The third-person omniscient point of view (POV) is common in 19th century novels, British mysteries, and European fiction, but many American book editors and writing teachers dislike it. There are literary agents who will flat out reject manuscripts with an omni POV. This literary tool leaves no gray area. People either love it or hate it. Here are 10 books that have used it effectively.

Now more than ever, it’s time to skip the funny T-shirt or coffee mug as a gift for the special writer in your life. The global pandemic has made it exponentially harder for aspiring writers to break into traditional publishing and the newly published writers to succeed. Unless your writer is a best-selling author, aim for something practical that will help boost his or her writing and publication efforts.

Want to be a writer? Read, read, and read some more. It’s the first requirement for writing well. Don’t take my word for it, take Stephen King’s. He said: “You have to read widely, constantly refining (and redefining) your own work as you do. If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.”

The competition for a reader’s short attention span starts in the opening sentences of a novel. Readers today are not only distracted most of the time, they’re also conditioned to judge a book or an image or a post within minutes. If you write fiction, it’s especially crucial to make the reader care about your story as soon as possible.

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.

The word bookworm, dating back to 1592, refers to “a person unusually devoted to reading,” according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. It also means the larva of any wood-boring insect that feeds on paper in books. We avid readers are indeed a special kind of tribe! If you feel misunderstood for being a bookworm, rest assured there are many of us who share these 12 common traits.

They’re called sidekicks. They play second fiddle, but some secondary characters are as memorable as the protagonists they support. In fact, well-drawn supporting characters are a hallmark of exceptional novels.

Women’s magazines tell us there’s a dearth of good (and eligible) men. Thank goodness, it’s not the case in literature. From literary novels to thrillers, and of course, romances, there are enough great male characters to keep readers glued to their books.

There’s nothing quite like the New Year to set our writing goals. Better yet, find a writer friend (in person or online) to exchange goals with. Here are a few things to get you started. You can bet I’ll be working on these goals myself.

The holiday frenzy is here. As a writer and avid reader, I can’t help but make a case for books as the perfect gift. Here are 10 reasons why you should give books to your loved ones this holiday season and all other occasions.