Ah, word count. Few elements of the book-writing process inspire such hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing as trying to constrain your novel within certain seemingly arbitrary bounds. In this post I’m going to tell you: Why word count matters for novels Standard word count ranges for various genres The word counts of some famous novels for comparison […]
You tell me: What’s the best fictional city?
A great setting can make a novel unforgettable. And there have been some great cities in novels that inspire our imagination, make us want to pack our bags, or run away screaming. What’s your favorite city in fiction? I’d have to go with the wildly inventive Besźel/Ul Qoma from China Mieville’s The City and the City. What […]
How to come up with good comp titles for your book
A good “comp title” (which I’ve seen variously expanded as “comparative title,” “comparison title,” or “competitive title”) can help put a literary agent or reader in the right mindset when you’re trying to pitch your book. A bad one may leave them with their eyes glazing over. Bear in mind that with agents, unless the […]
Know your rights as an author
Be careful out there. While the Internet has been an incredible boon to authors, there are also lots of scammers who prey on authors’ dreams. Protecting yourself starts with knowing your rights as an author. Here are some key things to know. Literary agents get paid only when you get paid It should not cost […]
You tell me: What’s the best love story in a book?
I’m bringing back “You Tell Me,” an oldie but goodie blog feature where I ask you, dear reader, for your opinion on Matters of the Day and to settle debates. If you’re reading this in a feed reader or via email, please click through to the post to comment! Now then. Gatsby and Daisy. Tonks […]
Why it’s important to know your book’s genre
It often pains authors to have to shoehorn themselves into a genre. It seems like an unfair constraint cooked up in some foreboding tower by a cackling publisher, who maniacally decreed one day that authors everywhere must sort themselves into categories before being allowed to enter the gates. And sure, if you’ve let your original […]