Erin Radniecki • Book Coach

Category: Uncategorized

  • Should You Worry If Your Novel Has a Twin?

    Should You Worry If Your Novel Has a Twin?

    I just finished reading a novel that had some strong similarities to the book that I’m writing – and I’m not mad about it. 

    If you’ve ever had the experience of coming across a published book that resembles your work in progress (WIP), you may have thought something along the lines of, “Ugh, someone else wrote my book and did it better than me! Now I have to start over with a new idea.”

    Step away from the delete key, because I’m here to tell you you don’t need to bail on your book when you discover your WIP has a doppelgänger.

    While at first it may seem that finding a book similar to what you’re writing is a problem, it’s really not the end of the world. 

    You may worry that there isn’t room in the publishing industry for books that are alike, that your idea isn’t original enough, or that you won’t be able to write a book of equivalent quality. Just the knowledge that a book like yours exists in the world can be disheartening, maybe even to the point that you want to give up on your story.

    Let’s take a moment and acknowledge that there are millions of creative people working on novels, screenplays, poetry, music, and art at any given moment. And it’s reasonable to assume that more than one person will find inspiration in a given topic or premise at the same time. 

    There’s actually a name for it when it happens with movies: twin films. (Anyone remember when Antz and A Bug’s Life both came out in 1998?)

    But just like twin films, which have no problem coexisting in the theaters, similar books can absolutely coexist on the bookshelf.

    In fact, here are three reasons it’s actually a good thing to find a novel similar to yours. 

    A Helpful Opportunity

    First, you have a chance to evaluate the book and note what you liked about it, and what didn’t work for you. Ask yourself how your book is different and unique to you. 

    Even though you may be worried these books are twins, if you look closely there will be big differences. They may have similar elements – maybe they are both mythology retellings, or they each have a Deaf protagonist – but it’s unlikely that they are completely alike. Stick with this exercise until you move beyond the panic and are able to compare and contrast the books with a clear head.

    It’s Market Research

    Second, finding a book similar to your WIP proves there is an audience for what you’re writing. People often have particular genres or tropes they like to read, so when they’ve finished a book they loved they’re desperately looking for another book with the same vibes. Knowing there’s a market for books like yours can give you the confidence to keep writing when things get tough.   

    Preparing for Publication

    Third, if you plan on pursuing traditional publishing, you’ll need to be able to name two to four comparative (comp) titles in your pitch materials. 

    A comp title is a published book that is similar to your book and would appeal to the same readers. And if you’ve found a book similar to yours, you now have a new comp title. Even if you’re not thinking about publishing, having a few comp titles in mind makes it easier to tell people what your book is about. 

    Now, back to my WIP and its doppelgänger.

    Did I have any panicked thoughts as I read this new-to-me book? Did I worry that all my efforts had been wasted because another author beat me to the bookshelf?

    Honestly, no. 

    I loved the book, I enjoyed reading it, and it motivated me to keep working on my novel. 

    You read that right: it motivated me to keep writing! 

    Holding a real life example of a book that could sit next to mine in a bookstore or library was exciting. It helped me picture what my book would look like, and what the reading experience would be like for my audience. It also helped me identify areas where I want to level-up my writing.

    Finding a novel similar to your WIP certainly has the potential to send you into a panic spiral. But before you freak out, take a breath and do a reality check. Novels are incredibly complex forms of writing, and each one is created by a unique author who brings their own voice and inspiration. 

    You can write the book you’re dreaming of, and even if you find its doppelgänger, you can be confident that your novel will be unique to you.

  • Beta Readers: Confirmation That Your Book Works

    Beta Readers: Confirmation That Your Book Works

    Here’s a scenario you probably want to avoid: 

    You put your novel out into the world… and nothing happens. 

    Or worse, you get reviews, but they are far from the glowing accolades you had hoped for.

    How do you prevent this fate from happening to your book?

    One way to ensure this doesn’t happen to you, is to get feedback on your novel before you self publish or pitch to agents. 

    Enter: Your beta readers

    What are beta readers?

    Beta readers are a test audience for your book. They read an early version of your novel and provide high level feedback on how the book landed for them, where they were confused, or if something about the story made them put the book down and not finish it. 

    Beta readers can be incredibly helpful as you decide where to focus your energy in your writing and revising. But it’s crucial to your goals that you use them at the right time and choose them well.

    Do you need to use beta readers?

    My short answer is: Yes! 

    Whether you’re planning to pursue traditional publishing or self publish, you need eyes on your book before you can know that it’s ready. 

    You don’t want the first time that someone interacts with your book to be after you’ve released it into the world, be that in publication or during pitching. 

    Why? All writers (myself included) have blind spots for their writing. You see what you believe is on the page, not what is actually written. And because you’re so close to the story, you usually can’t see what’s missing.

    Beta readers provide a fresh perspective and feedback to shine a light on those blind spots.

    What should you look for in a beta reader?

