anyone with an internet connection at his workplace is writing about good fiction." https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/querying-101 2022-02-08T11:56:19-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/danger-daylight-dry-340926.jpg?v=1548522050 How to write a query letter – ten tips and a template https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/just-walk-away 2023-09-19T10:53:07-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/when_is_a_manuscript_finished.jpg?v=1695145987 Just Walk Away: how to know when you're finished your novel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-a-synopsis-101 2023-09-19T17:37:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/action-plan-brainstorming-complex-212286.jpg?v=1549238781 How to write a synopsis https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-andy-ross 2019-08-12T08:58:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/BookBrokers1.jpg?v=1549647670 Book Broker – An interview with Andy Ross https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-andrew-lownie 2019-08-12T08:58:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lownie_Andrew_shrink.jpg?v=1556313549 Book Broker – An interview with Andrew Lownie https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kat-kerr 2020-08-18T07:04:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/BookBrokers_KAT_KERR.png?v=1550854115 Book Broker – An interview with Kat Kerr https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jessica-craig 2019-08-12T08:59:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jessica_Craig.jpg?v=1551024624 Book Broker – An interview with Jessica Craig https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/an-axe-to-grind-now-closed 2019-04-18T07:55:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/adults-applause-audience-1047443.jpg?v=1551506269 An Axe to Grind – Now closed to submissions https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-sharon-belcastro 2019-08-11T12:01:43-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sharon_Belcastro.png?v=1551802366 Book Broker – An interview with Sharon Belcastro https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/from-idea-to-book 2023-09-19T11:06:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/41827774_1900627179996778_9147586501398233088_o.jpg?v=1551891407 From Idea to Book: the story of The House of One Thousand Eyes https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-ella-marie-shupe 2019-08-11T11:59:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Ella_Marie_Shupe_-_Belcastro.png?v=1551988424 Book Broker – An interview with Ella Marie Shupe https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-results-are-in 2019-04-18T07:57:11-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/battle-board-game-chance-59197.jpg?v=1551994416 The results are in... https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tiny-little-mirrors 2019-04-18T07:57:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/ball-close-up-colors-593467.jpg?v=1552148148 Tiny Little Mirrors, by Chad V. Broughman https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/weed 2019-04-18T07:57:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/beautiful-bloom-blooming-333779.jpg?v=1552149948 Weed, by S P Robin https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/our-next-contest-is-live 2019-04-18T07:57:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1.jpg?v=1552404129 Our next contest is live: The First Page Challenge https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jennifer-march-soloway 2019-08-11T12:02:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jennifer_March_Soloway_-_Andrea_Brown_Lit.png?v=1554225590 Book Broker – An interview with Jennifer March Soloway https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/q1-worldbuilding 2019-04-27T10:26:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/adventure-blur-cartography-408503.jpg?v=1555002924 Questions to ask yourself – Part 1: Worldbuilding https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-bj-robbins 2019-08-11T11:56:34-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/BJ_Robbins.png?v=1555352263 Book Broker – An interview with BJ Robbins https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/can-creative-writing-be-taught 2023-09-19T11:05:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/can_creative_writing_be_taught.jpg?v=1695146720 Can creative writing be taught? Can creative writing be taught? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/author-2-0-blueprint 2023-09-19T10:59:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/34451288._UY1024_SS1024.jpg?v=1555945143 Author 2.0 Blueprint: a great resource for independent writers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-isabel-atherton 2019-08-11T11:51:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Isabel_Atherton_-_Creative_Authors_25b316d3-fdc3-4b29-87d9-806a5652dc47.png?v=1556120339 Book Broker – An interview with Isabel Atherton https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-albert-longden 2019-08-11T11:44:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Albert_Longden.png?v=1556288234 Book Broker – An interview with Albert Longden https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/q2-protagonist 2022-06-01T10:52:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/boy-child-childhood-346796.jpg?v=1556385690 Questions to ask yourself – Part 2: The Protagonist https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-emma-finn 2019-08-11T11:43:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/EmmaFinn.jpg?v=1556466696 Book Broker – An interview with Emma Finn https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-noah-ballard 2019-08-11T11:41:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Noah_Ballard.jpg?v=1556635769 Book Broker – An interview with Noah Ballard https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/q3-antagonist 2019-06-25T15:02:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/carved-creepy-dry-leaves-1598181.jpg?v=1556723924 Questions to ask yourself – Part 3: The Antagonist https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-catherine-cho 2022-07-21T14:49:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Catherine_Cho.jpg?v=1556822232 Book Broker—An interview with Catherine Cho https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/q4-character-dev 2019-06-25T15:02:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/candy-color-creative-54633.jpg?v=1557153873 Questions to ask yourself – Part 4: Character development https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-juliet-mushens 2019-08-11T11:40:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Julie_Mushens_-_CaskieMushens.png?v=1557245803 Book Broker – An interview with Juliet Mushens https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indieaward 2019-06-29T09:57:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/45723345.jpg?v=1561498797 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: The House of One Thousand Eyes https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-aimee-ashcraft 2019-08-11T11:39:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Aimee_Ashcraft.png?v=1561653981 Book Broker – An interview with Aimee Ashcraft https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/courting-inspiration 2023-09-19T10:27:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/bright-bulb-close-up-1108572.jpg?v=1562093780 How to find inspiration: a guide for novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-lords-of-the-wind 2019-07-06T08:07:30-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/fe43ab294a50bcd1e8afb103c3c1452919994664.jpg?v=1562425014 The Lords of the Wind (Congrats to C J Adrien!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/scofield-s-wall 2023-09-19T10:58:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/architect-architecture-black-and-white-1537008_1.jpg?v=1562604447 Scofield’s Wall: a how-to reflection on outlining a novel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-prize-pool-is-growing 2019-08-12T08:48:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_36716a70-a886-4d75-a868-a0edff986bf8.jpg?v=1562942910 First Page Challenge: The prize pool is growing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-dana-newman 2019-08-11T11:39:19-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Dana_Newman.png?v=1563030047 Book Broker – An interview with Dana Newman https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jess-dallow 2019-08-11T11:37:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jess_Dallow.png?v=1563548685 Book Broker – An interview with Jess Dallow https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/1-new-release 2019-07-19T08:32:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/51a6SqBB4tL.jpg?v=1563550336 #1 New Release on Amazon https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-matt-belford 2020-03-03T22:21:47-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Matt_Belford.png?v=1563724054 Book Broker – An interview with Matt Belford https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/word-count-calculator 2023-09-19T17:55:11-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Word_Count_Calculator.jpg?v=1695171311 Word-count calculator https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-katelyn-uplinger 2019-08-11T11:37:22-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Katelyn_Uplinger.png?v=1564671656 Book Broker – An interview with Katelyn Uplinger https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/beyond-shrugged-shoulders 2025-11-03T21:07:56-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/beyond_shrugged_shoulders.jpg?v=1762232876 Beyond Shrugged Shoulders: how to write gestures effectively How to write gestures in fiction, avoiding common or overused gestures like shrugging and nodding https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-caroline-walsh 2019-08-11T15:20:48-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Caroline_Walsh_a50ff304-ddd5-4557-acf9-695033325aed.png?v=1565561392 Book Broker – An interview with Caroline Walsh https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-eve-white-ludo-cinelli 2019-08-16T08:06:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Eve_White_Ludo.png?v=1565967692 Book Broker – An interview with Eve White & Ludo Cinelli https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-hannah-sheppard 2019-08-23T08:48:18-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Hannah_Shepard.png?v=1566573887 Book Broker – An interview with Hannah Sheppard https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-tara-gilboy 2019-09-05T08:07:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Tara_Gilboy1.png?v=1566922952 Success Story with Tara Gilboy https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/waldo-release 2019-09-02T16:26:22-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Amazing_Adventures_of_Waldo_eBook.jpg?v=1567466608 The Amazing Adventures of Waldo (Congrats to Tashawn Blount!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/creating-memorable-characters 2023-09-19T17:32:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/art-blur-cartoon-character-264905.jpg?v=1567545284 How to Write Memorable Characters https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-kelly-thompson 2019-09-05T08:07:07-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kelly_S_Thompson.png?v=1567633587 Success Story with Kelly S. Thompson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-lorna-nicholson 2019-09-12T10:29:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lorna_Nicholson.png?v=1568297318 Success Story with Lorna Nicholson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/valcore 2019-09-16T16:56:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Zachetka_ebook.jpeg?v=1568677515 Valcore: The Ancient's Rise (Congrats to Zach C. Etka!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-clifford-thurlow 2019-09-24T08:57:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Clifford_Thurlow.png?v=1569339650 Success Story with Clifford Thurlow https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/for-the-words 2019-10-07T14:57:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/DarlingAxe_reduced.jpg?v=1569430271 For the words! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/dead-by-sunrise 2019-09-25T10:17:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/DBScover.jpg?v=1569431873 Dead by Sunrise (Congrats to Richard Ryker!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-broo-doherty 2019-09-27T16:38:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Broo_Doherty.png?v=1569533051 Book Broker – An interview with Broo Doherty https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/first-page-2019-shortlist 2019-10-02T16:13:48-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_5ad41013-7008-42d7-874a-79302fa68017.jpg?v=1570057440 First Page Challenge: the shortlist https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/first-and-last-paragraphs 2019-10-15T18:52:01-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/chair-clouds-dawn-1428626.jpg?v=1571190178 First and Last Paragraphs https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/stars-and-roses 2019-10-17T16:58:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/beauty-bloom-blue-67636.jpg?v=1571264993 First Page Challenge, 3rd place winner: "Stars and Roses" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/unsound 2019-10-17T16:59:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/buildings-cars-downtown-1098663.jpg?v=1571265455 First Page Challenge, 2nd place winner: "Unsound" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/cloudland 2019-10-17T17:06:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/4k-wallpaper-conifers-desktop-wallpaper-1367192.jpg?v=1571265774 First Page Challenge, 1st place winner: "Cloudland" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kerry-d-agostino 2022-02-12T12:05:28-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kerry_D_Agostino.png?v=1571443449 Book Broker: an interview with Kerry D’Agostino https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-erin-hosier 2019-10-24T17:40:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Erin_Hosier.png?v=1571964039 Book Broker: an interview with Erin Hosier https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-sharon-pelletier 2019-10-28T17:08:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sharon_Pelletier.png?v=1572126081 Book Broker: an interview with Sharon Pelletier https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-mark-gottlieb 2023-11-04T11:01:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Mark_Gottlieb.png?v=1572563684 Book Broker: an interview with Mark Gottlieb https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pov-basics 2023-09-19T17:45:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/macro-outdoors-perspective-rocky-268953.jpg?v=1574136552 POV Basics: a perspective primer https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-ann-leslie-tuttle 2019-11-30T09:43:04-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Ann_Leslie_Tuttle.png?v=1575135197 Book Broker: an interview with Ann Leslie Tuttle https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/everyones-a-loser 2019-12-09T15:47:28-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/black-and-white-sport-fight-boxer-3797.jpg?v=1575935177 Everyone's a Loser – a guest post by Clifford Thurlow https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-betsy-lerner 2023-02-06T16:14:26-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Betsy_Lerner.png?v=1576286255 Book Broker: an interview with Betsy Lerner https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jane-dystel 2019-12-19T18:48:04-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jane_Dystel.png?v=1576809982 Book Broker: an interview with Jane Dystel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/amy-mathers 2020-01-02T15:12:50-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1000_Eyes.jpg?v=1578006764 Darling Axe editor wins Amy Mathers Teen Book Award (congrats Michelle!