Every Novel Needs a Dynamic Opening
If you read “how to” guides on writing novels, they all agree that your story should open with some sort of action that represents a change for your protagonist. The scene should be dynamic, not static. There should be a … Continue reading
Editing Fiction and Non-Fiction: Two Different Approaches
In my nearly two decades of professional book editing, I’ve had the pleasure to serve hundreds of authors of non-fiction (self-help, business, health) and fiction (novels). I’ve found that the two genres of authors have very different expectations, greatly affecting … Continue reading
How Long Should Your Book Be?
Many of my valued clients ask me, “How long should my book be?” My answer is, “Your book is like your legs. Your legs should be long enough to reach the ground. Your book is no different.” They think for … Continue reading
Your 3 Choices: Self-Publish, Subsidy Publisher, or Book Deal
When I work with a client as their ghostwriter or book developer, one of the first questions they ask me is how they should publish and market their book. I explain to them that many artists and creators, including musicians, … Continue reading
The Significant Limitations of Chat GPT
Today, I signed up with Chat GPT at OpenAI.com. I wanted to learn about it and, if possible, use it to enhance my own work. I quickly discovered two things. Its ability to write with flawless grammar is astonishing. Every sentence … Continue reading
ChatGPT Hit With Plagiarism Lawsuits
Are you considering using an AI algorithm such as ChatGPT to write a book? If so, there are many reasons not to do this, and to instead hire a professional ghostwriter. One key reason is that the quality of your … Continue reading
I Will Fix Your Lousy AI-Generated Document!
It’s astonishing, but just in the past few months many of my valued clients have sent me files of text – some of them short books with as many as 20,000 words – asking that I edit them. I read … Continue reading
Artificial Intelligence Editing Services: The McDonald’s of Literature
Ah, the modern world! So many new technologies that make our lives easier! Some of the most interesting emerging services provide manuscript editing powered by artificial intelligence. A good example is ProWritingAid, which analyzes your text and not only flags … Continue reading
Self-Help Readers Want Solutions, Not Your Life Story!
I recently reviewed a manuscript for a wonderful doctor who had written a book about getting better sleep. While praising him for his work, I had to point out that readers generally don’t care about the author’s personal experiences. Unless … Continue reading
A Note About Subsidy Publishers
When deciding how to distribute their book, every author has three choices: 1. Self-publish, 2. Use a subsidy publisher, or 3. Try to get a traditional publishing deal. There is an entire industry devoted to “subsidy publishing.” These companies act as project managers. … Continue reading