What Makes The Changeling by Joy Williams A Great Novel
August 15, 2026
This book review of the intelligent, provocative novel re-released by Tin House is from Janet Hoy, owner of The City and The City Books.
This book review of the intelligent, provocative novel re-released by Tin House is from Janet Hoy, owner of The City and The City Books.
It stands to reason that to write well, you’d have to do some good, hard thinking. In fact, thinking while writing the first draft can actually harm your work! Learn the secret behind why that is, the benefit you get from not thinking, and some strategies to help you get into a “don’t think” zone to yield a great first draft!
If your writing feels dehydrated, listless, or uninspired, rather than keep churning away, try shifting gears and using one of our 3 strategies. These are the best way for you to revitalize not only your work—infusing it with new energy and authenticity—but your writing practice. Even 10 minutes will give you new enthusiasm, so you can return to your work refreshed and excited for the writing ahead.
Once a literary agent reaches out to you, they have already determined you meet their criteria. Now it’s your turn to make sure they meet yours. The agent -author relationship is an important one that can make your publishing experience fruitful and positive—or fall flat. Use these 12 questions to interview a potential literary agent before you sign on the dotted line!
We get why you don’t like marketing. Yet the reality is your book will never sell as well, and your career never take off, if you don’t figure out some kind of relationship to it. Our 7 practical, tough-love, rational reasons that marketing is not a choice but essential for authors will give you the push you need to stop letting your feelings prevent you from success and start marketing your book.
Instead of letting rejection deflate your enthusiasm for writing, view it as a chance to “fail up” instead. Check out the 9 reasons rejection is positive for your writing. Enjoy knowing that the more you get, the more you will learn, grow, and become a stronger writer.
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