POV, or Point of View is a concept that can challenge the new and more experienced author alike. Point of view comes in one of three basic varieties: 1st Person, 2nd Person, 3rd Person. There are variations of each of these, but let's break down the basics. 1st Person POV This is often the easiest POV to recognize, but don't let that fool you. There are nuances to writing in this POV. Stories written in first-person are told from the "I" perspective. Some books will feature a singular first-person POV, meaning the entire story is told from one character's perspective.…

Browsing through some writers' groups this morning, the question popped up about whether authors should include epilogues. And that got me thinking about all the discussions about prologues, too. Should authors use them? Do readers read them? Like everything else when it comes to writing and publishing, the answer is: it depends. What is An Prologue Typically, a prologue is a significant event that occurs well before the main story timeline that either provides a hint at the motivations of a particular character or identifies a significant event that sets off consequences that affect a future story. However, some authors…

The question about chapter length is one I see often: how long should a chapter be? The answer depends on a variety of things, but the short answer is: there is no set or required length for a chapter. Chapter length really can run the gamut. They can be as short as a single word, sentence, or paragraph, and as long as a third of the book. I personally feel like I do most chapters justice in the 3500-4000 word range, but it is by no means a requirement. Genre may also have an impact on your chapter length as…