In the thriller genre, obligatory scenes and conventions are the essential storytelling building blocks that evoke specific emotional reactions and meet reader expectations. Think of them as the genre’s unwritten contract with your reader: deliver these, or face one-star reviews and strongly worded emails. Common elements include: An Initial Crime. The story kicks off with…
Writing craft for fiction authors Trope vs Genre Convention: What Every Writer Needs to Know These terms are often used interchangeably, especially in writing advice circles. But they mean very different things. Understanding that difference can strengthen your story, sharpen your reader experience, and help you meet genre expectations without slipping into predictability. Whether you…
A calm, practical guide for crime and romance authors deciding between manuscript review, copyediting, proofreading, and editorial coaching. If you’re writing fiction (especially crime or romance), choosing the right editorial services for fiction writers can save you time, money, and a lot of second-guessing. This guide explains what each service does, when to book it,…
Most manuscripts don’t struggle because the prose is weak. More often, the writing is perfectly capable. The sentences flow. The dialogue sounds natural. The description is vivid. What quietly undermines a book is structure. Structural issues are harder to spot because they’re not about word choice. They’re about momentum, clarity, escalation and logic. The good…
What are publishers and readers looking for in 2026? Publishing trends are always a bit like fashion. Something disappears for a decade and then quietly wanders back wearing a slightly different hat. Right now, the 2026 publishing market is leaning toward genre blending, high concept escapism, and stories that entertain while still saying something about…
Why kind feedback isn’t always useful, and how professional editing turns a “good” manuscript into a publishable one You’ve spent months writing your crime novel or romance manuscript. You’ve poured your heart into every scene, every character, every twist. Finally, you send it to your most trusted readers – your partner, your best friend, maybe…
Congratulations! You’ve typed THE END on the first draft of your novel. Now the real work begins. Levels of editing can feel confusing when you are writing your first book. Many writers assume editing simply means correcting grammar or spelling. In reality, editing happens in stages, and each stage serves a different purpose. One helpful…
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