Quality Writing, Quality authors

Merriam-Webster defines quality as: “degree of excellence; superiority in kind” (2a, 2b).

So what does it take for a book to be considered excellent and superior? You could Google that question and receive a million—or more—different answers. That’s why we at Thinklings Books thought it important to create our own list of criteria, so that anyone submitting a manuscript to us (or anyone simply curious) can have a reference guide, rather than be left hoping and praying and searching endless web pages.

Of course, as any literary agent, or any professor grading essays or term papers, could tell you, there is a lot of subjectivity when it comes to good writing. We realize there are gray areas and wiggle room, and we keep that in mind when reading any submission. But there are certain general standards on which we will not compromise.

Here are the two lists we compiled, detailing those standards, both for quality writing and for quality authors:

Quality Writing

• The beginning makes us want to read more, and it fits the rest of the book.
• World building and explanations are an organic part of the narrative and don't halt the story.
• There are stakes. The protagonist is able to lose. Actions have consequences.
• Narratives deliver satisfying payoffs to the promises they've made, not avoid difficult-to-write scenes or otherwise cheat the reader.
• Action sequences are more than "stuff happens quickly": they involve character development, story progression, learning, and changes, and they have stakes.
• The narrative tells the truth; it neither sugarcoats it nor indulges in gratuitousness.
• The end is the inevitable (but not always the expected) consequence of the events that took place in the story. It isn't slapped on, and it doesn't involve ex machinas.
• The characters have multiple dimensions. They aren't perfectly good or perfectly evil, and not every decision they make is the right one.

Quality Authors

• Good communicators submit their own manuscripts; unless there is a SUPER good reason for it, they don’t have a third party communicate with us on their behalf. 
• Low-stress interactions require respect for our business hours. We respond to most emails with authors we’re working with within 1–2 business days. Submissions may take longer, depending on our current submissions volume.
• Great writers are willing to take critique. No writer is perfect, and taking criticism, although tough, is an essential part of good writing.

The eight points under Quality Writing are (or will be) discussed in detail in our YouTube video series called Advice from an Editor. A new video in the series comes out every two weeks, until all eight are posted.

Follow the above guidelines, and you’ll have a great chance at getting published with us. We look forward to reading submissions that knock our socks off and keep us turning pages late into the night!

Thanks for stopping by and for your support and interest. Readers and writers like you are why Thinklings Books exists, and we will do our very best to bring you the top-notch fantasy and sci-fi stories you love and crave!
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Sarah Awa

Sarah writes books about werewolves and lives with two hairy guys. Her debut novel is Hunter's Moon and her author website is www.sarahmawa.com.