Writing Tips

Citations 101: What Goes In Your Book’s Bibliography?

Filed in Writing Tips by Taylor Graham on March 9, 2016 • 0 Comments

In college, I took my papers to the writing center solely to have my bibliographies checked. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember what goes in a citation within the text, what goes in the bibliography, or the proper punctuation within the two. I was always amazed at the students who worked in the […]

Writing Tips: 5 Things Every Devotional Should Contain

Filed in Writing Tips by Taylor Graham on February 19, 2016 • 2 Comments

One of the most popular types of manuscripts we publish at Xulon Press is a devotional. While a writing a devotional may sound like a simple task, there are many that lack the basic “bones” every devotional needs to be successful (and most of all, helpful to the reader). So, here’s a list of what […]

Self-Editing: What To Leave On the Cutting Room Floor

Filed in Ask the Editor, Writing Tips by Taylor Graham on December 28, 2015 • 5 Comments

Often when I am thumbing through submissions at Xulon, reading a manuscript for our critique service, or simply editing a whole manuscript, I quickly pick up on a lot of material that is—in a word—unnecessary. If you’ve ever gotten our Editorial Critique, Manuscript Review, or had your book edited by me, you’ve more than likely received a comment or […]

Hello, My Name Is: How a Great Intro Will Chart Your Book’s Path.

Filed in Ask the Editor, Writing Tips by Blair Townley on October 8, 2015 • 2 Comments

Why Writing an Introduction Helps Chart Your Book’s Path. Imagine you have a map in front of you, but for some reason there is no starting point to lead your journey in the right direction. The same sentiment can be felt when you read a manuscript that doesn’t have a Preface/Introduction/Prologue section to briefly explain to […]

Passive Voice: It’s So Passé

Filed in Ask the Editor, Writing Tips by Krystina Murray on September 29, 2015 • 1 Comment

Passive voice has a time and place in writing, as it serves to be a stylistic additive in many books and papers. In some cases, people prefer passive voice in creative pieces, such as poetry and prose; however, writing in passive voice too often in your fiction and non-fiction pieces can cloud your writing. The […]