Clichés are fantastic. Clichés are terrible. Clichés are almost impossible to escape. So let's learn what they are, and how to write them better.

The guide for aspiring fiction writers who want to improve, sharpen, review, and/or learn. Warning! This book encourages editing and contains many tips that often require revision. Practice makes perfect, and it's good to workout your mental muscles. The more you do now, the better your writing will be later (because you'll correct yourself *before* you get it on paper). If you think your writing is perfect or you're lazy or unwilling to try new shoes on your baby, just turn away now. You'll find this guide about as useful as hoarding frozen peas.

The advice you will find here follows the Chicago Manual of Style which is widely used by American publishers. There are some variances in style from country to country (and even from American publisher to American publisher.) **It may be easier to search the Table of Contents, as there is no rhyme or reason right now to chapter order.**

You want to publish your book. I did, too. It happened, and the more I learn, the more I realize having an English major doesn't prepare you to be a published author. Here's what they don't teach you in school about what it takes to survive in the publishing business. I can promise you one thing: If you want your book in print badly enough, you can make it happen if you don't give up. #140 in non-fiction 1/19/16 #236 in non-fiction 1/18/16 #371 in non-fiction 3/1/16 #281 in non-fiction 3/3/16 #150 in non-fiction 3/18/16 #67 in non-fiction 8/19/2016 #960 in non-fiction 1/28/2017 with 6.7K views