Always Write

It’s one of the first questions new authors ask: “How long should my book be? How many words should I write?” Here is some useful guidance, from children’s books to fantasy novels.

First-time authors come to us for help to take their book idea to the next level. One of the first issues to address is the desired word count of the book. That determines everything from the ghostwriting fee to the outline they’ll need for their manuscript. We get questions like:

• How many words make a novel?
• How many words should your first novel be?
• What should be a picture book word count?
• What should be a fantasy novel word count?
• What’s the minimum word count for a novel?

[Read more…]

The stories we love best are filled with subtle (and not-so-subtle) lessons and perspectives. These quotes from 15 modern Canadian books offer unique insights into the lives we live.

Most people look for words of wisdom in self-help books or in the Bible or other religious guides. But you will find much to think about in the passing comments of characters in works of fiction and other books, too.

Consider my favourite motivational quote: [Read more…]

It is right to rethink old literature. But does cancel culture amount to book burnings?

It was on Twitter that I first saw news that people were cancelling Dr. Seuss. Sooner or later, everybody gets cancelled, but I could not imagine why anybody would pick on Dr. Seuss, a childhood favorite of mine.

It turns out that all the discussion is because Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the organization in charge of Dr. Seuss’s legacy, announced that it would no longer publish six of his books, saying that “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.”

It was a proactive action. But it got media play and people have weighed in both against and for Dr. Seuss. [Read more…]