Draft Lantern https://janetwhardy.com/ See the next useful move in your manuscript en Fri, 04 Sep 2026 09:00:00 GMT Write an Author Bio Without Publishing Creditshttps://janetwhardy.com/author-bio-without-publishing-credits/https://janetwhardy.com/author-bio-without-publishing-credits/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTAn author bio without publishing credits should be brief, accurate, and fitted to its context. Build a Book Launch Team Without Turning Friends Into Adshttps://janetwhardy.com/build-a-book-launch-team/https://janetwhardy.com/build-a-book-launch-team/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTBuild a book launch team from willing readers who understand the book and the specific optional help you need. How Literary Agents Work From Query to Rightshttps://janetwhardy.com/how-literary-agents-work/https://janetwhardy.com/how-literary-agents-work/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTA literary agent evaluates projects, offers representation through an agreement, prepares submissions, approaches appropriate editors, negotiates… Publishing Contract Questions to Ask Before You Signhttps://janetwhardy.com/publishing-contract-questions/https://janetwhardy.com/publishing-contract-questions/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTBefore signing a publishing contract, identify the exact rights, territory, formats, exclusivity, term, reversion conditions, payment calculations,… Character Motivation: Give Every Choice Some Pressurehttps://janetwhardy.com/character-motivation/https://janetwhardy.com/character-motivation/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTCharacter motivation explains why a result matters, while a goal names the result being pursued. Choose a Narrative Point of View That Serves the Storyhttps://janetwhardy.com/choose-narrative-point-of-view/https://janetwhardy.com/choose-narrative-point-of-view/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTChoose narrative point of view by deciding whose perceptions shape the story, how close readers sit to thought, and what information the viewpoint can… Developmental Edit vs Copyedit: Fix the Right Layerhttps://janetwhardy.com/developmental-edit-vs-copyedit/https://janetwhardy.com/developmental-edit-vs-copyedit/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTDevelopmental editing addresses large-scale content such as structure, plot or argument, character, pacing, organization, and missing material. Ebook vs Print Formatting: Design for Different Pageshttps://janetwhardy.com/ebook-vs-print-formatting/https://janetwhardy.com/ebook-vs-print-formatting/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTPrint formatting controls fixed physical pages, including trim, margins, gutters, pagination, running elements, and binding-related specifications. Novel Midpoint: Make the Middle Change the Storyhttps://janetwhardy.com/novel-midpoint/https://janetwhardy.com/novel-midpoint/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTA novel midpoint is a major turn that changes the story's operating conditions through revelation, commitment, reversal, costly victory, or decisive failure. Publishing Budget Categories Before You Price the Planhttps://janetwhardy.com/publishing-budget-categories/https://janetwhardy.com/publishing-budget-categories/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTBuild a publishing budget by listing the actual editorial, design, formatting, illustration, proof, distribution, business, marketing, accessibility, and… Query Letter Structure: Present the Book Clearlyhttps://janetwhardy.com/query-letter-structure/https://janetwhardy.com/query-letter-structure/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTA fiction query letter generally includes a relevant opening, concise story pitch, project details, and brief author bio, but the recipient's current… Questions for Beta Readers That Produce Useful Noteshttps://janetwhardy.com/questions-for-beta-readers/https://janetwhardy.com/questions-for-beta-readers/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTAsk beta readers where attention rose or fell, what they expected, what confused them, what the protagonist wanted, which choice felt least believable,… Revise a First Draft Without Fixing Everything at Oncehttps://janetwhardy.com/revise-first-draft-step-by-step/https://janetwhardy.com/revise-first-draft-step-by-step/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTRevise a first draft from large decisions to small ones. Read the complete manuscript, build a reverse outline, diagnose the intended story, and rank… Scene vs Summary: Control Story Time on Purposehttps://janetwhardy.com/scene-vs-summary/https://janetwhardy.com/scene-vs-summary/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTScene lets readers experience a consequential moment unfolding through action, perception, dialogue, and change. Self-Publishing Timeline: Build Backward From Readyhttps://janetwhardy.com/self-publishing-timeline/https://janetwhardy.com/self-publishing-timeline/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTBuild a self-publishing timeline backward from approved print and ebook files. Standard Manuscript Format Without Template Theaterhttps://janetwhardy.com/standard-manuscript-format/https://janetwhardy.com/standard-manuscript-format/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTStandard manuscript format is a readable, consistent submission document rather than final book design. Write a Book Cover Brief a Designer Can Usehttps://janetwhardy.com/write-a-book-cover-brief/https://janetwhardy.com/write-a-book-cover-brief/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTA useful book cover brief defines the reading promise, intended audience, category signals, tone, required text, formats, technical specifications,… Write a Novel Synopsis That Shows the Whole Storyhttps://janetwhardy.com/write-a-novel-synopsis/https://janetwhardy.com/write-a-novel-synopsis/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTA novel synopsis compresses the complete plot and central character arc, including major revelations, climax, and ending. Write Dialogue That Sounds Natural, Not Transcribedhttps://janetwhardy.com/write-dialogue-that-sounds-natural/https://janetwhardy.com/write-dialogue-that-sounds-natural/Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 GMTNatural fictional dialogue is selected rather than transcribed.