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/write-what-you-love 2023-09-19T10:58:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/AdobeStock_275660359.jpeg?v=1578346102 Write What You Love: uncovering your passion in fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/respect-the-twist 2023-09-19T17:44:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/grayscale-photo-of-rope-on-log-622134.jpg?v=1578592286 Respect the twist https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lisa-grubka 2020-01-17T10:32:06-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lisa_Grubka.png?v=1579285115 Book Broker: an interview with Lisa Grubka https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton 2023-09-19T17:19:08-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/selective-focus-photography-of-skeleton-1528375.jpg?v=1580173122 Story skeleton: a plot primer https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/contest-update 2020-01-27T18:25:16-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/axe2grind.jpg?v=1580178238 Axe to Grind: first prize-pool spillover reached https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/best-laid-plans-self 2020-07-13T08:19:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/man-standing-on-arc-doorway-1540975.jpg?v=1580178727 Best-laid plans: the first in our series of self-paced writing courses https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wordcount 2025-07-30T10:29:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/word_count_for_novelists.jpg?v=1753896543 Word Count Wars: How Long Should Your Novel Really Be? Word count expectations for novels by genre: fantasy, literary, upmarket, romance, mystery, thriller, SFF, sci-fi, science fiction, historical fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/slush 2020-02-09T22:32:34-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/candy-color-creative-54633_863b9f98-5a4c-4353-99cf-ae3cdb1442b7.jpg?v=1581297114 Slush Pile Standouts https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-karly-caserza 2020-03-01T08:38:40-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Karly_Caserza.png?v=1582575826 Book Broker: an interview with Karly Caserza https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/deals 2021-05-04T12:29:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/bank-banking-black-and-white-budget-259209.jpg?v=1582657477 A good deal? Or a nice deal? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/flash2020-update 2020-02-26T14:09:36-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/axe2grind_1acd4d5e-84a6-47c3-b213-14163c5858f3.jpg?v=1582754570 Axe to Grind: flash fiction contest update https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/outlining-sale 2020-03-12T12:51:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/man-standing-on-arc-doorway-1540975_4631bb32-98a9-410f-8f01-5deb5f243cd1.jpg?v=1582756761 Best-laid plans: outlining seminar now on sale https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/query-quandaries 2023-09-19T17:34:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/abstract-black-and-white-blur-book-261763.jpg?v=1583091631 Query letter quandaries: pro tips from the pros https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-gail-anderson-dargatz 2020-03-08T09:48:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Gail_A-D.png?v=1583686095 Success Story with Gail Anderson-Dargatz https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-katie-greenstreet 2022-10-25T15:39:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Katie_Greenstreet.png?v=1583775461 Book Broker – An interview with Katie Greenstreet https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-katie 2020-03-16T08:44:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/IMG_1529.jpg?v=1584373405 Huge congrats, Katie! Darling Axe editor wins Exile Quarterly's short fiction contest https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/bbnya-2020 2020-03-17T08:23:52-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/unnamed.jpg?v=1584458357 The First Annual Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/agents-on-voice 2023-09-19T17:35:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/yawning-cat-1576193.jpg?v=1585434345 Literary agents on "voice" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/first-sentences 2023-09-19T17:40:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/bird-flying-heron-start-3446.jpg?v=1585510889 The importance of first sentences https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/trusted-readers 2024-05-01T15:16:45-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/an-elderly-woman-509236.jpg?v=1585705315 Probably not your mother: on beta readers and critique partners https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/flash-2020-shortlist 2020-04-02T16:10:18-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/axe2grind_24344d2d-5c12-4f4e-839c-0cd11fb8e383.jpg?v=1585868911 An Axe to Grind 2020—the shortlist https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/voice 2023-09-19T17:31:52-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/hand-metal-music-musician-33779.jpg?v=1586033278 Who's on mic? A primer on voice https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/slush1 2020-04-06T15:21:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/candy-color-creative-54633_14eae8e4-5707-4cf1-b2a9-806c48616a8a.jpg?v=1586211576 Slushpile Standouts: episode one https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/status-update 2020-04-11T13:13:31-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/people-holding-smartphones-1477913.jpg?v=1586532235 Axe to Grind 2020, 3rd place winner: "Status Update" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/eleven-for-good-measure 2020-04-11T13:13:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/crib-room-toy-bed-54547.jpg?v=1586532974 Axe to Grind 2020, 2nd place winner: "Eleven for Good Measure" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/keeping-watch 2020-04-11T13:14:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/rain-drops-459451.jpg?v=1586533548 Axe to Grind 2020, 1st place winner: "Keeping Watch" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-carrie-plitt 2020-04-17T08:13:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Carrie_Plitt.png?v=1587135641 Book Broker – An interview with Carrie Plitt https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/what-agents-do 2023-09-19T17:36:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/black-and-white-books-education-facts-433333.jpg?v=1587181963 What do lit agents do? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/query-quest-the-journey 2023-09-19T17:35:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/photography-of-book-page-1029141.jpg?v=1587322422 Query Quest: the journey toward literary representation https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/michelle-barker 2020-04-21T14:53:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/img_0562_46494178395_o.jpg?v=1587505607 Editor profile: Michelle Barker https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-cynthia-salaysay 2021-04-17T08:26:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Cynthia_Salaysay_fullsize.png?v=1618673188 Success Story with Cynthia Salaysay https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/katie-zdybel 2020-05-01T14:09:54-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/atlitfestivalbio.jpeg?v=1588366392 Editor profile: Katie Zdybel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/lit-agents-on-revision 2023-09-19T17:36:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/crumpled-paper-on-gray-surface-845246.jpg?v=1589081307 Literary agents on revision https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/by-the-numbers 2023-09-19T17:36:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/monochrome-photo-of-math-formulas-3729557.jpg?v=1589077739 Literary representation: by the numbers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-harvey-klinger 2020-05-13T13:22:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Harvey_Klinger.png?v=1589400629 Book Broker – An interview with Harvey Klinger https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-sarah-davies 2020-05-15T11:06:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sarah_Davies.png?v=1589556399 Book Broker – an interview with Sarah Davies https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/rearranging-words 2020-05-21T09:12:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Darling_Square.jpg?v=1590077495 Rearranging Words—a webinar (June 14) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-carlisle-k-webber 2025-09-05T08:59:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Carlisle_K._Webber_e1209685-3798-42bb-a92a-07f7283d654a.png?v=1757087999 Book Broker – an interview with Carlisle K. Webber https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/slush2 2020-05-19T10:47:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/candy-color-creative-54633_2c77d1c0-21f1-4662-84b7-c4e05ea4a23c.jpg?v=1589908390 Slushpile Standouts: episode two https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/overused-openings 2023-09-19T17:10:18-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/brown-and-white-track-field-163444.jpg?v=1590011724 Out of the gates: how to avoid overused openings in your manuscript https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-first-page-2020 2020-05-21T09:18:54-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_5554874b-7d8c-4a80-b735-d469b689fd62.jpg?v=1590077809 The First Page Challenge – a writing contest for novelists (now open to submissions) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-chelsea-eberly 2020-05-23T09:25:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Chelsea_Eberly.png?v=1590251063 Book Broker – an interview with Chelsea Eberly https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/querying-strategically 2023-09-19T17:17:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/black-and-white-blank-challenge-connect-262488.jpg?v=1590372722 Querying strategically https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-t-coen 2020-05-28T12:35:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Therese_Coen.png?v=1590693888 Book Broker – an interview with Thérèse Coen https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-holly-faulks 2020-05-29T09:56:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Holly_Faulks.png?v=1590771300 Book Broker – an interview with Holly Faulks https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/query-quest 2020-07-13T07:26:09-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/battle-black-blur-board-game-260024.jpg?v=1590948896 Query Quest: a self-paced course for querying authors https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-linda-s-glaz 2020-06-05T13:00:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Linda_S._Glaz.png?v=1591386994 Book Broker – an interview with Linda S. Glaz https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/show-dont-tell 2023-09-19T10:43:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/man-standing-surrounded-with-smoke-1916818.jpg?v=1592753694 We are dream-weavers: on the writer's maxim of "show, don't tell" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/midpoint 2025-04-14T17:49:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_106027019.jpg?v=1744678152 Aim for the Heart: Crafting a Killer Midpoint The importance of a midpoint and midpoint reversal in plotting a novel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-john-cusick 2020-06-30T10:20:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/John_Cusick.png?v=1593537563 Book Broker – an interview with John Cusick https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-heather-jackson 2020-07-07T10:22:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Heather_Jackson.png?v=1594141098 Book Broker – an interview with Heather Jackson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/query-tracker 2021-02-15T10:52:16-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/LYA_75QP_400x400_1.png?v=1594653016 Resource review: Query Tracker https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-peter-riva 2020-07-15T09:53:04-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Peter_Riva.png?v=1594831875 Book Broker – an interview with Peter Riva https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kari-erickson 2020-07-21T08:43:19-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kari_Erickson.png?v=1595344259 Book Broker – an interview with Kari Erickson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/dola 2020-07-22T08:56:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Headshot-Dola630x800.jpg?v=1595433352 Editor profile: Dola Basu Singh https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tyrell 2020-08-09T13:07:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Ty_Johnson_630x800.jpg?v=1595439248 Editor profile: Tyrell Johnson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/update-the-first-page-challenge 2020-07-26T16:59:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_af5be8b9-84e0-42fc-b76d-eb9d00d618d7.jpg?v=1595807545 Update: The First Page Challenge https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-caroline-hardman 2020-07-30T08:08:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Caroline_Hardman.png?v=1596117433 Book Broker – an interview with Caroline Hardman https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-bonnie-nadell 2020-07-31T06:52:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Bonnie_Nadell.png?v=1596122450 Book Broker – an interview with Bonnie Nadell https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/outline-a-novel-in-five-steps 2024-08-26T19:52:54-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/alone-autumn-mood-forest-cold-countryside-397096.jpg?v=1596253071 How to outline a novel in five steps https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-joanna-swainson 2020-08-20T09:02:54-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Joanna_Swainson.png?v=1597938350 Book Broker – an interview with Joanna Swainson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kate-mckean 2020-08-25T19:06:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kate_McKean.png?v=1598407545 Book Broker – an interview with Kate McKean https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mswl 2021-02-15T10:52:16-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/mswlheader-crop_b6fb3e4e-6aef-4fa5-b8e6-56fcebbbfaaf.png?v=1598917544 Resource review: Manuscript Wish List https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-update-aug2020 2020-08-31T17:01:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_8ce9400b-30c5-4b8d-b02f-aba739dc8e9a.jpg?v=1598918174 First Page Challenge: one month left to enter! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-felicia-eth 2020-09-24T14:42:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Felicia_Eth.png?v=1599668951 Book Broker – an interview with Felicia Eth https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-emily-keyes 2022-01-23T08:42:44-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Emily_S._Keyes.jpg?v=1599867600 Book Broker – an interview with Emily S. Keyes https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-michelle-good 2020-09-14T15:30:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Michelle_Good_SMALL_4592d1fa-9003-4d78-9fca-95373e865442.jpg?v=1600121593 Success Story with Michelle Good https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-maggie-kane 2020-09-15T15:01:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Maggie_Kane.png?v=1600207280 Book Broker – an interview with Maggie Kane https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jim-hart 2020-09-19T17:53:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jim_Hart.png?v=1600562562 Book Broker – an interview with Jim Hart https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-closing-soon 2020-10-02T09:47:33-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_eecfb397-1248-4f69-84dd-cfcec7a732c3.jpg?v=1601409720 First Page Challenge is now closed https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jessica-errera 2020-10-04T14:26:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jessica_Errera.png?v=1601843796 Book Broker – an interview with Jessica Errera https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/time-and-time-again 2020-10-09T08:56:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-277458.jpg?v=1602258492 First Page Challenge, 3rd place winner: "Time. And Time Again" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/good-gravity 2020-10-09T09:23:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-skitterphoto-733.jpg?v=1602260082 First Page Challenge, 2nd place winner: "Good Gravity" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-silver-trail 2020-10-09T09:31:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-george-desipris-748626_2.jpg?v=1602260823 First Page Challenge, 1st place winner: "The Silver Trail" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc2020-results-are-in 2020-10-15T11:05:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/first_page_challenge1_64149e36-e1b9-4a78-b062-955043d728ce.jpg?v=1602262348 First Page Challenge 2020: The results are in! