Real talk about traditional publishing.

Home
Notes
Ask the Editor
Archive
About
What's your character gonna DO about it?
Ask the Editor #29
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
13
Ramping up the creep factor with every monster...
Ask the Editor #28
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
13
A final critique before the new year (and an update!)
Ask the Editor #27
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
5
The trick to writing a short synopsis for a novel
Ask the Editor #26
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
12
How to choose a POV for your novel
If you aren't sure which is best for your story, the camera analogy might help.
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
3
Building tension scene by scene
Ask the Editor #25
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
6
A quick guide to dialogue tags.
"It's easy to mess it up," she said. "I hope this helps."
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
15
Finding the right pace in scenes with lots of dialogue.
Ask the Editor #24
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
17
"I mostly write YA, but my latest is MG—should I query it?"
Ask the Editor #23
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
14
Watch your tone. (In your book, that is.)
Try this exercise if you're worried about the voice and tone of your writing.
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
4
Getting to know the other characters in your scene.
Ask the Editor #22
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
9
4 Alternatives to Outlining a Novel
If you fall somewhere in the middle of the plotter-pantster spectrum, this post is for you.
 • 
Michelle Schusterman
3
Real talk about traditional publishing.
Real talk about traditional publishing.
Thoughts on the writing process and traditional publishing from an extremely mid-list author, ghostwriter, and editor.
Recommendations
View all 9
Publishing Confidential
Publishing Confidential
Kathleen Schmidt
Not So Secret Agent
Not So Secret Agent
Sally Ekus
Writing in the Dark with Jeannine Ouellette
Writing in the Dark with Jeannine Ouellette
Jeannine Ouellette
Story Club with George Saunders
Story Club with George Saunders
George Saunders
In the Writing Burrow
In the Writing Burrow
Margaret Atwood

Real talk about traditional publishing.

AboutArchiveRecommendationsSitemap
© 2025 Michelle Schusterman
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture