Point-of-view is one of the most important tools in any writer’s toolbox. Used well, POV provides an intimate connection with the main character. Used badly, it dilutes the impact of the story.

Take the time to study any best-selling novel and you’ll find that the writer has limited the POV as tightly as possible. This is because the fewer the POV characters, the more likely the reader is to make that emotional connection with your character that will keep them turning the page. 

The fewe...

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In my last post I commented on all the books and classes available to teach you what you need to know to have a professional looking manuscript and how to write a great cover letter; another thing they all mention, which should, really, go without having to be said, is to be polite. In an article in the May 2010 issue of The Writer (I know, I'm a year and a half behind on my reading, that's what happens when you take uni courses), Liz Scheier, a former editor at Penguin and Random House, talk...

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There are dozens, if not hundreds, of books out there talking about the craft of writing. They cover everything, from coming up with ideas to crafting the perfect cover letter, from structuring a plot to developing well-rounded characters. There are classes at every level taught by everything from professional writers to professors. There is so much information available that there is no excuse for unprofessional-looking manuscripts or badly drafted stories. Handing in such work shows disresp...
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