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/burning-down-the-house 2023-09-19T10:44:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-57461.jpg?v=1602625743 Burning Down the House https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writer-brain-reader-brain 2023-09-19T17:31:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-meo-724994.jpg?v=1602801318 Writer Brain versus Reader Brain https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-ariana-philips 2020-11-01T08:54:52-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Ariana_Philips.png?v=1603300497 Book Broker – an interview with Ariana Philips https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-stephen-fraser 2020-12-02T10:25:41-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Stephen_Fraser.png?v=1604356742 Book Broker – an interview with Stephen Fraser https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/moonbeam-congrats 2020-11-06T10:09:10-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Twitter_Banner_UNWR_Moonbeam.jpg?v=1604685947 Congrats to Tara Gilboy on her Moonbeam 2020 gold! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/an-axe-to-grind-2021-now-open 2020-11-11T10:17:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/axe2grind_de0c3993-eb8f-45bd-9791-e04aea2a650e.jpg?v=1605111642 An Axe to Grind—the annual Darling Axe flash fiction contest is back https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/equipoise-congrats 2020-11-12T10:27:04-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/atlitfestivalbio.jpg?v=1605205544 Congrats to Katie Zdybel on her publication deal! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-contests 2021-10-22T09:01:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-brett-sayles-3720483.jpg?v=1605207846 Writing contests: a list of lists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/slush3 2020-11-20T19:19:34-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/candy-color-creative-54633_c9062561-056d-483e-bece-d99e3a9c76cd.jpg?v=1605928642 Slushpile Standouts: episode three https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/notes-from-a-contest-screener 2025-06-19T19:03:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-416832.jpg?v=1750385012 How to Win a Writing Competition—notes from a contest screener https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/notes-from-a-contest-judge 2023-09-19T10:43:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-skitterphoto-15812.jpg?v=1606330570 How to Win a Writing Competition, Part Two—notes from a contest judge https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-paul-lucas 2020-12-07T16:24:17-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Paul_Lucas.png?v=1607386781 Book Broker – an interview with Paul Lucas https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-tricia-skinner 2020-12-08T10:54:01-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Tricia_Skinner.png?v=1607452683 Book Broker – an interview with Tricia Skinner https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/slush4 2020-12-09T09:32:27-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/candy-color-creative-54633_f06defe1-1d50-45f9-9a7b-28efdc063046.jpg?v=1607535092 Slushpile Standouts: episode four https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jessica-mileo 2020-12-09T10:03:29-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jessica_Mileo.png?v=1607536877 Book Broker – an interview with Jessica Mileo https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/backstory 2023-09-19T10:41:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-lennart-wittstock-316681.jpg?v=1607801799 Backstory: Handle with Care https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-melissa-flashman 2020-12-17T16:35:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Melissa_Flashman.jpg?v=1608251714 Book Broker – an interview with Melissa Flashman https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-dara-hyde 2021-01-01T12:16:14-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Dara_Hyde.png?v=1609530468 Book Broker – an interview with Dara Hyde https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/anecdotal-writing 2023-09-19T10:40:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-isaque-pereira-394377.jpg?v=1609808679 This Happened... and Then This Happened: The Dangers of Anecdotal Writing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/situation-versus-plot 2023-09-19T10:39:22-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-chase-mcbride-3731977.jpg?v=1609810909 Situation Versus Plot https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/narrative-coaching 2021-01-11T08:58:28-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Forge.jpg?v=1610303539 Narrative Coaching—what is it and who needs it https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-rachel-mann 2021-01-14T12:25:26-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Rachel_Mann.png?v=1610655432 Book Broker – an interview with Rachel Mann https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kimberley-cameron 2021-01-25T15:25:50-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kimberley_Cameron.png?v=1611615133 Book Broker – an interview with Kimberley Cameron https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-meg-davis 2021-01-26T19:46:47-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Meg_Davis.png?v=1611718396 Book Broker – an interview with Meg Davis https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/short-story-sprint 2022-03-31T08:48:19-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3756165.jpg?v=1611973441 The Short Story as a Sprint https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-anne-hawkins 2021-02-04T17:30:17-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Anne_Hawkins.png?v=1612487737 Book Broker – an interview with Anne Hawkins https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kathryn-green 2021-02-05T12:32:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kathryn_Green.png?v=1612555010 Book Broker – an interview with Kathryn Green https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/a-swim-in-a-pond-in-the-rain 2021-02-15T12:11:34-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/9781984856029.jpg?v=1613416118 Resource review: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/resource-review-twitter 2021-02-24T11:43:41-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/65QFl7B_400x400_8b20d985-ae96-4220-8fb3-70e434d6245a.png?v=1614193120 Resource Review: the #WritingCommunity on Twitter https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/query-quest-offer 2021-02-24T11:18:41-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/battle-black-blur-board-game-260024_fa7b1bda-815a-4015-b154-4cb338a523a2.jpg?v=1614194086 Query Quest now free with any query critique service https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/resource-review-pitmad 2021-02-24T11:48:31-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pitmad.jpg?v=1614195731 Resource review: #PitMad and other pitch battles https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/always-yours-bee 2021-03-31T11:32:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/mhalwaysyoursbeebookcover3d2.png?v=1614709527 Always Yours, Bee (Congrats to Mia Hayes!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-soumeya-roberts 2021-03-11T14:09:15-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Soumeya_Roberts.png?v=1615488837 Book Broker – an interview with Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/resource-review-voquent 2022-07-13T12:01:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-stas-knop-5939401.jpg?v=1615839774 Resource Review: Turning Your Book into an Audiobook https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-alice-ahab 2025-06-29T17:36:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Alice_Ahab.png?v=1751243796 Story Skeleton—Alice & Ahab https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-mary-c-moore 2021-03-30T19:26:52-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Mary_C._Moore.png?v=1617156029 Book Broker – an interview with Mary C. Moore https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/axe-to-grind-2021-closed 2021-04-01T11:39:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/axe2grind_1a25c813-e086-432c-8cec-c085132f8492.jpg?v=1617302375 An Axe to Grind—the contest is now closed https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kate-garrick 2023-01-18T15:06:30-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kate_Garrick.png?v=1617752105 Book Broker – an interview with Kate Garrick https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-denise-weimer 2021-04-17T08:24:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Denise_Weimer_fullsize.png?v=1618673078 Success Story with Denise Weimer Success Story—Denise Weimer, author of BENT TREE BRIDE, on her journey to publication https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/matched 2021-04-19T14:17:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-lisa-1024359.jpg?v=1618619868 Axe to Grind 2021—3rd place winner: "You've Matched" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/lacuna 2021-04-17T11:53:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-34107.jpg?v=1618620327 Axe to Grind 2021—2nd place winner: "Lacuna" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fair-warning 2021-04-17T11:53:30-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-yan-krukov-5215350.jpg?v=1618620625 Axe to Grind 2021—1st place winner: "Fair Warning" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/axe-to-grind-2021-contest-results 2021-05-01T19:00:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-jill-wellington-40815.jpg?v=1618867576 Axe to Grind 2021 – Contest Results https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-rj-hoffmann 2021-04-20T10:48:11-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/R.J._Hoffmann.png?v=1618940290 Success Story with R.J. Hoffmann https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/setting-webinar 2021-04-21T13:53:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-slondotpics-408503.jpg?v=1619037931 Free webinar—Setting the Stage (World-building for all genres) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-louise-fein 2021-04-26T17:52:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Louise_Fein.png?v=1619484260 Success Story with Louise Fein https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jeff-ourvan 2021-04-29T15:20:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jeff_Ourvan.png?v=1619733325 Book Broker – an interview with Jeff Ourvan https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-paula-greenlees 2021-05-04T14:55:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Paula_Greenlees.png?v=1620164433 Success Story with Paula Greenlees https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/kate-lee 2021-05-06T12:47:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kate_Lee.jpg?v=1620330019 Editor profile: Kate Lee https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-stephenia-h-mcgee 2021-05-11T12:23:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Stephenia_H._McGee.png?v=1620760577 Success Story with Stephenia H. McGee https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-elizabeth-k-kracht 2021-05-12T15:09:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Elizabeth_K._Kracht.png?v=1620763161 Book Broker – an interview with Elizabeth K. Kracht https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2021-now-on 2021-05-12T19:06:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/First_Page_Challenge_2021.jpg?v=1620871418 The First Page Challenge is now live! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-laura-gross 2021-05-26T20:02:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Laura_Gross.png?v=1620950908 Book Broker – an interview with Laura Gross https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/summer-intern-2021 2021-06-08T09:23:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-207681.jpg?v=1621963487 Free narrative assessment? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-samara-parish 2021-05-27T17:54:09-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Samara_Parish.png?v=1622163139 Success Story with Samara Parish https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-relationship-cycle 2023-09-19T17:20:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/cats.jpg?v=1622691655 How to Use the Romance Formula to Develop Friendships, Partnerships, and Rivalries https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lisa-hagan 2022-07-21T14:50:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lisa_Hagan.png?v=1622763890 Book Broker—an interview with Lisa Hagan https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/write-publish-profit 2021-06-08T12:47:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1080450_WritePublishProfit4-1080x1080_4_052621.png?v=1623174473 Write Publish Profit 4.0—an epic bundle for writers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pen-names 2021-06-17T09:38:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1.jpg?v=1623944068 Pen Names: The Why, Who, and How https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lauren-scovel 2021-06-21T15:18:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lauren_Scovel.png?v=1624313546 Book Broker – an interview with Lauren Scovel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/delete-rejections 2023-09-19T17:17:08-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-burak-kostak-14303.jpg?v=1626225081 Dear Lit Agents: “Delete Rejections” aren’t helping anyone https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-ronald-gerber 2021-07-22T14:46:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Ronald_Gerber.png?v=1626988741 Book Broker – an interview with Ronald Gerber https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-rachel-beck 2021-07-23T11:51:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Rachel_Beck.png?v=1627065995 Book Broker – an interview with Rachel Beck https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/new-contest 2021-07-24T08:24:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Battle.jpg?v=1627077053 New contest coming in October: Clash of the Query Letters https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-hannah-schofield 2021-07-24T08:49:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Hannah_Schofield.png?v=1627141636 Book Broker – an interview with Hannah Schofield https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/best-writing-contests-2021 2021-07-29T07:43:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/best-writing-contests-2021_2x_eed9ab83-b7d5-4344-9511-05ab623df470.png?v=1627569794 We made it! The best writing contests of 2021 https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-war-of-art 2023-09-19T10:38:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/61F9Drhgg3L.jpg?v=1627574170 Resource Review: The War of Art https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-pride-prejudice 2025-06-29T17:35:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Pride_and_Prejudice.jpg?v=1751243725 Story Skeleton—Pride & Prejudice Plot summary and thematic analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lauren-keller-galit 2021-08-20T07:05:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lauren_Keller_Galit.png?v=1629420055 Book Broker – an interview with Lauren Keller Galit https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/darling-indie 2022-08-22T13:52:48-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Fantasy_landscape_reddit_1200x628_6dc4a9b5-2e24-47fc-81eb-58b74f457777.jpg?v=1630368299 Darling Indie: how concept art can help authors sell books https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-whitney-ross 2021-09-08T15:15:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Whitney_Ross.png?v=1631133402 Book Broker – an interview with Whitney Ross https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-the-secret-garden 2025-06-29T17:37:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-david-bartus-325255.jpg?v=1751243866 Story Skeleton—The Secret Garden https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-closing-soon-1 2021-09-27T20:50:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/First_Page_Challenge_2021_c7d925f4-22c7-4e62-8c3e-3c349f2009a8.jpg?v=1632801035 Only a couple days left https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/publishers-marketplace 2021-09-28T10:53:34-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-danilo-ugaddan-945982.jpg?v=1632850330 Resource Review: Publishers Marketplace https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/equipoise 2021-09-28T12:06:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Equipoise-Cover-web_use.jpg?v=1632855907 Katie Zdybel's book is out soon! