Whether you've completed your first novel-length draft or your twentieth, penning those final words is a rush. You've dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to your manuscript, and finally reaching the end of the story can be emotional and amazing. But it can leave you asking a simple question:

What now?

Let's review a few simple steps every writer should take after completing a draft.

Read Time: 7.5 minutes

In the modern publishing industry, authors have more publication options than ever before. That can be amazing, as it allows authors to choose the option that best suits their goals for each specific project and for their career as a whole. But it can also make it difficult to determine the best route.

Let's break down how to publish a book using the major types of publication, with the pros and cons of each option.
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If you're writing fiction, and you're not Cormac McCarthy, chances are you're using quotation marks. But are you using them correctly?

Let's go over the recommendations of the ​Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, the accepted style guide for American fiction.

He or she. He/she. S/he. There have been many attempts at gender-neutral pronouns, but as it so often does, language evolved naturally. And dictionaries and style guides have recently accepted that evolution.

Most of us use singular "they" frequently in informal conversation to refer to an individual whose gender we don't know. But is it okay to use singular "they" in fiction?

​I'm Victoria, the owner of Blue Pen, and this is that post. The how I got my agent post.

This is exciting to write, but also a little daunting—which I suppose is why I'm writing it about a year after I signed with my agent.

During the years I spent querying, these types of posts were so helpful and encouraging. She got an agent! I will too.

So here we go. I'm going to lay out the whole sordid tale, from start to finish. And it starts in a very scary place, my friends . . . high school.​
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Whether you're a new writer just learning the basics or an advanced writer exploring different methods of storytelling, it's worth taking some time to examine your choice of point of view (POV). Most writers have one POV they feel the most comfortable with, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for every story.

Let's go over the different POVs and the pros and cons of each.

​Choosing an editor is a big deal. Whether you're hiring an editor for a developmental pass or simple proofreading, you need someone who is professional, qualified, and a good fit for you and your manuscript.

Finding the perfect editor can be a daunting task. With the technology available today, distance is not a concern, so the pool of prospective editors is massive. You can hire any editor in the world, and a quick search will bring up an insane number of professionals. How do you choose?

Here are a few methods you can use to narrow down your options and make sure that each editor you consider is qualified and is a good fit for your work.
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For all the hammock campers in search of the perfect hang, finding the ideal hammock is the first step. It's the foundation that our sleep is built on, and in the backcountry, a good night's sleep is the difference between a beautiful day of happy hiking and long hours of slogging down the trails.

The Warbonnet Blackbird is my perfect hammock. I've been using the Blackbird for about one year, and it's the piece of gear I've built my entire system around. So I'm here to share my experience with the hammock—along with some tips and tricks I've picked up along the way—to help you decide whether the Blackbird is right for you and to help you learn how to make the most of your new hammock.
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