Writers and Authors Archives - The Contemporary Small Press

How to Write Dual Perspective Narrative Without Confusion

Eleanor WhitmoreJuly 17, 2026

The biggest problem in dual-POV fiction is not switching narrators. It is making readers experience the same story twice. If you want to learn how to write dual perspective narrative well, give each viewpoint exclusive information, emotional stakes, and decisions that change what happens next. Each narrator needs a reason to exist. If deleting one […]

Architecting the Epics On How to Outline a Trilogy Novel

Eleanor WhitmoreJuly 16, 2026

Most authors who fail at multi-book projects do so because they write the first book as a standalone and scramble to invent a larger plot for the sequels. Mastering how to outline a trilogy novel requires viewing your narrative not as three distinct books, but as one massive, three-act story engineered with distinct narrative milestones. […]

How to Use ChatGPT for Novel Plotting Without Losing Your Voice

Eleanor WhitmoreJuly 15, 2026

A strange thing happens when AI gives writers “better” story ideas: the individual story may improve while many writers’ stories start sounding more alike. In a 2024 Science Advances experiment with 293 writers, generative-AI ideas improved ratings for creativity, writing quality, and enjoyment, especially among less-creative participants, but reduced collective diversity. That is the useful […]

How to Learn Writing From Authors Without Copying Them

Eleanor WhitmoreJuly 14, 2026

Hunter S. Thompson retyped The Great Gatsby on his manual typewriter from start to finish, just to feel what it felt like to write a masterpiece. While transcribing two hundred pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald sounds extreme, Thompson was leveraging a fundamental secret of literary craft: knowing how to learn writing from authors requires moving […]

How to Write a Book About Your Life Without Writing Everything

Eleanor WhitmoreJuly 12, 2026

Your life contains far more material than one book can hold. That is the first useful truth to understand. Learning how to write a book about your life is less about remembering everything and more about choosing what deserves the reader’s attention. For photographers, camera operators, and tech-minded creators, think of it like editing raw […]

How to Become a Book Editor: The Complete Industry Roadmap

Eleanor WhitmoreJuly 1, 2026

More than 4 million books are published globally each year, but fewer than 10% pass through the hands of a professional book editor. That gap explains why the publishing world is desperately seeking skilled story mechanics who can translate raw manuscript drafts into sharp, commercial hits. If you have a obsessive eye for visual sequencing, […]

Crucial Words to Cut From Manuscript for a Crisper Novel

Eleanor WhitmoreOctober 15, 2025

Staring at a completed first draft feels like absolute magic until the heavy self-editing phase begins. Pulling up my very first book draft revealed a massive sea of repetitive sentence structures and clunky paragraphs that hidden filler language had quietly bloated. Tightening your prose doesn’t mean stripping away your unique creative voice; it simply means […]

How to Outline a Novel Without Losing Your Spark

Eleanor WhitmoreSeptember 2, 2025

Staring at a blank screen feels completely paralyzing, especially when a brilliant story idea is bouncing around inside your head. Figuring out how to outline a novel is the secret to turning that chaotic beautiful spark into a finished book. Let’s demystify the plotting process together and build a stress-free framework that actually fuels your […]

6 Best Book Writing Software Options for Authors & Writers

Eleanor WhitmoreAugust 4, 2025

Staring at a blank white screen trying to map out a complex 80,000-word manuscript can make any storyteller feel completely overwhelmed. Finding the best software for writing books changed my entire creative process from chaotic notes to a finished, beautiful book. Let’s look at the absolute finest tools available today to help you cross that […]

Spark Your Story With Dynamic Worldbuilding Prompt Guide

Eleanor WhitmoreMarch 15, 2025

Staring at a blank page trying to sketch a map or invent a fantasy culture can make you feel completely stuck. Spending weeks filling out dry questionnaires that ask for the average rainfall of your fictional continent rarely helps you write a better book. Discovering unique writing prompts for world building that focus on direct […]