    When choosing your beta readers, think carefully about the people you select. Sharing your writing with others, especially in the early stages, is a vulnerable act. It’s a responsibility that beta readers shouldn’t take lightly.

    I write in this blog post about why you shouldn’t consider family relationships when identifying safe people to tell about your writing. That advice goes double when we’re talking about beta readers! 

    You do not need to hear from doubters and downers right now. Choose people you know will be supportive and gentle, even as they point out the weak parts of your novel.

    You’re looking for a very specific type of person: they should be able to keep in mind that your novel is in its early stages, and is not a polished book that they’d pick up from the bookstore. 

    Especially if you are using beta readers earlier in your process, they need to understand that they are reading a work in progress that will have inconsistencies, typos, and errors – and they need to be okay with that. 

    They also need to be able to follow instructions. You should give beta readers a short, specific list of what kind of feedback you’re looking for, and they should be people who will adhere to those guidelines. A reader who comments on punctuation and grammar errors when you specifically asked them to focus on pacing, is not going to be much help to you.

    Finally, they should be familiar with the genre you’re writing in. If they only read science fiction, and you’re writing a romance, they won’t be familiar with the expectations of your future audience. 

    When should you use beta readers?

    The answer here is… it depends. Specifically, it depends on what your goals are. 

    First, ask yourself if the manuscript is ready enough. Don’t send beta readers a messy first draft and expect them to be able to provide helpful feedback. Make sure you’ve gone through at least one to three rounds of revision. It doesn’t have to be perfectly polished, but if it’s too rough your beta readers won’t be able to follow the story.

    Next, consider the type of feedback you’re looking for. If you want to confirm big picture things, like is the story on the page and believable, you’ll want to seek out beta readers earlier in the process. If you want feedback on more polished elements like pacing and voice, a beta read later in the writing process will be most helpful. 

    Ultimately, I believe there are benefits to both early and late stage beta reads, and you’re best served by doing both. 

    Think of it this way, you want to feel you have a solid story before you spend time revising and refining it. If you wait until you believe your novel is completely finished and polished before you employ beta readers, they may point out a plot problem that sends you back to square one, and all that polishing you did was for naught.

    Getting feedback on your book may feel intimidating, but it’s an important step in writing a novel. You don’t want the first feedback on your novel to come after you’ve self published, or after you’ve started pitching to agents. You want to have an idea of how your novel is landing with readers before you go public in a big way.

  • How to Keep Writing, Even When It’s Hard

    How to Keep Writing, Even When It’s Hard

    I’ve reached an exciting life milestone:  My home is finally free of a child’s play kitchen. 
    (And before you ask, yes, I promise this is related to writing.)

    The play kitchen had been in my dining room for a decade, and honestly there were times I thought I would never be rid of it. I was tired of seeing it day after day, month after month. So when my youngest announced that it was time to find it a new home, I jumped into action.

    Do I miss the kitchen? No, not right now. But I know that some day I will. I’ll look back longingly on the times when a tiny chef would cook me a pretend dinner.

    That’s the thing with phases: it’s hard to appreciate them when you’re going through them. 

    And writing a novel, like parenting, is a big task made up of many phases. You might find some phases fun, while others are less so. 

    But it’s important to find a way to enjoy (or at least appreciate) the phase that you are in, while you are in it.

    Because if you wait until your book is complete to enjoy it, well, you may never reach the finish line. 

    Having the motivation to show up and write is hard when you’re dreading the work. 

    Actively looking for something enjoyable in each phase of the writing process ensures you keep showing up all the way through completion.

    Different phases use different skills

    It can be helpful to notice that each phase of the writing process uses different skills and strengths:

    • Foundational planning involves dreaming big and imagining all the directions your story could go.
    • Writing the first draft uses puzzle solving and pattern identification as you work out exactly how the main character will move through the story.
    • Revising means stepping back and evaluating the big picture.
    • Polishing involves drilling down and looking closely at each paragraph and sentence.

    If you’re in a phase that requires a strength that isn’t in your wheelhouse, it’s understandable that you might struggle. The trick is to figure out how to do the work anyway.

    One approach is to identify a non-writing task that uses similar skills as the writing phase you’re in, and consider how you make that task enjoyable (or at least less painful) in life. What mindset or re-framing tools do you use to tackle a task that doesn’t play to your strengths at work or at home? Can you use a similar approach in your writing?

    Struggling with a writing phase 

    When you’re struggling with a phase of your novel, it can be hard to want to work on it. 

    Perhaps the phase is new and you feel shaky about it. 
    Or the skills needed in this phase don’t match your preferred skill set. 
    You might wonder if you’re doing it right, or if you’re wasting your time and energy. 

    In the moment, a phase can feel uncomfortable, it can be a struggle, or it might even feel painful. But being aware of what’s making it hard can help you find a way through it.

    Check in with yourself and ask, why is this phase feeling impossible? It might be the task itself (like writing in a scene rather than a summary, or improving dialogue), unrealistic expectations you’re putting on yourself, or the slow pace of the work.

