Why I (& Many Editors) Reject A Book Based on the First Paragraph

Column by Christoph Paul
The first line matters more than you think.

How to Take Edits 101

Column by Christoph Paul July 27, 2017
I explain what editing is (it's not just proofreading!) and how to take edits.

The Food Pyramid for Writers

Column by Christoph Paul April 26, 2017
The Literary Food Pyramid explained.

23 Translations: What Your Editor's Queries REALLY Mean

Column by Holly Kothe October 4, 2016
“Author query” can be a confusing term. We know how frustrating and delicate writing queries for agents and publishers can be. This is a whole other circus: the query from the Other Side.

What Every Successful Novel Opening Must Do: Myth vs. Reality

Column by Susan DeFreitas September 17, 2015
It's no secret that agents, editors, and their assistants are looking for any reason to reject a manuscript in the first few pages. But what does it really take to get readers hooked?

The Top 10 Reasons I May Have Rejected Your Short Story

Column by Susan DeFreitas March 6, 2014
Submitting short fiction to literary journals? Consider this your hit list (or shit list) for avoiding rejection.

Storyville: Editor Interviews—Needle, Thuglit, and The Big Click

Column by Richard Thomas February 28, 2014
Five questions with the editors of Needle, Thuglit and The Big Click — Steve Weddle, Todd Robinson, and Nick Mamatas.

Too Close to Home: The Dangers of Choosing an Editor

Column by Leah Rhyne January 30, 2014
Everyone knows a writer needs a good editor. But what happens when the best editor you know happens to be your spouse?

Storyville: Editor Interviews—Shock Totem, Shimmer, and The Dark

Column by Richard Thomas December 30, 2013
Some quick questions with three editors of contemporary, dark fiction.

Rejection: A Critical Device

Column by Jon Gingerich May 22, 2013
Got a story that keeps getting turned down for publication? Here's how you can use industry rejection as a critical tool to improve your work.