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/introducing-brooke 2021-09-28T12:56:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/IMG-1445.jpg?v=1632858691 Darling Indie: Introducing Brooke https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/contest-updates-sept-2021 2021-09-28T14:25:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/First_Page_Challenge_2021_fbd4b293-530c-4624-9c47-f6be20f8f649.jpg?v=1632864188 Contest updates https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lindsay-edgecombe 2021-10-09T07:49:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lindsay_Edgecombe.png?v=1633717188 Book Broker – an interview with Lindsay Edgecombe https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-leah-pierre 2021-11-01T12:37:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Leah_Pierre.png?v=1633719394 Book Broker – an interview with Leah Pierre https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-stefanie-molina 2021-10-13T16:44:15-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Stefanie_Molina.png?v=1633721054 Book Broker – an interview with Stefanie Molina https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/nanowrimo2021sale 2021-10-15T14:19:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/green_ideas.jpg?v=1633970014 Our novel outlining course is 50% off https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/optional-contest-feedback 2024-10-11T13:23:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_2022594401.jpg?v=1634086479 Optional Contest Feedback https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2021-finalists 2021-10-16T20:33:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-vitalko-1573722.jpg?v=1634431473 First Page Challenge – 2021 Finalists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/trees-monsters-and-a-ship 2021-10-20T10:00:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-hugo-magalhaes-9680581.jpg?v=1634609572 First Page Challenge 2021—3rd place winner: "Trees, Monsters, and a Ship" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/view-from-the-porch 2021-10-25T17:04:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-dennis-leinarts-1437955.jpg?v=1634609917 First Page Challenge 2021—2nd place winner: "View from the Porch" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pink-houses 2021-10-20T10:04:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-vlad-che_an-1529360.jpg?v=1634610254 First Page Challenge 2021—1st place winner: "Pink Houses" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-of-the-query-letters-on-now 2021-10-27T16:35:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Battle_d0339203-de2e-4011-8951-0e3acc9f4c51.jpg?v=1635377555 Clash of the Query Letters—on now! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-the-shining 2025-06-29T17:37:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/3440_63d0b25c-bb5c-4644-b50d-3babcd98d32d.jpg?v=1751243871 Story Skeleton—The Shining https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/cupcake-conundrum 2021-11-04T12:33:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/59355130._UY2560_SS2560.jpg?v=1636054397 Cupcake Conundrum (Congrats, Dola!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-danielle-svetcov 2021-11-22T11:40:50-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Danielle_Svetcov.png?v=1637608891 Book Broker – an interview with Danielle Svetcov https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/slushpile-standouts5 2021-11-24T09:52:28-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/one_of_a_kind.jpg?v=1637776301 Slushpile Standouts: episode five https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/meander-spiral-explode 2022-03-31T08:48:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/meander-spiral-explode-1.jpg?v=1638230172 Resource Review: Meander, Spiral, Explode https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-eric-lard 2021-12-13T17:54:52-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Eric_Lard_smaller_SITE.png?v=1639446358 Success Story with Eric Lard https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/personalization 2023-09-19T17:16:43-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-siobhan-dolezal-67603.jpg?v=1639599807 Literary agents on personalization in query letters https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-malaga-baldi 2021-12-16T08:42:32-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Malaga_Baldi.png?v=1639619303 Book Broker – an interview with Malaga Baldi https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lynn-johnston 2021-12-16T09:54:29-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lynn_Johnston.png?v=1639675986 Book Broker – an interview with Lynn Johnston https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/write-what-you-know 2021-12-18T16:42:44-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-suzy-hazelwood-3695297.jpg?v=1639798501 Write What You Know—And What You Don't https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kate-johnson 2021-12-20T10:42:09-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kate_Johnson.png?v=1639969617 Book Broker – an interview with Kate Johnson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-rach-crawford 2021-12-22T11:00:13-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Rach_Crawford.png?v=1640199401 Book Broker – an interview with Rach Crawford https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-little-women 2025-06-29T17:38:04-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/little_women_still.jpg?v=1751243884 Story Skeleton—Little Women https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-patricia-nelson 2021-12-30T10:53:10-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Patricia_Nelson.png?v=1640888114 Book Broker – an interview with Patricia Nelson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-an-interview-with-tim-wojcik 2022-01-12T10:13:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Tim_Wojcik.png?v=1641950014 Book Broker – an interview with Tim Wojcik https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/query-letter-pitch 2023-09-19T17:16:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-vlad-che_an-2694317.jpg?v=1642205260 The Power of a Pitch https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-james-maynard 2022-01-15T12:37:51-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/James_Maynard_SITE.png?v=1642274150 Success Story with James Maynard https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/devil-in-the-details 2023-09-19T10:37:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_2030910779.jpg?v=1642446977 The Devil's in the Details https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/best-writing-contests-2022 2022-02-03T11:25:05-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Untitled.png?v=1643915791 We did it again—best contests of 2022! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/artful-telling 2023-09-19T10:35:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Magic_book.jpg?v=1644276751 Showing IS Telling, but with Style https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jill-marsal 2022-02-08T17:45:40-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jill_Marsal.png?v=1644370939 Book Broker – an interview with Jill Marsal https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/comp-titles 2023-09-19T17:15:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-ryutaro-tsukata-5472355.jpg?v=1644445708 Literary agents on comparable titles https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-2022-third 2022-02-11T17:09:44-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-51340.jpg?v=1644628184 Clash of the Query Letters 2022—3rd Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-2022-second 2022-02-11T17:21:15-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-mingche-lee-6148367.jpg?v=1644628856 Clash of the Query Letters 2022—2nd Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-2022-first 2022-02-14T11:32:16-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-charles-parker-5859666.jpg?v=1644629754 Clash of the Query Letters 2022—1st place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-paige-wheeler 2022-02-21T14:55:49-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Paige_Wheeler.png?v=1645483296 Book Broker – an interview with Paige Wheeler https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/five-inspiring-books 2022-03-01T13:31:47-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-261821.jpg?v=1646170095 Five Inspiring Books about Creative Writing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/picture-book-length 2022-07-29T15:15:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-marta-wave-6437458.jpg?v=1646259824 Little Darlings—How long should a picture book be? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/bear-came-over-the-mountain 2025-06-29T17:37:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-rasmus-svinding-35435.jpg?v=1751243877 Story Skeleton—The Bear Came Over the Mountain https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/proofreading-service 2022-03-15T15:28:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/DA_Original_PNG_Reduced.png?v=1647383202 Our "new and improved" proofreading service https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/blame-hollywood 2023-09-19T10:37:14-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-kat-smith-568027.jpg?v=1647908334 Making the Agents Cry: Unwrapping Our Writer Delusions https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lindsay-guzzardo 2022-03-24T18:33:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lindsay_Guzzardo.png?v=1648171672 Book Broker – an interview with Lindsay Guzzardo https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-stargirl 2025-06-29T17:38:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/stargirl_104611de-999d-420c-9622-8564888ca68f.jpg?v=1751243890 Story Skeleton—Stargirl https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/prepping-for-an-editor 2024-08-26T19:51:18-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-273230.jpg?v=1650985923 Five Things to Do in Preparation for Working with an Editor https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/george-saunders-story-club 2022-05-06T09:06:45-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/d61ca6ce-c11e-4f36-b356-3f781faf4fd5_875x625_a0164d3c-3d98-4e2b-abc2-97194e5dec4b.png?v=1651852743 Resource Review: George Saunders' Story Club Substack https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/equipoise-nomination 2022-05-09T17:16:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/FOzhs4cXwAI7nQ6.jpg?v=1652141813 Equipoise award nomination 🤩 https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/five-querying-strategies 2024-08-26T19:47:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-george-becker-131616.jpg?v=1652746750 5 Strategies for Finding Literary Agents to Query https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-sandra-sawicka 2022-07-21T14:50:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sandra_Sawicka.png?v=1653002405 Book Broker—an interview with Sandra Sawicka https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-victoria-skurnick 2022-07-21T14:50:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Victoria_Skurnick.png?v=1653190311 Book Broker—an interview with Victoria Skurnick https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-where-are-you-going 2025-06-29T17:38:15-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/smooth-1_0f12b11c-6e9b-48ec-8a59-c140f2d2332e.jpg?v=1751243895 Story Skeleton—Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-first-page-challenge-2022 2022-06-01T13:20:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-6255149.jpg?v=1654114859 The First Page Challenge is back! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-imogen-pelham 2022-07-21T14:49:52-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Imogen_Pelham.png?v=1654123423 Book Broker—an interview with Imogen Pelham https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-beth-marshea 2022-07-21T14:50:04-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Beth_Marshea.png?v=1655256311 Book Broker—an interview with Beth Marshea https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-gauntlet-beta-readers 2022-06-15T14:33:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-gladson-xavier-59197.jpg?v=1655327071 The Gauntlet: Beta Readers (new service!) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish-2022-third 2022-06-25T16:21:19-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-andrea-piacquadio-3796802.jpg?v=1656031225 The Synopsis Skirmish 2022—3rd place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish-2022-second 2022-06-25T16:29:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-208326.jpg?v=1656031521 The Synopsis Skirmish 2022—2nd place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish-2022-first 2022-06-27T11:16:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/orange_truck.jpg?v=1656032457 The Synopsis Skirmish 2022—1st place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-jordan-tuck 2022-06-30T18:23:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/fireworks.jpg?v=1656638534 Congrats to Jordan Tuck https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/self-edit 2023-09-19T13:03:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/self-edit_your_novel.jpg?v=1695153747 How to self-edit your novel like a pro How to self-edit your novel or short story like a professional editor https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/should-you-pay-for-beta-readers 2024-05-01T15:17:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/paid_beta_reader.jpg?v=1657408070 Should you pay for beta readers? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-dv-berkom 2022-07-11T16:33:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/2.jpg?v=1657582037 Congrats to DV Berkom! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-time-kidlit 2022-07-21T11:25:14-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/like_sands_through_the_hourglass.jpg?v=1658345947 Little Darlings—Time-crafting in children's fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kevin-oconnor 2022-08-02T12:02:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kevin_O_Connor.png?v=1658441184 Book Broker—an interview with Kevin O'Connor https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-lost-kings 2022-07-28T15:14:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/the_lost_kings_2.jpg?v=1659046162 Congrats to Tyrell Johnson! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/kidlit 2022-07-29T13:23:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/dino_books.jpg?v=1659126089 KidLit Editing Services https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-cece-lyra 2022-07-30T14:46:31-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Cecilia_CeCe_Lyra.png?v=1659217258 Book Broker—an interview with Cecilia (CeCe) Lyra https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/give-us-a-review-win-a-free-critique 2022-07-30T15:14:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Chest_of_gold.jpg?v=1659219189 Give us a review, win a free critique https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-tara-gelsomino 2022-08-04T15:53:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Tara_Gelsomino.png?v=1659652419 Book Broker—an interview with Tara Gelsomino https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/why-middle-grade 2022-08-10T17:04:04-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/unwritten.webp?v=1660176200 Little Darlings: "Why I Write Middle Grade" https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-eric-myers 2022-08-11T16:58:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Eric_Myers.png?v=1660261445 Book Broker—an interview with Eric Myers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/animals-or-children 2022-08-16T08:38:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/cat_wearing_a_damn_tie.jpg?v=1660623378 Little Darlings: Should your picture book characters be animals or children? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jared-johnson 2022-08-17T13:38:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jared_Johnson.png?v=1660768068 Book Broker—an interview with Jared Johnson https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-cover-design 2022-08-19T11:50:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-ready-made-3847641.jpg?v=1660934319 You’ve Got This Covered: Four Tips (and One Important Truth) to Great Book Cover Design https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/find-a-literary-agent-or-self-publish 2023-09-19T13:06:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/books.jpg?v=1663285472 Should you find a literary agent or self publish your novel? (Pssst—there’s a third option) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-dialogue 2024-08-26T19:49:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Cat_yells_3.jpg?v=1664426666 Five Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Dialogue https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-cafe-sophia 2022-09-30T14:22:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/OnePageBookCoverImage.jpg?v=1664572873 Congrats to M.A. Alsadah! