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Losing Your Voice: Why Strong Writing Isn’t Enough
An Agent’s Perspective
Jan 4
•
Renee Fountain
96
27
13
Subtext: Things Your Characters Shouldn’t Say
How to say, without telling.
Dec 21, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
85
25
14
Direct Thought vs. Interiority: Getting Inside Your Character’s Mind
Going Beyond Those Awkward "She thought" Tags...
Dec 7, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
158
67
27
Front-loading Backstory: Opening Pages Shouldn't Read Like a Wikipedia Entry
Start the Story in the Right Place
Sep 19, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
54
39
7
Tight Writing: The Art of Word Choice
Fewer words. Bigger Impact
Aug 27, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
79
36
12
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Less Is More: An Agent's Case for Cutting the Clutter
Tighter prose, stronger voice, bigger impact
Aug 15, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
49
42
9
The Ticking Clock: Going Beyond Thrillers
A Sense of Urgency for Any Genre
Jul 21, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
27
8
1
Scene-Setting or Inventory List? An Agent's Take on Excessive Description
A Quick Lesson on Chekhov's Gun
Jul 10, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
50
18
10
You Say Plot Device Like It's a Bad Thing: An Agent’s Take on What Works—And What Doesn’t
And How to Tell the Difference
Jul 3, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
39
10
7
Revenge Isn’t a Stake—It’s a Symptom: Why Stakes Matter More than Motive
Ensuring Bigger Consequences for Your Characters
Jun 24, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
36
10
4
The Platform Paradox: What Authors Need to Know to Sell Books
Fiction authors don’t need a platform—until they do.
Jun 13, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
85
48
21
Plot Twist or Cheap Trick: When Technique Replaces Purpose
All Hook. No Substance
Jun 2, 2025
•
Renee Fountain
47
31
2
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Gryphon Quill
Insight & observations on all things writing and publishing from a publishing industry veteran, current NYC agent, & developmental editor.
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