In the age of instant books, does the opening of a book still matter? James R. Preston contrasts and compares the openings of fiction novels old and new.

Laurie Schnebly Campbell compares how you entice trick-or-treaters or turn them away from your house to the opening of your book.

Kimberly Brock There’s that moment when you open a new document and it’s just so blank. I hate a blank page. It turns me into Jack Nicholson in The Shining. People have different opinions, and there’s always that writer friend who just loves to start a new story. They make noises about it, sniff the […]

  Aimie K. Runyan I just started writing a new book—well, two of them, but that’s a story for another time. Yesterday I sat in front of my screen for hours and ended up with fewer than 600 words to show for it. It seemed like every bit of volunteer work, every mundane administrative task […]