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Writing a Psychological Thriller? Don’t Forget the Emotional Pacing.
Every psychological thriller needs its signature elements: the unreliable narrator, inner crisis, mind-bending twists, and authentically complex characters. But if you want your thriller to truly grip readers – page after breathless page – you can’t neglect one essential ingredient: emotional pacing. What is Emotional Pacing? Emotional pacing is the careful choreography of suspense, tension,…
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What Makes a Psychological Thriller
Welcome to Part 1 of “What Makes a . . .” a series of posts where I will be sharing the top principles of what makes a certain genre really thrive. This post is all about what makes a psychological thriller work. Discover the five elements that will keep your readers guessing and questioning reality…
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Grammar Tips from an Editor
What Do Authors Need to Know? 9 Most Common Grammar Mistakes Whether you are polishing your first manuscript or gearing up for publication, grammar is essential. While storytelling is the heart of your book, clear and correct grammar is the vessel that delivers your story to readers. Even seasoned writers slip up on the basics,…
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What it Means to “Find Your Voice” as a Writer
What It Means to “Find Your Voice” as a Writer “Find your voice.” Advice every writer hears, yet few can define. As an editor and book coach, I see authors struggle with this concept—often believing that voice is something they must invent from scratch. In reality, your writing voice isn’t created; it’s uncovered, shaped by…
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Why Your Book’s First 10 Pages Matter More Than the Next 100
You can write the most brilliant book in the world – but if the first 10 pages fall flat, most readers won’t stick around to find out. This isn’t just industry rhetoric, it’s a hard truth that shapes whether your book finds its audience, lands an agent, or ends up on a publisher’s desk. This…
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3 Signs You Might Be Too Close to Your Manuscript (and what to do about it)
Are You Too Close to Your Manuscript? You’ve been living inside your manuscript for weeks, maybe months, or even years. You know it inside and out. You’ve rewritten scenes, reshaped chapters, reworked whole sections. And now? You can’t tell if it’s brilliant or a disaster. This moment is completely normal, and a telltale sign that…
