Feeling envious of the academic writer? What’s not to like about a tenure? Don’t even mention the summer breaks and the cozy office in a beautiful campus with ivy-covered brick buildings and sprawling lawns.

Is it okay to write a novel about a famous person? For me, the answer is yes. French novelist Gregoire Delacourt, who got sued for his novel that paid homage to Scarlett Johansson, might say no.

Have you thought of making the supporting characters in your novel the stars of their own lives? It’s the key to developing more interesting secondary characters, according to a Penguin Random House editor.

The first thing a reader of a novel wants to know is the main character, according to best-selling suspense author Hank Phillippi Ryan.  If you’re writing a novel, she said your opening page must have these four important things.

I’ve always wanted to read Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” and Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five” for their popularity and critical acclaim. When I finally caught up with my to-be-read list, I read them both at the same time. They taught me three important lessons in writing.

Countless writing books, articles, and workshops tell us to avoid the deadly “info dumps” and flashbacks when writing a novel. Even if you’re writing literary fiction, remember that it’s not an excuse to meander in back story.

I met Bret Lott, the best-selling author of Jewel, during my first ever fiction-writing workshop. I chose his class because I loved Jewel. Guess who else loved it? Oprah. Lott is the first best-selling author I’ve interacted with.

“You are what you submit,” says a former managing editor of a literary magazine. It behooves you to submit only your best work, and yet, the submission itch—the mad rush to release one’s work to the world—is a common malady.  Before you submit, make sure you’re not making these three common mistakes.

Are writers the most envious people in the world? Of course, professional envy exists among academics, lawyers, investment bankers, and others, but writers seem to experience jealousy in a deeper and more enduring way. Envy isn’t just for failed writers, either. Even the most successful authors succumb to authorly jealousy.

A quick Google search will show you that “La Dolce Vita,” meaning “the sweet life,” is a popular name for Italian restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. The term has taken on a life of its own ever since Federico Fellini’s film of the same title was released in 1960.