Posted on November 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
The publishing experts we follow have plenty of craft advice to offer.
Here are the ones that we thought were can't-miss for our authors:
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Before you include a dog in your novel: Author Jacqueline Sheehan explains how to treat your fictional canine with care, even if you have no intention of letting the dog die (Jane Friedman).
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An optimist's guide to story structure: Kathryn Craft unpacks the factors and features that have made 2026's "comfort reads" both popular and lively (Writer Unboxed).
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How fear takes over a character's body and brain: Angela Ackerman describes the order — and types — of reaction to a scary stimulus and reminds authors that fear serves the purpose of keeping us safe, so they should seek a balance between depicting fear as a hindrance and as a helper (Writers Helping Writers).
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The art of inference, implication, and discovery: C.S. Lakin urges authors to remember that explaining too much deprives readers of the joys of making connections and predictions — even if those predictions are wrong — and provides some examples of how to restrain yourself from overexplaining (Live Write Thrive).
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