Welcome to First Manuscript
Whether you’re working on your first manuscript or your tenth, hopefully you’ll find new ideas or fresh insights to help you take your work to new levels.
Dax MacGregor
Featured Articles
First Manuscript’s featured articles cover important topics that every writer needs to know. These are our most widely read articles.
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Recent Articles
These are our most recent articles across all categories.
Beta Reader Instructions
After you type those magic words (THE END) into your manuscript, you will want to have a few beta readers review it. Here are the instructions I give my beta readers.
Optimal Word Count for a Novel Manuscript
Whether you hope to get published the traditional way or plan to self-publish, the word count of your completed work is important. Here’s the scoop.
How to Overcome Writer’s Block – A Compendium of Solutions
I’ve compiled the best tips on overcoming writer’s block from all around the web. If your stuck, here are some great ideas to help you break through.
Writing Articles
We cover a wide range of topics designed to help you improve your writing skills.
How to Overcome Writer’s Block – A Compendium of Solutions
I’ve compiled the best tips on overcoming writer’s block from all around the web. If your stuck, here are some great ideas to help you break through.
Types of Foreshadowing (with Examples)
Foreshadowing is an essential ingredient in any good story. There are many ways authors foreshadow. Here are different types of foreshadowing with examples.
Is it All Right to Write Alright?
Is it all right for you to write alright? Here’s what you need to know to get it right.
Storytelling Articles
It doesn’t matter if you are writing biographies, literary fiction or science fiction. You need to share your stories in a way that captivates and engages readers. These articles will help you improve your storytelling skills.
Writing Assistance? Even the FBI Will Help!
Being a newbie author, I needed all types of special assistance. To my surprise, I found nearly everyone I asked willing to help, even the FBI.
My Plot Development Tool: Scenes in Swimlanes
I experimented with a number of plot development tools and techniques, but none of them worked well for me. So I created my own using a spreadsheet. I call it Scenes in Swimlanes.
Taglines Make Characters Memorable
Taglines or catch phrases make it easy for readers to remember a character. When they are done right, even years later, we recall the character with clarity.
Interacting Articles
If you are looking to improve as a writer, it’s important that you interact with other writer and with readers. These articles are designed to help improve the effectiveness of your interactions.
The Right Skin Type To Be A Successful Writer
Successful authors share the same skin type. Do you have what it takes?
Join a Critique Group
My brother recommended joining a critique group. It turned out to be the best writing tip I’ve ever received, not only did I finally receive quality feedback. I found friends who shared common goals.
Publishing Articles
Good writing deserves to be read. These articles discuss ideas or strategies to get your work in the hands of readers.
Book Trailers: Are They Effective?
Do book trailers actually affect book buying decisions? Help me decide by completing my poll and adding your comments.
Condense a Novel into One-Page Synopsis
Sooner or later you will need to condense your entire novel down to a one-page synopsis. For novelists, it’s a herculean task. Here’s how I did it.
Choosing a Pen Name
When I learned that a half-dozen other authors using variations of my real name had books in print, I decided I needed a pen name.