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2022-closed 2022-10-01T08:18:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/FPC_c1f59172-c81c-4af2-a6b5-c045d171870e.jpg?v=1664637463 The First Page Challenge is now closed https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/first-page-challenge-2022-shortlist 2022-10-04T16:07:31-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/FPC.jpg?v=1664903472 FPC 2022: The Shortlist https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2022-third 2022-10-05T18:40:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Stairs.jpg?v=1665018268 The First Page Challenge 2022—3rd place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2022-first 2022-10-06T09:14:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/mutton_curry.jpg?v=1665019931 The First Page Challenge 2022—1st place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2022-second 2022-10-05T18:33:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/ultrasound.jpg?v=1665019208 The First Page Challenge 2022—2nd place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/how-to-write-first-chapter 2023-09-19T13:06:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Grip_Rope.jpg?v=1665603493 Setup Is Not Stasis: How to Write a Gripping First Chapter https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/interview-joanna-mackenzie 2022-10-18T18:29:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Joanna_MacKenzie.png?v=1666142514 Book Broker—an interview with Joanna MacKenzie https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-vida 2022-10-31T13:01:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Song-of-the-Mango-Front-Cover.webp?v=1667245414 Congrats to Vida Cruz-Borja! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writers-block 2023-09-19T10:34:18-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Locked.jpg?v=1667959136 Writer's Block—Myths & Realities https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-adria-goetz 2022-11-16T16:49:05-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Adria_Goetz.jpg?v=1668395816 Book Broker—an interview with Adria Goetz https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/rolling-stones 2023-09-19T10:33:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Guit.jpg?v=1668560089 Everything I Know About Writing I Learned from the Rolling Stones https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/picture-book-idea 2022-11-18T08:44:47-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/How_to_come_up_with_a_picture_book_idea_reduced.jpg?v=1668729627 Little Darlings: Will your idea work as a picture book? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/great-gatsby-plot-analysis 2025-06-29T17:36:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Gatsby_reduced.jpg?v=1751243809 Story Skeleton—The Great Gatsby https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/interview-stephanie-winter 2022-11-22T12:46:29-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Stephanie_Winter.png?v=1669145591 Book Broker—an interview with Stephanie Winter https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-routine 2023-09-19T10:33:27-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/routine.jpg?v=1670029969 Workaday Writer: The Importance of Routine https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-problem-with-plot-points 2023-09-19T17:09:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/plot_points.jpg?v=1670292634 The problem with plot points https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-jana-floyd 2022-12-06T12:10:31-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1.2_Christmas_in_Paradise_Valley_E-Book_Cover.jpg?v=1670357384 Congrats to Jana Floyd! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/find-your-why 2023-09-19T10:33:15-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/why_smaller.jpg?v=1670382573 Find Your Why https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/inciting-incidents 2023-09-19T10:32:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/begin.jpg?v=1670466333 Why Today? The Importance of an Inciting Incident https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/reading-deliberately 2023-09-19T10:32:48-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/reading.jpg?v=1670558809 Reading Deliberately https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/save-the-cat 2023-09-19T13:07:15-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/cat.jpg?v=1670643457 Is Save the Cat! for lazy novelists? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/world-building 2024-10-06T19:02:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Fantasy_landscape_2.jpg?v=1670698049 Building a Fictional World: A Novelist's Guide https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/history-of-pov 2023-09-19T13:06:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_History_of_POV_Point_of_View.jpg?v=1673902572 Who Killed the Omniscient Narrator? A Brief History of POV https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-darlene-chan 2023-01-24T15:36:02-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Darlene_Chan.png?v=1674602287 Book Broker—an interview with Darlene Chan https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-rita-rosenkranz 2023-01-26T08:29:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Rita_Rosenkranz.png?v=1674699440 Book Broker—an interview with Rita Rosenkranz https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pacing 2023-09-19T10:31:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/super_highway.jpg?v=1674779378 Building a Novel: Scenes, Chapters, and Pacing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish2023 2023-01-30T17:26:45-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Knight_Girl.jpg?v=1675128405 The Synopsis Skirmish is on! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-samantha-fabien 2023-01-30T17:51:26-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Samantha_Fabien.png?v=1675129240 Book Broker—an interview with Samantha Fabien https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mfa 2023-09-19T10:30:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Do_authors_need_an_MFA.jpg?v=1675730587 Do I need an MFA to be a writer? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/character-versus-plot 2024-11-08T12:49:14-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/heart.jpg?v=1675917561 The Heart of Fiction: Character versus Plot https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-2023-third-place 2023-02-14T14:04:39-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Don_t_Say_Anything_by_Claudette_Manzanares.jpg?v=1676057711 Clash of the Query Letters 2023—3rd Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-2023-second 2023-02-12T07:18:25-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Strong_query_letter_example.jpg?v=1676059678 Clash of the Query Letters 2023—2nd Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/clash-2023-first 2023-02-12T07:20:35-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/query_letter_examples.jpg?v=1676061134 Clash of the Query Letters 2023—1st Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-the-catcher-in-the-rye 2025-06-29T17:38:30-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Catcher_in_the_Rye_Plot_Points.jpg?v=1751243910 Story Skeleton—The Catcher in the Rye https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/theme-symbolism 2023-09-19T10:28:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Skull_and_cigar--literary_symbols.jpg?v=1676937953 Smoke and Sentiment—Theme and Symbolism in Creative Writing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/after-yes 2023-09-19T10:28:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Yes--you_have_sold_a_manuscript.jpg?v=1677030265 What happens after YES? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-alyssa-maltese 2023-02-28T19:07:13-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Alyssa_Maltese.png?v=1677639921 Book Broker—an interview with Alyssa Maltese https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/commercial-vs-literary-fiction 2023-09-19T10:28:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Commercial_vs_literary_fiction.jpg?v=1677808542 Is it Commercial or is it Literary? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-setting-middle-grade 2023-03-03T08:08:27-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/setting_middle_grade.jpg?v=1677813036 Little Darlings: Real-World Story Setting in Middle Grade Fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/comp-title-stress 2023-09-19T13:05:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Querying_Comparable_Comp_Titles.jpg?v=1678220574 Don’t Stress Over Comp Titles https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-anne-of-green-gables 2025-06-29T17:38:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Anne_of_Green_Gables.jpg?v=1751243917 Story Skeleton: Anne of Green Gables https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/first-impression-book-cover 2023-03-27T12:55:47-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/book_cover_design_example_for_self-publishing_authors_and_writers.jpg?v=1678832419 The Power of First Impressions: How Your Book Cover Can Make or Break Your Sales https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/head-hopping 2023-09-19T13:04:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Head_Hopping_in_Fiction.jpg?v=1679535403 Mind the Gap: The Unsettling Effects of Head Hopping in Fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/three-act-hero-journey 2023-09-19T10:26:01-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/heroins_journey.jpg?v=1679703589 The Hero’s Journey Versus Three-Act Structure https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/two-pillars-of-storytelling 2023-09-19T12:50:19-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Two_Pillars_of_Storytelling.jpg?v=1679764442 The Two Pillars of Storytelling https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/narrative-goal 2023-09-19T12:47:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/choosing_a_narrative_goal.jpg?v=1680052985 Quest or Quarry: Crafting a compelling narrative goal https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/filter-words 2023-03-29T08:32:13-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Filter_words_in_fiction.jpg?v=1680103653 Unfiltered Narrative: Strengthen Your Fiction by Minimizing Filter Words https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/avoiding-burnout 2023-09-19T10:41:22-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Burnout_for_Writers.jpg?v=1681785830 Avoiding Burnout: How to Write Happily Ever After https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indie-insight-cj-adrien 2023-04-18T18:27:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The-Saga-of-Hasting-the-Avenger.png?v=1681867444 Indie Insight with C.J. Adrien https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/whw-giveaway 2023-05-01T13:31:15-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/writershelpingwriters_logo_300x300px_final.webp?v=1682692612 Giveaway: a 5000-word critique by Michelle Barker (and more) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-with-tanya-bellehumeur-allatt 2023-04-28T09:23:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Tanya_Bellehumeur-Allatt.png?v=1682698704 Success Story with Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-around-the-kids 2023-04-29T09:20:07-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/logo.png?v=1682785087 Writing Around the Kids—podcast episode with Kate Lee https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indie-insight-chris-wimpress 2023-04-30T18:00:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Weeks_in_Naviras.webp?v=1682902836 Indie Insight with Chris Wimpress https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/sonnysblues 2023-12-27T18:39:52-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sonny_s_Blues_Plot_Analysis.jpg?v=1683601724 Story Skeleton—Sonny’s Blues https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-vogel 2023-05-15T16:13:09-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Nikki_Vogel.png?v=1684191970 Success Story with Nikki Vogel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indie-insight-with-dv-berkom 2023-05-18T13:35:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/b522cf_f1bae6c3ab7b481796b8ab8e15b43a8b_mv2.webp?v=1684442014 Indie Insight with DV Berkom https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pomodoro-for-writers 2025-05-03T19:09:09-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/pexels-pixabay-219712.jpg?v=1746324549 Pomodoro Power: Unlock Your Writing Potential One Tomato at a Time The pomodoro is a great technique for writers struggling with productivity and staying on task https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-max-sinsheimer 2023-05-25T12:17:47-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Max_Sinsheimer.png?v=1684986372 Book Broker—an interview with Max Sinsheimer https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-cloud-cuckoo-land 2025-04-28T17:19:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/cloud_cuckoo_land.jpg?v=1745885969 Story Skeleton—Cloud Cuckoo Land Narrative analysis and plot points of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-charlotte-wenger 2023-05-26T13:24:54-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Charlotte_Wenger.png?v=1685131826 Book Broker—an interview with Charlotte Wenger https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-sam-copeland 2023-05-27T13:15:54-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sam_Copeland.png?v=1685206861 Book Broker—an interview with Sam Copeland https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indie-insight-aleatha-romig 2023-06-04T08:02:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/red_sin.webp?v=1685890737 Indie Insight with Aleatha Romig https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jill-marr 2023-06-26T15:12:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jill_Marr.png?v=1687572587 Book Broker—an interview with Jill Marr https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish-2023-third 2023-06-08T08:07:04-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Graverobber.jpg?v=1686236495 The Synopsis Skirmish 2023—3rd Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish-2023-second 2023-06-08T08:25:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/prana_project.jpg?v=1686237709 The Synopsis Skirmish 2023—2nd Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/skirmish-2023-first 2023-06-08T08:45:33-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Gatekeepers.jpg?v=1686238993 The Synopsis Skirmish 2023—1st Place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-rachel-altemose 2023-06-17T16:14:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Rachel_Altemose.png?v=1687043222 Book Broker—an interview with Rachel Altemose https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-ameerah-holliday 2023-06-18T11:52:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Ameerah_Holliday.png?v=1687049009 Book Broker—an interview with Ameerah Holliday https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/prologue-prejudice 2024-09-29T14:40:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_592150196.jpg?v=1687564267 Prologue Prejudice: the good, the bad, and the rejected https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/discover-the-editor-in-you 2023-07-05T11:23:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/61sbIKfdFqL._AC_UF1000_1000_QL80.jpg?v=1688581417 Congrats to Dola! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-sera-rivers 2023-07-05T12:08:07-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sera_Rivers.png?v=1688582419 Book Broker—an interview with Sera Rivers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indie-insight-felix-i-d-dimaro 2023-07-10T13:09:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/unnamed_2.png?v=1689018980 Indie Insight with Felix I.D. Dimaro https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/trad-or-self-pub 2023-09-19T12:45:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/unrealistic.jpg?v=1689211124 Should Editors Dissuade Their Clients from Traditional Publishing If It Seems Unrealistic? