Book of the Day Blog

How to outline a novel in 2026: a calm, non-dogmatic guide to plotter vs. pantser and the novel outline methods that actually work — the story spine, the 7-point structure, Save the Cat beats, the Snowflake method, index cards, and reverse outlining.

Our editors’ summer reading list 2026: the best new books of summer 2026, from literary fiction and thrillers to romance, romantasy, and one gripping work of nonfiction — every pick a real June–August release worth preordering.

How to market your book in 2026: a calm, practical guide for first-time authors — building an author platform and email list, BookTok and Bookstagram, reviews, metadata, and a launch that keeps selling.

How to edit your novel in 2026: a step-by-step self-editing guide — resting the draft, the developmental edit, line editing, copyediting and proofreading, and when to hire a pro.

How to get a literary agent for your novel in 2026 — what agents do, how to research and target them, and how to write a query letter, synopsis, and sample pages that get requests.

A step-by-step guide to self-publishing your first book in 2026 — from editing, covers, and formatting to ISBNs, metadata, choosing a platform, pricing, and your launch.

A practical, craft-first guide for first-time novelists — from premise and structure to character, drafting, revision, and your first steps into publishing.