An Interesting Story Requires an Interesting Antagonist: Example from Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad

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Being right is one thing. Being persuasive quite another. Often passionate people--myself included--communicate in ways that appeal only to those who already agree with or think like us. We "school" people with facts and logic and congratulate ourselves for our reasoning skills and courage but are confused and frustrated when met with silence and inaction […]

Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, The Underground Railroad, offers an excellent example of the relationship required between the protagonist and antagonist to craft a page-turning, stick-with-the-reader story. The Underground Railroad tells the story of (no spoilers ahead) a runaway slave girl's journey from the plantation she'd been forced to call home across the antebellum South […]

Many authors don't understand the value of book awards or are hesitant to enter them because they've been told that anything they have to pay for is a scam. Are Book and Writing Awards Scams? I'm sure there are scams out there, which is why you must do your due diligence by researching them before […]

originally posted 2015 Are you writing a book but aren't sure which publishing option is right for you? There are many options: traditional, indie, hybrid (sometimes called partner), and self-publishing. This article is designed to help you identify which one fits your needs and goals. I’ll provide a brief overview of each option’s business model, […]

As many of you know, I do not do sponsored posts nor do I use affiliate links or make money in any other way by promoting the work of others. When I do so it’s because I trust the person, respect their work, and truly believe that my clients and readers will benefit from what […]

In June of 2016, my business was profitable enough to have allowed me to quit my day job and be 100% self-employed, but financial health alone cannot sustain a business. Being physically healthy enough to predictably deliver high-quality work is required. And that summer I was in big trouble. Chronic Migraines A chronic migraine sufferer […]

If I offered you a glass of red wine and you accepted, you’d expect red wine. If it was red wine vinegar and I acknowledged that I knew that, you’d likely feel betrayed. I could try to defend myself by saying that both are made from the same kind of grapes and that the vinegar […]