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writing-retreat-2024 2023-07-28T16:31:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/5119227095_331b9795fa_k.jpg?v=1690585350 Writing Retreat: It was a dark and stormy night... https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/indie-insight-with-kate-gateley 2023-07-28T20:54:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/71RFzQTYljL._AC_UL600_SR600_600.jpg?v=1690602594 Indie Insight with Kate Gateley https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pillars-pre-orders 2023-08-01T12:36:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/3d_png.png?v=1690918575 Immersion and Emotion—Pre-orders Coming Soon https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/five-free-webinars 2023-08-01T13:11:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/darling_axe_smaller.jpg?v=1690920284 Five free webinars https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/hook 2023-09-19T12:42:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/hook.jpg?v=1693962103 Between the Lines: How to Write a Strong Story Hook https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/preorder-pillars 2023-08-30T11:00:01-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/3d.jpg?v=1693418394 Immersion & Emotion is now available for pre-order https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/retreat-update-2024 2023-08-30T11:22:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/a24cee08f3d9264ccfbf1571831ebb62.jpg?v=1693419154 Writing Retreat UPDATE: It was a dark and stormy night... https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/kidlit-character-prompts 2024-08-26T19:39:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/sock_monster.jpg?v=1693509836 Five Prompts for Writing Relatable Characters in Children’s Stories https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/launched 2023-09-06T17:51:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Not_a_Bookmark1.png?v=1693960412 Book: launched! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-jane-eyre 2025-07-26T19:27:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jane_Eyre_59f7f451-63eb-483a-9f59-62a029954771.png?v=1753583248 Story Skeleton—Jane Eyre https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/foreshadowing 2023-09-14T18:58:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Foreshadowing.jpg?v=1694197302 Foreshadowing: The Shape of Things to Come https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/awkwardness 2023-09-14T18:59:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Awkwardness.jpg?v=1694738654 Awkwardness: The Novelist's Secret Weapon https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/giveaway 2023-09-25T15:27:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/bonus.jpg?v=1695679419 Goodreads Giveaway: Immersion & Emotion https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/stakes 2023-09-27T14:13:30-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Stakes.jpg?v=1695847715 Who Cares?! The importance of stakes in fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2023-pending 2023-10-03T09:34:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/FPC3.png?v=1696172717 The First Page Challenge 2023—results coming soon https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2023-3rd 2023-10-09T12:44:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/100_year_flood_by_Nicole_Brooks.jpg?v=1696712996 The First Page Challenge 2023—3rd place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2023-2nd 2023-10-08T07:47:15-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Willoughby_by_Donna_Tracy.jpg?v=1696714142 The First Page Challenge 2023—2nd place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2023-1st 2023-10-07T14:42:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Bobici_House_Hannah_Croft.jpg?v=1696714946 The First Page Challenge 2023—1st place https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-animal-farm 2025-07-26T20:03:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Animal_Farm.jpg?v=1753585439 Story Skeleton—Animal Farm https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/surviving-nanowrimo 2023-11-02T16:57:22-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/NaNoWriMo2024.jpg?v=1698969337 50,000 Words Later: Surviving NaNoWriMo https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/why-darling-axe 2025-05-14T12:40:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/darling_axe_1200x628_e587dd60-f3f7-4a8a-8086-9ea096624906.jpg?v=1747251658 Why We Named Ourselves the Darling Axe https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/memoir 2023-11-08T18:18:24-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_memoirist_s_mirror.jpg?v=1699496283 How (and Why) to Structure Your Memoir Like a Bestselling Novel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/upmarket-book-club-literary 2025-09-08T15:31:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/upmarket_vs_book_club.jpg?v=1757370665 What the Heck is the Difference Between Literary, Upmarket, and Book Club Fiction? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/malheur 2023-12-11T18:51:09-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/81hEa8MTlHL._SY466.jpg?v=1702349336 Congrats to CJ Adrien https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/1984 2025-06-29T17:35:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1984_Plot_Analysis.jpg?v=1751243751 Story Skeleton—1984 Plot point analysis of 1984 by George Orwell: narrative summary and story structure https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-alchemist 2025-06-29T17:35:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Alchemist.jpg?v=1751243758 Story Skeleton—The Alchemist A narrative analysis of the plot points and story structure in Pablo Coelho's THE ALCHEMIST https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/lessons-in-chemistry 2025-03-15T17:20:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/abiogenesis_LESSONS_IN_CHEMISTRY_story_skeleton.jpg?v=1742084405 Story Skeleton—Lessons in Chemistry Plot point analysis of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Bonnie Garmus https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/infodumps 2024-01-05T20:55:26-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/infodump_in_fiction.jpg?v=1704515598 The Trouble with Infodumps Infodumps in fiction: good or bad? Should you avoid them? 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https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wuthering-heights 2026-02-25T13:29:08-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Wuthering_Heights_Story_Skeleton.jpg?v=1772054948 Story Skeleton—Wuthering Heights Summary and analysis of the plot points in Bronte's Wuthering Heights https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/internal-conflict 2025-03-15T17:16:25-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/internal_conflict_42cab1f7-b294-49b4-a288-d04666ddd8e2.jpg?v=1742084185 Inside Job: Transforming Characters Through Internal Conflict https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/to-the-lighthouse 2026-04-25T16:11:22-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/To_the_Lighthouse_WOOLF.jpg?v=1777158682 Story Skeleton—To the Lighthouse https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-eva-scalzo 2024-03-21T19:26:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Eva_Scalzo.png?v=1710792831 Book Broker: an interview with Eva Scalzo https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-melissa-edwards 2024-03-21T19:26:53-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Melissa_Edwards_Interview.png?v=1711074232 Book Broker: an interview with Melissa Edwards Interview with literary agent Melissa Edwards https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/memoir-vs-autofiction 2024-03-30T18:24:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/autofiction_-_conrado.jpg?v=1711143453 Truth in Fiction's Clothing: The Subtle Distinctions Between Memoir & Autofiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-is-back 2024-04-03T16:54:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/FPC3_3279fa4d-7ef9-4f28-9940-13545f1d31a0.png?v=1711942639 Flip Flop: The First Page Challenge is BACK! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-bell-jar 2025-07-26T19:42:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Bell_Jar_2_--_Yunaco.jpg?v=1753584160 Story Skeleton—The Bell Jar https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-laura-strachan 2024-04-03T20:51:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Laura_Strachan.png?v=1712202270 Book Broker: an interview with Laura Strachan Book Broker: an interview with literary agent Laura Strachan https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/of-mice-and-men 2025-03-28T21:34:05-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Of_Mice_and_Men.jpg?v=1743222845 Story Skeleton—Of Mice and Men A plot analysis and summary of Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/alpha-beta-reader 2024-05-10T08:10:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Alpha_vs_Beta.jpg?v=1714601771 What's the Difference Between an Alpha Reader and a Beta Reader? What's the difference between an alpha reader and a beta reader? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-levie 2024-05-21T06:40:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/61jz64wRdZL._SL1499.jpg?v=1716298787 Congrats to Allen Levie: #1 new release on Amazon https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-scarlet-letter 2025-06-29T17:36:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Scarlet_Letter_3cb85aaf-155d-47d6-ae10-33b1110034fe.jpg?v=1751243802 Story Skeleton—The Scarlet Letter https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/dorian-gray 2025-06-29T17:35:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Dorian_Gray.jpg?v=1751243732 Story Skeleton—The Picture of Dorian Gray Analysis and summary of plot points and narrative structure in Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/rainforest-writing-retreat 2024-08-02T12:18:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Photo625910_5f3fc17d-f49a-4763-9a3b-0a82490a7555.jpg?v=1717092579 Rainforest Writing Retreat Linwood House on the Sunshine Coast: A great place for a Canadian writers retreat in February! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/word-heading-styles 2024-06-10T19:28:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/MS_WORD_Styles.jpg?v=1718044676 The Importance of Heading Styles in Microsoft Word: A Guide for Novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-geography 2025-06-17T21:34:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/world-building_questionnaire_-_geography_and_environment.jpg?v=1750221299 World-Building Questionnaire: Geography and Environment World-building questionnaire for geography, ecology, and environment https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-government 2025-06-17T21:38:38-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/world-building_questionnaire_-_government_and_politics.jpg?v=1750221518 World-Building Questionnaire: Government and Politics World-Building Questionnaire: Government, Politics, Laws, Legal, Powers, Freedoms https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-economy 2024-10-06T19:04:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/WB_Economy.jpg?v=1719885105 World-Building Questionnaire: Economy and Trade World-Building Questionnaire: economy, trade, money, currency, bartering, property https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-customs 2024-10-06T19:05:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/WB_Daily_Life_Customs.jpg?v=1721967498 World-Building Questionnaire: Daily Life and Customs World-Building Questionnaire: Daily Life and Customs https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-religion 2024-10-06T19:04:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/WB_Religion.jpg?v=1723755490 World-Building Questionnaire: Religion and Belief Systems World-Building Questionnaire: Religion and Belief Systems https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-history 2025-06-17T21:31:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/History_and_Current_Events_-_world_building_questionnaire.jpg?v=1750221086 World-Building Questionnaire: History and Current Events https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-communication 2024-10-06T19:04:10-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/WB_Language_Comm.jpg?v=1725483943 World-Building Questionnaire: Language and Communication World-Building Questionnaire: Language and Communication https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/wb-tech-magic 2024-10-06T19:04:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/WB_Tech_and_Magic.jpg?v=1725484572 World-Building Questionnaire: Technology and Magic World-Building Questionnaire: Technology and Magic https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/madame-bovary 2025-07-26T19:18:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Madame_Bovary.jpg?v=1753582700 Story Skeleton—Madame Bovary Plot point breakdown and structural analysis and summary of MADAME BOVARY by Gustave Flaubert https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-suzy-evans 2024-07-22T17:20:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Suzy_Evans.png?v=1721347047 Book Broker: an interview with Suzy Evans Interview with Suzy Evans, literary agent, for querying tips and advice and manuscript wish list (#MSWL) suggestions https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-combemale 2024-07-22T18:39:12-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Christopher_Combemale.png?v=1721694924 Book Broker: an interview with Christopher Combemale Book Broker—an interview with literary agent Christopher Combemale from Sterling Lord Literistic Agency—query letter tips and manuscript wish list suggestions (#MSWL) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/2025-retreat-sold-out 2024-08-02T14:05:18-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_1499123462_720.jpg?v=1722632682 Sunshine Coast Writing Retreat: SOLD OUT! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/as-i-lay-dying 2025-07-26T19:46:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/As_I_lay_dying.jpg?v=1753584395 Story Skeleton—As I Lay Dying A narrative analysis of William Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING with a summary of the novel's plot points https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-lester-patrick 2024-08-14T17:54:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/71xN4sNJPfL._SL1499.jpg?v=1723683266 Congrats to Lester Patrick! