Barrie Davenport

25 Of The Best Young Adult Publishers

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You’ve written a novel or nonfiction book for a young adult audience. Or you have a fantastic idea for one. 

The problem? You keep finding links to YA publishers who either don’t exist anymore or don’t accept unagented submissions. 

You don’t currently have an agent. But you don’t think that should hold you back. 

Welcome to our dead-link-free list of young adult publishers. We aim to make it easier to find the YA publishers most likely to love your book. 

Because, with or without an agent, your well-written YA book deserves a chance.

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13 Key Questions To Ask Beta Readers

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Your book is ready for beta readers. And, whether it’s your first book or not, this is a big deal!

You’re wondering, though, where to find these beta readers, how many you need, and what questions you should ask them to get the most benefit from their time and attention.

We’ve been there, and you have our warmest congratulations and shared excitement!

With that, welcome to our list of helpful questions for beta readers. 

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15 Common Grammar Mistakes That Kill Your Writing Credibility

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grammar mistakes

I love to write, but I’m not so crazy about grammar.

Learning about words that dangle, split, and get misplaced isn’t my idea of fun.

However, as an English major in college, I had it drilled into my head that poor grammar revealed laziness and a lack of respect for the reader.

It’s the literary form of bad manners and exposes the writer as someone who isn’t serious about the craft.

If you’re an author, particularly a self-published author, you need to do everything possible to win your readers’ hearts and minds.

When they are distracted by grammatical errors or confused by the meaning of a sentence, they aren’t likely to buy your next book — or finish the one they are reading.

As tedious as grammar may be to those of us who just want to write, it is well worth a few minutes of your time to refresh the basics and make sure you don’t fall into one of the problematic grammar traps.

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110 Of The Best World Building Questions For Authors

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world building questions

Every fiction writer knows that one of your most important characters is your story’s setting.

For fantasy and science fiction writers, that setting is usually a fictional world notably different from our own. 

And just as you can use character development questions to make your characters come to life, you use world building questions to make your setting as real as the one your readers live in. 

To get started, let’s clarify what world building is and what it isn’t. 

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155 Character Flaws For Writing

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What comes to mind when you think “interesting character flaws”? 

Because some flaws are more compelling than others. And some are easier to forgive. Some, on the other hand, make the characters who have them instantly unlikable.  

They’re monsters. They’re unforgivable. They could never change for the better. 

But sometimes, they do. Given a character flaws list, could you pick one of the worst and create a character with a convincing redemption arc? 

What could you do differently with one of the flaws listed below? And what makes them flaws in the first place?

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13 Creative Writing Jobs You Can Do From Home

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You’re looking for remote creative writing jobs — and not just because you’re an introvert with a knack for writing. 

You have an independent spirit, and you can think of many reasons why working from home would be a good fit for you. 

So many of your peers are working remotely, now, after all. And you’d very much like to join them. But what types of creative writing opportunities should you focus on? 

Welcome to our list of 13 options with links to help you get started. 

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Do You Know The Difference Between A Hyphen And A Dash? Here’s Your Go-To Guide 

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Do you know the difference between a hyphen and a dash?

Or between an en dash and an em dash? 

(Who even came up with the en dash as a separate thing?)

Even if you’re pretty sure of the difference between all three, sometimes it helps to read a clear overview of what sets these marks apart — and which one goes where. 

By the time you read this post, you’ll be a hyphen vs. dash expert. 

Prepare yourself. 

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