by Renee Fountain | Dec 14, 2025 | Blog
Yes, it’s another submission-inspired article. I’ve recently written about cutting clutter and tight writing. It seems I have to back up and illustrate what clutter and loose writing looks like. Tell me if this sounds familiar: Sarah Williams was a...
by Renee Fountain | Dec 14, 2025 | Blog
I seem to be on a plot device kick lately, so I’m just going with it. Picture this: Your protagonist has twenty-four hours to save their marriage, or one summer to reconnect with their estranged father. Suddenly, every choice matters. Every conversation carries...
by Renee Fountain | Jun 29, 2025 | Blog
During a critique I asked the writer: What’s at stake for your protagonist? What can’t they walk away from without devastating consequences? Their answer: revenge. Writers love revenge. It’s clean. It’s urgent. It’s fun to write. Someone did something awful, and now...
by Renee Fountain | Jun 4, 2025 | Blog
I recently requested a full read of a manuscript I didn’t expect to connect with, based on a pitch that wasn’t quite honed. The concept and time period weren’t quite in my wheelhouse, but I agreed to give it a shot. Within a few pages, the writing pulled me in. The...
by Renee Fountain | Dec 31, 2024 | Blog
During one of my recent writer webinars, I mentioned the importance of being cautious about giving away certain rights to your book before securing a print deal. One wrong move can render your book dead in the water—something I’ve experienced firsthand....