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/giovannis-room 2025-06-29T17:35:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Giovanni_s_Room.jpg?v=1751243741 Story Skeleton—Giovanni's Room A narrative analysis and plot point summary of Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lisa-vance 2024-08-20T19:55:44-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lisa_Erbach_Vance.png?v=1724208418 Book Broker: an interview with Lisa Erbach Vance https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/middlemarch 2025-06-29T17:34:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Middlemarch_by_George_Eliot.jpg?v=1751243691 Story Skeleton—Middlemarch A plot point analysis of Middlemarch by George Eliot (narrative and structural summary) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/old-man-and-the-sea 2025-06-29T17:37:30-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Old_Man_and_the_Sea_520x500_c68c0e98-a3af-424b-b8da-eda9dd2c7ea8.jpg?v=1751243850 Story Skeleton—The Old Man and the Sea Summary and analysis of narrative structure and plot point in Ernest Hemingway's Old Man and the Sea https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/zoom-out 2024-09-17T21:04:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Zoom_Out_Zoom_In.jpg?v=1726630809 Setting the Scene: Zoom Out Before You Zoom In Setting the Scene: Zoom Out Before You Zoom In (for creative writers of fiction) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/call-of-the-wild 2025-07-26T19:11:24-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Call_of_the_Wild_4451ff16-03a4-4120-82ab-a5a901911b27.jpg?v=1753582284 Story Skeleton—The Call of the Wild Structural summary and plot point analysis of THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/under-the-family-tree 2024-10-08T09:14:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/71Ll5LdhZkL._SL1360.jpg?v=1728404086 Just released: Under the Family Tree UNDER THE FAMILY TREE by Gary Feinstein https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2024-3rd 2024-10-12T09:09:07-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/House_of_Hunger.jpg?v=1728501607 The First Page Challenge 2024—3rd place First page of HOUSE OF HUNGER by Michelle Sanchez, 3rd place winner of the First Page Challenge writing contest by Darling Axe Editing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2024-2nd 2024-10-12T09:09:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Jaguar_Dreams_of_Water.jpg?v=1728503110 The First Page Challenge 2024—2nd place Second place winner of the 2024 FIRST PAGE CHALLENGE, The Jaguar Dreams of Water by David Hutto, a writing contest for novelists by Darling Axe Editing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2024-1st 2024-10-12T09:09:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Fill_Your_Pockets_with_Stones.jpg?v=1728503087 The First Page Challenge 2024—1st place Fill Your Pockets with Stones by Liam Keller, winner of the 2024 First Page Challenge, a writing contest for novelists by Darling Axe Editing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/questionnaire-backstory 2024-11-04T09:16:47-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Character_questionnaire--backstory.jpg?v=1730389954 Character Questionnaire: Backstory Character questionnaire for authors--developing your protagonist's backstory https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/questionnaire-motivation 2024-11-04T09:20:26-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Character_questionnaire_psychology.jpg?v=1730735649 Character Questionnaire: Psychology and Motivation Character questionnaire about motivation for writers, authors, and novelists (how to plan a protagonist) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/questionnaire-relationships 2024-11-04T09:20:04-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Character_questionnaire_relationships.jpg?v=1730737022 Character Questionnaire: Relationship Arcs Character relationship questionnaire for planning your book—for writers, authors, and novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/questionnaire-strengths 2024-11-06T21:50:32-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Character_questionnaire--strengths_and_flaws.jpg?v=1730737641 Character Questionnaire: Strengths and Flaws Character questionnaire on strengths and flaws for writers, authors, and novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/questionnaire-voice 2024-11-06T21:53:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/character_questionnaire--voice_and_expression.jpg?v=1730738098 Character Questionnaire: Voice and Expression Character questionnaire for developing your protagonist's voice https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/minor-character-questionnaire 2024-11-07T22:19:28-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/minor_character_questionnaire.jpg?v=1730738526 Minor Character Questionnaire Minor character questionnaire: a how-to tool for developing secondary characters in your novel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-godfather 2025-07-26T20:13:55-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Godfather_Plot_Points.jpg?v=1753586035 Story Skeleton—The Godfather Structural analysis and plot point summary of THE GODFATHER by Mario Puzo https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/heart-of-darkness 2025-07-26T19:24:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Heart_of_Darkness_81bde1b3-a6f0-4bf8-9c69-749c3dae82eb.jpg?v=1753583057 Story Skeleton—Heart of Darkness Plot point breakdown and structural summary of HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad using the hero's journey https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-angela-douglas 2024-11-14T13:00:31-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/EveryFall_AngelaDouglas.png?v=1731617323 Congrats to Angela Douglas! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kesia-lupo 2024-11-16T20:27:58-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kesia_Lupo.png?v=1731787037 Book Broker: an interview with Kesia Lupo An interview with literary agent Kesia Lupo, with querying tips and manuscript wish list (#MSWL) suggestions https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/brideshead-revisited 2025-07-26T20:23:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Brideshead.jpg?v=1753586583 Story Skeleton—Brideshead Revisited A plot point analysis and structural summary of Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh for writers and novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-jane-fawley 2024-11-24T14:01:12-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/cover-final.jpg?v=1732484922 Congrats to Jane Fawley! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-kim-lindman 2024-11-25T19:50:54-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Kim_Lindman.png?v=1732592241 Book Broker: an interview with Kim Lindman An interview with literary agent Kim Lindman from STONESONG Agency https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-margaret-mantor 2024-11-27T13:35:30-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Air-and-Ashes.jpg?v=1732743323 Congrats to Margaret Mantor! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-hattie-grunewald 2024-11-27T17:44:22-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Hattie_Grunewald.png?v=1732756485 Book Broker: an interview with Hattie Grunewald Interview with literary agent Hattie Grunewald from The Blair Partnership. Query letter tips and manuscript wish list (#MSWL) suggestions https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-cj 2024-12-01T12:19:20-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/81mq_1iq_bL._SL1500.jpg?v=1733084315 Congrats to C.J. Adrien! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/voice-and-pov 2025-03-15T17:15:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/voice_and_pov_520x500_22821ee3-5762-40b7-a073-90fcbef60efb.jpg?v=1742084132 The Intersection of Voice and POV The Intersection of voice and POV—a lens that the narrator sees the world through https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/cover-reveal-ss 2025-01-02T10:33:21-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/3d_59d46dbe-9f27-45d7-9bf9-fd0508633a83.jpg?v=1735842698 Cover Reveal! Story Skeleton: The Classics -- cover reveal https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/hound-of-the-baskervilles 2025-03-20T20:05:08-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Hound_of_the_Baskervilles_-_Liukov.jpg?v=1742526308 Story Skeleton—The Hound of the Baskervilles Plot-point summary and structural breakdown of the Sherlock Holmes novel Hound of the Baskervilles (Doyle) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/kimm-topping 2025-01-16T18:05:26-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Success_Story_Kim_Topping.png?v=1737079526 Success Story with Kimm Topping Kim Topping, from aspiring memoirist to author of Generation Queer, represented by agent Lauren Scovel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/hadley-sorensen 2025-01-16T20:27:52-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Hadley_Sorensen_a69ce31f-78e1-4da0-be50-71cfff430ecd.png?v=1737088072 Success Story with Hadley Sorensen https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/adventure-of-the-dancing-men 2025-03-20T20:19:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/adventure_of_the_dancing_men_fbe2e24e-20e8-4605-9afc-d0910a22dc1c.jpg?v=1742527197 Story Skeleton—The Adventure of the Dancing Men Story skeleton: a plot-break breakdown and structural analysis of ADVENTURE OF THE DANCING MEN by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/goodreads-giveaway-skeleton1 2025-01-20T15:19:38-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Goodreads_Giveaway_2.png?v=1737415178 Enter our Goodreads Giveaway Goodreads Giveaway from STORY SKELETON: THE CLASSICS by David Griffin Brown and Michelle Barker https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-ruth-ellen-millard 2025-01-22T19:58:19-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1729024300.png?v=1737604699 Congrats to Ruth Ellen Millard! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/where-romance-meets-plot 2025-01-22T20:52:42-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Where_Romance_Meets_Plot_-_Valeriy_Kachaev.jpg?v=1737607962 The Happily Ever Arc: Where Romance Meets Plot How to plot and structure a romance novel with plot points https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/narrative-context 2025-02-03T13:43:59-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/POV_vs_Reader_Context_-_Artem_Oleshko.jpg?v=1738619039 POV Context Versus Reader Context POV Context vs Reader Context -- how to show more than you tell, a guide for novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/postmortem 2025-03-15T17:14:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Portmortem_-_Skyla80.jpg?v=1742084042 Story Skeleton—Postmortem A plot-point breakdown of Patricia Cornwell's Postmortem, a guide for mystery and crime writers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/death-is-a-highway 2025-01-31T18:41:07-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_1138643105.jpg?v=1738377667 Congrats to Alan W Lehmann Death is a Highway by Alan W Lehmann https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/heather-ramsay 2025-02-20T16:10:10-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Heather_Ramsay_0bb06b99-4b98-4305-b166-1d291c56388e.png?v=1740096610 Success Story with Heather Ramsay https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/becoming-a-matriarch 2025-06-29T17:42:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Becoming_a_Matriarch_-_Gordan_Jankulov_AKA_PhotoIris2021.jpg?v=1751244159 Story Skeleton—Becoming a Matriarch https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/villains 2025-03-15T17:12:14-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Monsters_and_Villains_-_Tithi_Luadthong.jpg?v=1742083934 Building a Better Monster: How to Craft an Effective Villain How to write an effective monster, villain, or antagonist for your novel or short story https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/everything-i-never-told-you 2025-03-15T17:13:11-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Everything_I_never_told_you_-_Jaromir_Chalabala.jpg?v=1742083991 Story Skeleton—Everything I Never Told You https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/daniel-kenitz 2025-03-17T14:32:21-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Daniel_Kenitz.png?v=1742247141 Success Story with Daniel Kenitz Success Story with Daniel Kenitz, author of THE PERFECT HOME, on the journey from writer to author https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-paul-feldstein 2025-03-20T16:27:33-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Paul_Feldstein.png?v=1742513253 Book Broker: an interview with Paul Feldstein Book Broker: an interview with Paul Feldstein, literary agent (The Feldstein Agency) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/murders-in-the-rue-morgue 2025-03-28T16:46:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/murder_in_the_rue_morgue_-_el_segundo_photos.jpg?v=1743205595 Story Skeleton—The Murders in the Rue Morgue (straight razor) A plot-point summary and structural breakdown of the first mystery story ever written, Murders in the Rue Morgue by Poe https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/murder-on-the-orient-express 2025-04-14T20:02:45-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Murder_on_the_Orient_-_Danny_Iacob.png?v=1744686165 Story Skeleton—Murder on the Orient Express An old-fashioned train at sunset -- A plot-point summary and structural breakdown and analysis of MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/animated-algebra 2025-03-28T16:54:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Closed_Circle_Mysteries_-_Amgun.jpg?v=1743206076 Animated Algebra: The Legacy of Agatha Christie and the Closed-Circle Mystery A spiral clock: on Agatha Christie and the closed-circle mystery https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/shannon-baker 2025-04-30T13:40:00-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Shannon_Baker.png?v=1746045600 Success Story with Shannon Baker Success Story with Shannon Baker, author of TAKING STOCK -- on the journey from writer to author https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-jonah-straus 2025-03-31T16:05:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Jonah_Straus.png?v=1743462349 Book Broker: an interview with Jonah Straus Book Broker: an interview with literary agent Jonah Straus https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/subplots 2025-04-07T16:05:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Subplots_-_Steve_Allen.jpg?v=1744067150 The Thing and the Other Thing: Adding a Subplot to Your Novel Aerial shot of a hedge maze: how to incorporate a subplot into your fiction: a guide for novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-ellwood-clayton 2025-05-05T23:18:14-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Bella_Ellwood-Clayton_36c90772-48ed-43bf-94ab-ad13c003a54a.png?v=1746512294 Success Story with Dr. Bella Ellwood-Clayton Success Story with Dr Bella Ellwood Clayton, author of THE SWIMMING GROUP (represented by literary agent Jill Marsal) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/concept-versus-premise 2025-04-14T18:04:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Concept_vs_Premise_-_Cristina_Conti.jpg?v=1744679072 Concept versus Premise What is the difference between a concept and a premise in fiction writing (image of a woman looking up a ladder into a cloud) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/no-1-ladies-detective-agency 2025-04-23T17:09:06-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/No_1_Ladies_-_Lucian_Coman.jpg?v=1745453346 Story Skeleton—The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency A plot-point summary, structural analysis, and how-to-write mystery guide for The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/retreat-2026 2025-04-24T18:47:59-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/20250210_160722.jpg?v=1745545679 Our 2026 Retreat is now Live Writing retreat, Feb 2026, on the Sunshine Coast of BC, Canada--for writers, authors, novelists, and memoirists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-maltese-falcon 2025-05-05T23:17:34-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Maltese_Falcon_-_Jack_Jumpingsack_77ae6324-9e22-4264-8705-50e63108b2ed.jpg?v=1746512254 Story Skeleton—The Maltese Falcon A plot-point summary and structural analysis of Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon--a how-to for mystery and noir writers and novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-amy-andrews 2025-05-05T16:08:58-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Amy_Andrews.png?v=1746486538 Success Story with Amy Andrews https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/noir-code 2025-05-05T23:17:49-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/detective_s_code_-_fran_kie.jpg?v=1746512269 Character Before Clues: The Noir Detective's Code The detective's code in noir fiction: how to write a mystery with character rather than plot https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/noir-structure 2025-05-13T17:21:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Noir_Structure_-_Michal_Jdlck.jpg?v=1747182111 The Noir Detective’s Journey: An Adventure in Disguise Noir narrative structure: a how-to guide for detective writers and novelists https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-big-sleep 2025-05-19T19:53:32-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Big_Sleep_-_Amesto_cea3ca39-83b7-4189-b993-a114a40ae774.jpg?v=1747709612 Story Skeleton—The Big Sleep Story Skeleton: a plot-point breakdown, structural summary, and narrative analysis of Raymond Chandler's classic noir novel THE BIG SLEEP. