Jerry B. Jenkins's Blog, page 3

Types of Irony in Writing

Don’t you find it ironic when you hear of an umpire cheating? Or a fire station burning? 

Irony is simply the contrast between two seemingly incongruous facts.

But irony is often misidentified. Readers and writers might describe a scene or a bit of dialogue as ironic when really it’s not.  

Irony highlights the difference between what is and how things appear to be.  

Irony can create humor, satire, or drama by highlighting the incongruity of a situation. Used correctly, you can use irony to cre...

28 Book Genres and Why They’re Crucial

Guest blog by Vanessa Tym

Mary Shelley didn’t intend to invent a new book genre when she wrote Frankenstein in 1822 but now, over 200 years later, every library and bookstore has a science fiction section.

Since the inception of categorizing literature, dating back to ancient Greece, we’ve been updating, expanding, and rethinking what genre means.

So, let’s take an in-depth look at the most popular book genres.

What is a Genre of a Book and How Many are There? 

A genre is a category characterize...

How to Publish a Book: The Ultimate Guide

So you’ve finished writing your book—perhaps a lifelong dream—and now you want to get it published.

Where do you go from here?

You poured your heart and soul into the writing, and I hope you also spent countless hours editing and revising.

Any seasoned expert will tell you: All writing is rewriting.

Certainly the writing alone took months, maybe years. But you did something few people ever do: You finished writing your book.

Now what?

Maybe you’ve done your homework on the do’s and don’ts of pu...

How to Build Tension to Keep Readers Hooked

Your greatest challenge as a writer is to keep readers engaged.

Your job is to keep them with you page after page to find out what happens.

Inject tension into your work to enthrall readers.

What is Tension in Writing?

Tension is anything in your manuscript—fiction or nonfiction—that causes readers to anticipate. 

Anticipate what? Literally anything.

This tension doesn’t even have to be dramatic or eerie, though it certainly can be—and isn’t that fun? 

But tension can come in any form at all tha...

How to Describe the Setting of a Story

One of the toughest nuts for you to crack as a novelist is where to start.

Two-thirds of my more than 200 published books are novels, so I’ve faced this dilemma more than 140 times.

Trust me, starting never gets easier, no matter how many times you’ve done it. But there are common errors to avoid. I know because I’ve made them. And I’ve also asked agents and editors what mistakes they see in beginners’ manuscripts.

Ready for one of the most common errors?

Starting by describing the setting of yo...

Surviving and Thriving As a Writer in the Age of AI

A Guest Blog by Jodie Hurst

 

The age of Artificial Intelligence is here, and you may be confused as to how you should feel about it. Should you feel happy that super-efficient tools can aid your writing? 

Or should it alarm you that AI can produce in seconds what it takes you hours or even days to write? Will AI make you dependent and affect the originality or integrity of your work? 

The Importance of Adaptation 

To stay relevant, and to truly connect with readers, you need to grow with the ch...

Fiction Techniques for Nonfiction Writers

Fiction and nonfiction are separate genres, but though their labels imply otherwise, they are not wholly opposites. While the first is created from your imagination and the other pulls from real life, both require creativity and vivid expression to become compelling. 

Ironically, the definitions of the two genres could almost be flip-flopped. Fiction works best when it’s believable, and the best nonfiction seems unbelievable and is most effective because the reader knows it’s true.

If your nonfi...

How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?

Writing a book can take a lifetime. But realistically, how long should you expect yours to take? 

If you’re trying to balance a full-time job, a family, or every other priority life throws in your path, where will you find the time—and how much time do you need?

Your book should serve as a way for you to say something important. 

Breaking it into small chunks makes it doable. 

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

But again, where and how do you find the time for those bites? 

You don’...

How to Find Inspiration To Keep Writing Your Novel

Writing a novel can be thrilling.

You may picture an author as a wizard, magically writing page after page as if overwhelmed with inspiration.

Therein lies a myth. Novelists especially must be inspired to write from their passions. Rarely is the writing itself magical, and it’s hardly EVER easy.

The fact is, writing done well is work. In fact, I find it grueling, and I’ve been doing it for half a century. I’m blessed and humbled to call it my career, but I’m even on record that I don’t love writ...

Book Rejections: 3 Ways To Go From Rejection To Success

A guest blog by Sarah Rexford

 

Book rejections are more than a dreaded aspect of traditional publishing. For many authors, they are part of the process. Have you ever wondered how many books are rejected each year? 

Neil Gordon, formerly an acquisitions editor for Penguin Random House, reveals that publishers reject over 99% of submissions. If that seems mind-blowing, stay with me. 

That same editor, actually helped an author—whose work he himself had rejected—land not just one, but two offers ...