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The Book Builder's Blog

On The Book Builder’s Blog, C. D. Tavenor discusses the art of crafting novels, from the very beginning concepts that form stories to the editorial processes involved prior to publishing. The blog goes beyond just storysmithing; it considers all the pieces necessary to construct a complete book!

Secrets of Endari #6: Geography

The Shendari Empire dominates a massive swath of land, similar to the Roman Empire or British Empire. Yet there isn't one global power. Oceans and seas separate people groups, and in some places, the open water can be particularly treacherous.

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Don't Post "Dirty" Amazon Links!

When you share your e-book from Amazon, do you just copy/paste whatever is in the URL bar at the top of your screen? You need to stop that right now.

Why? Because everything after the ASIN of your book is extra data Amazon is using to track your search history, who is clicking, and more.

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The Most Controversial Apostrophe in the English Language.

The question—Should writers add an extra “s” after an apostrophe for possessive singular (both proper and common) nouns that end with an “s”?

Yes. Not only is this the rule applied by the Chicago Manual of Style, one of the most prolific style guides used in fiction, but it only ever adds clarity. It’s like the Oxford Comma. I’ll say it again: It only ever adds clarity. More importantly… it actually reflects how the word is pronounced.

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On Writing Critical Reviews

A “good” review isn’t necessarily a five-star review. It’s a well-written review. A “bad” review isn’t necessarily a one-star review. It’s a review that doesn’t communicate anything to a potential reader.

Let’s talk about how to write a “good” critical review.

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