When looking for comps, stop seeking exact matches and look instead for books that relate to your themes, plot, style and voice, characters, and the general structure of the journey or tale you’re telling. Let’s back up: What’s a comp? Comparison (“comp”) titles...
A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could be referring to multiple antecedents. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion, especially in scenes with a lot of people speaking/acting or in scenes with a lot of action, such as a fight. I spot vague pronouns...
Revising a first (or second or third) draft can feel overwhelming. Make it easier on yourself by working in pieces—or passes. Rather than trying to fix plot holes alongside misplaced commas, instead deal with the big problems first and work your way down to typos....
Repeating character names throughout a conversation can come across as stiff and ingenuous. (Or worse! It could invoke memories of that old, terrible flirting tip that using someone’s name over and over when talking to them lets them know you’re really...
Mentor texts can be a great way to study rhythm and style within a beloved novel. (See my previous tip on using mentor texts.) They can also help writers who struggle with dialogue to learn the art of conversation within a story. Often a newer writer (or even an...
