Editor: Short and simple words aren't always better

Posted on 11/18/2020 at 10:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Several notable authors have expressed their disdain for flowery language. Mathina Calliope — an author, editor, and writing coach who...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Language

Editor: These four weaknesses can kill your novel's momentum

Posted on 11/10/2020 at 10:15 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Congratulations — you’ve drawn your reader in with a stellar cover, an intriguing blurb, and a strong opener. Now don’t...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Plot / narrative

Why and how one author hired a social media assistant

Posted on 10/29/2020 at 11:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

All of us, whether it’s at home or at work, have certain tasks that they just can’t bear to —...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Social media and websites

Attorney: Don't delay on registering your book's copyright

Posted on 10/28/2020 at 11:10 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Authors know it’s wise to register their works for copyright. And they probably assumed it’s better to do it sooner...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Licenses, copyrights, and other legalese

How building an author platform is like making friends

Posted on 10/19/2020 at 12:34 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Michelle Melton Cox isn’t the first writing/marketing expert to use child-raising advice in the context of author marketing. But she...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Marketing

See how 2 different memoir structures work

Posted on 10/15/2020 at 03:34 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Even if you’re not planning to write a memoir, you may enjoy a recent post from Allison K. Williams. The...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Memoir, Plot / narrative

Not sure what to say? Write a letter to someone

Posted on 10/08/2020 at 11:18 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Editor and author Stuart Horwitz began his memoir as a letter to his daughter as she went off to college....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Jane Friedman, Writer's block / writing prompts

You can cut words without cutting characters or plotlines

Posted on 10/05/2020 at 10:06 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Whether you’ve surpassed your objectively stated word count goal or just have a nagging feeling that your novel is too...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Editing, Jane Friedman, Writing advice

Jane Friedman: The bar has been raised for online author events

Posted on 09/24/2020 at 03:29 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Six months into the COVID era, authors have accepted the necessity of — and often embraced — online events, versus...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Author events, coronavirus / COVID-19, Jane Friedman, Marketing

Check these three areas for weaknesses in your novel's draft

Posted on 09/16/2020 at 03:05 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Being as close as you are to your novel, it can be tough to identify what exactly needs to be...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Editing, Jane Friedman, Writing advice