Popular Posts on the Xulon Press Blog

Said Is Dead: 141 Words to Use Instead of “Said”You are doing everything possible to make your writing better, tighter, and more interesting, but are you still using “dead words?” These are words that are simply just too plain, bland, and vague to ...

Ask the Editor: How to Outline a Non-Fiction BookIf you asked me to list the three fears I picked up in high school English, they would be diagramming sentences, red ink and outlining. I’ve never gotten past my red ink complex, but I can now see the...

How to Show Emphasis Without Typing in All-CapitalsAs an editor here at Xulon Press, I have read hundreds of manuscripts. Maybe even thousands. However, the top three things that I've seen on a consistent basis is: overuse of the exclamation point, mi...

Ask the Editor: How to Outline a Non-Fiction BookIf you asked me to list the three fears I picked up in high school English, they would be diagramming sentences, red ink and outlining. I’ve never gotten past my red ink complex, but I can now see the...

15 Things Every Writer Needs On Their DeskPainters need a canvas, paint, paintbrushes, and a rolling landscape begging to be painted. Musicians need an instrument, quarter notes on sheet music, and an audience to play for. What do writers...

10 Steps to Becoming a Highly Effective WriterWriting and procrastination might stereotypically go hand-in-hand, but no one has ever written a book by procrastinating. The only way to write a book is to write. It’s a crazy concept—I know. But if ...

The Best Writing Tool You Aren’t UsingEveryone knows about a certain digital pinboard, known as the procrastinator’s best friend, the party planner’s go-to inspiration, and the foodie’s favorite recipe archive. But, as a writer, have ...

Sequels, Trilogies, Series – Oh My!As we draw to a close this month’s National Novel Writing Month, novel writers everywhere will be basking in the glow of accomplishment from completing their first novel. Ah, your first novel in your ...