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-lucy-carson 2025-06-04T20:58:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Lucy_Carson.png?v=1749095916 Book Broker: an interview with Lucy Carson Interview with literary agent Lucy Carson from Friedrich Agency https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-launch-this-is-how-a-ball-rolls 2025-06-05T15:28:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/91vx8cfZTrL._AC_UF1000_1000_QL80_d80ecc64-c7e4-4677-9708-dd1cbd4fcdee.jpg?v=1749162536 Book Launch! This Is How a Ball Rolls This is How a Ball Rolls by Heather Tekavec https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/storm-front 2025-06-05T17:47:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Storm_Front_-_Tithi_Luadthong.jpg?v=1749170836 Story Skeleton—Storm Front A plot-point breakdown and structural summary of Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Harry Dresden, book one) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-launch-when-the-sky-breaks 2025-06-06T19:45:43-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/3d_a580bef1-dce6-4e8a-9161-bafe65f0cfbe.jpg?v=1749264343 Book Launch! When the Sky Breaks When the Sky Breaks, debut science fiction novel from Septimus Brown aka David Griffin Brown https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/and-then-there-were-none 2025-06-10T18:55:42-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/And_Then_There_Were_None.jpg?v=1749606942 Story Skeleton—And Then There Were None Plot point breakdown and structural summary of AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie -- a how-to for mystery writers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/villain-protagonist 2025-06-09T20:25:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Villain_Protagonist_-_Dundanim.jpg?v=1749525903 Villain Protagonist: The Anti-Hero’s Cruel Cousin The Villain Protagonist: when the bad guy drives the plot (a guide for writers and novelists) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/success-story-erin-k-wagner 2025-06-12T17:54:57-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Erin_K_Wagner.png?v=1749776097 Success Story with Erin K. Wagner Success Story with Erin K Wagner -- on the journey from writer to author https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/alie-dumas-heidt 2025-06-17T22:29:37-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Alie_Dumas-Heidt.png?v=1750224577 Success Story with Alie Dumas-Heidt Success Story with Alie Dumas-Heidt, author of THE MYTH MAKER, on the journey from writer to author https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/not-a-good-fit 2026-05-07T17:10:08-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Not_a_good_fit_for_our_list.jpg?v=1778199008 Not a Good Fit for Our List: Why I Gave Up on Traditional Publishing https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/portal-fantasy 2025-07-02T10:05:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Portal_Fantasy_-_Tithi_Luadthong.jpg?v=1751475951 Not Another Wardrobe: Why Portal Fantasy Is a Tough Sell Portal Fantasy: why it's often considered a "dead genre" by literary agents https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/name-of-the-rose 2025-07-02T20:21:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Name_of_the_Rose_-_Drop_of_Light.jpg?v=1751512880 Story Skeleton—The Name of the Rose Story Skeleton: The Name of the Rose—a plot point breakdown and structural analysis of Umberto Eco's debut novel https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/metafiction 2025-07-03T15:36:36-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Metafiction_-_Tithi_Luadthong.jpg?v=1751582196 Metafiction: When the Story Is in on the Joke Metafiction examples, techniques, definitions, and writing tips for authors and fiction writers. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/newsletter-signups 2025-07-23T16:44:04-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Begging_for_Newsletter_Signups_-_Lazareva_Daria.jpg?v=1753314244 Five Consistent Ways to Get Newsletter Signups 5 Consistent Ways to Get Newsletter Signups (for authors) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-elizabeth-kaplan 2025-07-26T15:33:20-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Elizabeth_Kaplan.png?v=1753569200 Book Broker—an interview with Elizabeth Kaplan Book broker: interview with literary agent Elizabeth Kaplan on query tips and manuscript wish list suggestions https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/book-broker-rebecca-lawrence 2025-07-26T22:35:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Rebecca_Lawrence_af7f0633-6b82-4beb-a55a-77d14120b809.png?v=1753594502 Book Broker—an interview with Rebecca Lawrence Book Broker—an interview with literary agent Rebecca Lawrence from the Booker Albert Agency https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/confessions-of-a-first-time-book-signer 2025-08-01T20:28:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/confessions_of_a_first_time_book_signer.jpg?v=1754105336 Confessions of a First-Time Book Signer Tips and tricks: how to succeed at a book signing for authors https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/a-is-for-alibi 2025-08-06T15:45:56-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/A_is_For_Alibi_-_plot_points_and_story_structure.jpg?v=1754520356 Story Skeleton—A Is for Alibi Story Skeleton: A Is For Alibi: plot points and structural summary https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/pov-camera 2025-08-13T12:27:17-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/camera_POV.jpg?v=1755113237 POV: Who’s Holding the Camera? How to write omniscient narrator without head-hopping (POV for authors and novelists) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-amateur-sleuth 2025-09-06T18:39:43-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/amateur_sleuth.jpg?v=1757209183 The Plausible Amateur: Why We Love Sleuths Who Shouldn’t Be Sleuthing Silhouette of a woman holding a lantern in a dark alley, symbolizing the amateur sleuth venturing into mystery and danger https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-shigeko-ito 2025-09-22T14:27:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/the-pond-beyond-the-forest-9781647429805_xlg_dda98da3-f95f-445f-be1a-76dbd3107fb3.jpg?v=1758576470 Congrats to Shigeko Ito! The Pond Beyond the Forest by Shigeko Ito https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/coincidence 2025-09-30T12:56:31-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Coincidence_in_Fiction.jpg?v=1759262191 Coincidence in Fiction: Unearned Clues and Lightning Strikes Yellow road signs pointing in opposite directions labeled 'Coincidence' and 'Destiny,' symbolizing chance versus fate in storytelling. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/want-versus-need 2025-09-30T13:03:52-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/want_versus_need_in_storytelling.jpg?v=1759262632 Want versus Need: Another Way to Think About Story Structure Man in a stranded rowboat on dry land, symbolizing story structure, character goals, and inner conflict in fiction writing. Want versus need storytelling. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tragedy-and-comedy 2025-10-06T16:34:31-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/comedy_tragedy.jpg?v=1759793671 Tragedy and Comedy: The Two Faces of Story Structure Abstract geometric illustration of comedy and tragedy masks in bright polygonal colors, symbolizing story structure, emotional contrast, and character transformation for writers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2025-3rd 2025-10-22T15:44:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/City_by_Andrew_Riddles_-_First_Page_Challenge.jpg?v=1761173086 The First Page Challenge 2025—3rd place CITY by Andrew Riddles, third place winner of the 2025 First Page Challenge writing contest https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2025-2nd 2025-10-22T15:18:11-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Cloudia.jpg?v=1761171490 The First Page Challenge 2025—2nd place Cloudia with a Chance of Darkness by Melissa Grant - 2nd place winner of the First Page Challenge 2025 https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fpc-2025-1st 2025-10-22T15:43:23-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Infinity_Land.jpg?v=1761173003 The First Page Challenge 2025—1st place Infinity Land by Mark Daniel Taylor - first place winner of the First Page Challenge 2025 https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mystery-series 2025-10-29T10:47:40-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Long_Game_Mystery_Series.jpg?v=1761760060 The Long Game: Writing a Mystery Series A detective spying out of her car: On How to write a mystery series, for novelists and crime writers https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/magpie-murders 2025-11-27T18:10:00-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Magpie_Murders.jpg?v=1764295800 Story Skeleton—Magpie Murders Photo of a magpie: a plot-point breakdown and structural summary of MAGPIE MURDERS by Anthony Horowitz https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/novel-endings 2025-11-28T17:52:57-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/the-end.jpg?v=1764381177 Exit Strategy: Your Novel’s Ending as a Structural Tool THE END: diagnosing plot problems in your novel by examining the ending https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/writer-scams 2025-12-01T18:35:08-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/scam2.jpg?v=1764642908 Too Good to Be True: Writer Scams Are Proliferating SCAM ALERT: attempt to phish and defraud writers are proliferating on social media and via email https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/tech-lite-vacation 2025-12-28T16:54:57-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/tech_lite_vacation.jpg?v=1766969697 How a Tech-Lite Trip Turned Into a Reading Bender The wonders of reducing screen time (for writers and authors) https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/100-rejections 2026-02-01T20:33:58-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Writers_should_aim_for_100_rejections_per_year.jpg?v=1770006838 The Rejection Resolution: Flipping the Script Writers should aim for 100 rejections per year https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/character-vs-outline 2025-12-29T20:25:52-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Follow_your_characters_not_your_outline.jpg?v=1767068752 Follow Your Characters, Not Your Outline follow your characters, not your outline https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-hidden-cost-ai 2025-12-31T14:54:48-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Hidden_Cost_of_Using_AI.jpg?v=1767221688 The Hidden Cost of Using AI Angry robot: The Hidden Cost of Using AI https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/congrats-to-art-maerlender 2026-02-06T08:51:06-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/71KmCpWuenL._SL1499.jpg?v=1770396666 Congrats to Art Maerlender https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/fake-query-letters-by-dead-authors 2026-02-17T14:29:19-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/3d_bb50c900-73e2-4edc-931d-ddcba4c1f057.jpg?v=1771367359 Fake Query Letters by Dead Authors https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/retreat-roundup-2026 2026-02-24T14:49:25-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1000026871.jpg?v=1771973365 Rainforest Writing Retreat 2026 The Rainforest Writers Retreat—a winter writing events in Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast, NWC, Canada https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/story-skeleton-a-wizard-of-earthsea 2026-02-27T15:34:39-08:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Wizard_of_Earthsea1.jpg?v=1772235279 Story Skeleton—A Wizard of Earthsea A plot-point breakdown and structural analysis of A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K Le Guin https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mystery-vs-thriller 2026-03-11T16:23:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/mystery_vs_thriller.jpg?v=1773271419 Is It a Mystery or Is It a Thriller? https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/why-we-love-mysteries 2026-04-17T18:24:34-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Fascination_of_Mystery_Novels.jpg?v=1776475474 Come to the Dark Side: Why We Love Mysteries A man in darkness looking up into the light: our fascination with mystery novels https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mystery-subgenres 2026-04-23T15:32:09-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/shutterstock_1138643105_96730ebf-3614-4b58-b2cd-53f562394fa0.jpg?v=1776983529 What Kind of Mystery Are You Writing? A Subgenre Guide The Lone-Wolf Highway: A Guide to Mystery Subgenres https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-moonstone 2026-05-03T17:59:50-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Moonstone_db62a1b2-e4d6-48c7-907f-2405458a48b4.jpg?v=1777856390 Story Skeleton—The Moonstone A plot-point breakdown and summary of narrative structure of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/gone-girl 2026-05-22T10:56:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Gone_Girl.jpg?v=1779472595 Story Skeleton—Gone Girl A plot-point breakdown and structural analysis of Gone Girl by Flynn https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/aristotle-plot-vs-character 2026-05-27T15:13:39-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Aris_says_-_plot_vs_character.png?v=1779920019 Aristotle Says Your Character-Driven Story Is Still Plot-Driven https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/canada-fiction-fest-2026 2026-05-28T14:58:51-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/cff-big1.jpg?v=1780005531 Canada Fiction Fest: incoming! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/rainforest-writers-2027 2026-06-01T14:03:28-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/1000026872_6f459c68-58e9-4e42-aa25-4d0cf69791ca.jpg?v=1780347808 Rainforest Writers: 2027 A winter writing retreat on the Sunshine Coast, Roberts Creek, north of Vancouver, February 2027 https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-ring-of-truth 2026-06-04T16:02:35-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Ring_of_Truth_-_writing_fiction.jpg?v=1780614155 The Ring of Truth: On Creating Authenticity in Fiction The Ring of Truth (Oroborous ring) -- on creating authenticity in fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/aristotle-causality 2026-06-29T18:21:45-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Aris_says_-_causality.png?v=1782782505 Aristotle Says Your Novel Should Be a Symphony Advice on the craft of writing from Aristotle's POETICS. What is a plot? What is a *good* plot? Why causality is the most important structural element. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mystery-stasis 2026-06-30T20:19:03-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/The_Detective_and_Their_Methods.jpg?v=1782875943 Mystery’s Stasis: The Detective and Their Methods Mystery’s Stasis: The Detective and Their Methods https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mystery-relationship-arcs 2026-07-04T16:28:26-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Dangerous_Liasons_-_Relationships_in_Mystery_Novels.jpg?v=1783207706 Dangerous Liaisons: The Relationship Arc in Mystery Novels How and why to create relationship arcs in mystery novels https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/cozy-mystery 2026-07-14T20:11:46-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/the_history_of_cozy_mysteries.jpg?v=1784085106 A Little Less Grit, Please: The Cozy Mystery Cozy mysteries are one of the most popular mystery subgenres and they’re definitely worth considering for authors who are interested in writing a mystery series. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/aristotle-history 2026-07-22T12:52:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Aris_says...probabilities.png?v=1784749936 Aristotle Says Your Historical Novel Isn't History In POETICS, Aristotle discusses the particular versus the universal, which makes for good craft advice for writers of historical fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/what-is-thriller 2026-08-12T07:11:02-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/What_is_a_thriller.jpg?v=1786543862 Not Even the New York Times Knows What a Thriller Is What is a thriller? It's more than just a story about crime https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/the-long-road 2026-08-14T08:08:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Episode_39_Square.png?v=1786720109 The Darling Axe on The Long Road to Publishing podcast Darling Axe senior editors featured on Eva Langston's Long Road to Publishing podcast https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/means-motive-opportunity 2026-08-24T19:43:41-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Means_Motive_Opportunity.jpg?v=1787625821 The Detective’s Trinity: Means, Motive, and Opportunity https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/mystery-point-of-no-return 2026-08-25T08:51:14-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/Sherlocked_in_-_The_Detective_s_Point_of_No_Return.jpg?v=1787673074 Sherlocked In: The Detective's Point of No Return Sherlocked in: The Point of No Return in mystery fiction https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/corruption-of-memory 2026-08-26T08:23:16-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/251899328.jpg?v=1787757796 Congrats to J.L. Thorpe! https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/red-herrings 2026-09-28T20:34:29-07:00 weekly https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0015/1807/5926/articles/red_herring.jpg?v=1790652869 Fair Play: How to Manage Clues and Red Herrings