• road with future, past, present written on it, road is surrounded by grass and trees and sunset in the background; past tense or present tense

    Has My Story Happened, or Is it Happening Now? When to Write in the Past or Present Tense

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    Among the plethora of elements a writer has to consider when writing a manuscript is what tense they wish to write their stories in. The tense of a story is separate from the point of view it is told, but thankfully, there are only two tenses to choose between: past and present. In brief and relatively self-explanatory, past tense is used when telling a story that contains events that have already happened (whether in the distant past or recent past). Present tense, on the other hand, is used when telling a story of events that are currently happening or happening…

  • stack of books with plant as bookend and in front of white wall; Do I Need an Epilogue?

    Do I Need an Epilogue?

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    If you read a lot of novels, you’ve seen that some authors will use an epilogue at the end of their books. The sole purpose is to tie up loose ends from your story — or potentially set the readers up to expect a sequel. An epilogue has to be strong if it’s going to make it through a round of professional editing. If it’s not, you may get a note back from your editor that it needs to be incorporated into the actual ending of your novel. That’s the tricky part about epilogues — it can’t be used to hide the fact…

  • Rise of the Hero: Writing the Hero’s Journey Arc

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    Imagine this. A youth who lives a carefree life is suddenly thrust into a situation where they must leave behind everything they know to embark on a journey full of uncertainties and dangers to accomplish a specific task. Along the way, they meet companions and other unusual characters who either aid them or try to stand in their way. The events that unravel during this journey all lead up to one ultimate decision, one ultimate goal to make what had ultimately gone wrong right again. The youth succeeds, becoming a hero in the process, and they are rewarded with the…

  • woman sitting in front of laptop with headphones on, looking stressed; Footnotes vs. Endnotes

    Footnotes vs. Endnotes…Wait, They Aren’t the Same?

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    No, footnotes and endnotes are not the same, but both can be helpful in adding organization, structure, and even more personality to any written work, regardless of the genre. Our editorial team here at Xulon Press see footnotes and endnotes in many author’s works for several different reasons. Understanding which to use in your manuscript can help you enhance your piece and show readers that you know what you are doing. Here are some distinctive components of each that will help in choosing the right fit. Footnotes Traditionally, footnotes are utilized for academic material, like textbooks, or functional material, like…