    Once you’ve identified the issue, look for a creative way around it. You might tape some paper over your screen to prevent you from editing as you write, or challenge yourself to write the worst dialogue possible. Do something that will lift you out of the heaviness you’re feeling and help you loosen up.

    Each phase is temporary

    Whether you like the writing phase you’re in, or you’re really struggling with it, take time to remember that it is just a phase. By definition, you will eventually complete it and move to a new one. 

    That next phase will likely be daunting in new ways. And when you look back, the old phase may seem easier or simpler. The reality is that since you’ve overcome it, it doesn’t hold the same power that it did when you were in the middle of it.

    As you’re moving through each phase of your writing journey, remember that the work you’re doing is something that most people never even attempt. It may feel uncomfortable right now, but take pride in the struggle. Doing the hard thing is worth it.

    Choosing to write a novel means agreeing to tackle a variety of types of work, from visioning and planning, to drafting and polishing. Not every phase of the process will light you up, but if you can commit to finding some enjoyment at each point you increase your chances of finishing your book.

  • What You Realize After You’re Published

    What You Realize After You’re Published

    One thing I didn’t have on my 2026 bingo card was having a short story published in an anthology! Being included in the Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest Anthology has been an exciting surprise.

    I don’t typically work in short form fiction, and I’d never submitted my writing to a contest, but I thought, why not? The worst that will happen is I’ll get a polite rejection email. I felt like I could handle that. 

    So this past fall, I took a break from revising my novel, wrote and revised a 3,000 word short story, and sent it off to the contest. Three months later, I was thrilled to find out my story had won a prize and was going to be included in the anthology! 

    This past week I had the amazing experience of reading my story, Fragile, in front of a virtual audience at the anthology launch event.

    Now that I’m able to hold the physical book, see my short story in print, and have read a portion of it publicly, I’ve been reflecting on the experience of being published. 

    Here’s what I’ve learned:

    Publishing means giving up control

    I don’t know about you, but whenever I daydream about being published, I envision my words landing perfectly with readers. I can see now how much that is out of my control. 

    Once I’ve released my words out into the world, there’s nothing more I can do beyond promoting my work.

    If I find a typo, or I wish I had written a passage more succinctly, there’s no recourse. If I think of a more apt metaphor or a better turn of phrase, well… that ship has sailed.

    If I have second thoughts about how I represented a character or a place, there’s nothing I can do to change it. (Luckily, I caught those missteps during the revision process.)

    I’m learning that you’re always going to find things you want to change after you’ve seen your writing in print. But you have to find a point where you’re satisfied, and then let the words go out in the world. 

    The alternative is to hold them so tightly that no one else ever gets to experience and benefit from them.

    This is a place where a lot of writers get stuck, and can end up in an endless cycle of revision. As a book coach, I help writers notice when revising is necessary and when it has become a form of procrastination driven by fear. Having a trusted person to help you realize it’s time to let the writing be what it is can make the process feel less agonizing and give you a sense of peace.

    Readers bring their own perspective

    One of the biggest challenges for fiction writers of any format (novel, novella, short story, etc.) is that you have the burden of knowing what you’re trying to say. 

    You can see the story you’re creating in your mind’s eye, which means that when you read your writing, your mind fills in details that aren’t there.

    When a reader picks up your work, they don’t have access to those details. If not done well this can lead to confusion on their part, potentially causing them to put your story down without finishing it. 

    But an outcome that I think is even more frustrating is when someone reads your writing and interprets it differently than you intended. 

    Here’s an example: I was surprised to learn that someone considered the protagonist in my story to be annoying. They didn’t mean that as a derogatory comment, in fact they said, ‘I love an annoying protagonist.’ 

    That gave me pause. I thought I had written a protagonist who was passionate. But as I considered all the details about the character that I had included in the story, I could see how a reader might classify her as annoying. 

    Thoughts, behaviors, and character traits that we create can be interpreted very differently by readers, because they are bringing their own opinions, perspective, and world view to the words.

    I’m learning that you can’t control how readers interpret your work. All you can do is make your best attempt at clearly conveying your story. 

    Quick tip: If it’s important to you that readers feel a particular way about something, use beta readers and specifically ask for their take.

    Sharing your writing can be scary… but it’s worth it

    Writing is by nature a solo activity. 

    You can write hundreds of pages, and if you keep them to yourself no one will ever know they exist. 

    That knowledge can be a comfort. You’re in control, you get to choose if your writing ever sees the light of day.

    But stories are meant to be shared. Words are meant to be read by people other than the writer. The whole point of putting ideas on paper (physical or digital) is to be able to share information. And I think, deep down, writers do want others to read their words. 

    But that means going public. It means being open to readers not ‘getting’ what you’re trying to express. It means releasing control of who talks about your writing and what they say. 

    The biggest obstacle to submitting your writing for publishing opportunities might very well be crossing the threshold from private to public. 

    I get it, it’s scary to put your words out for others to consume – and judge.

    But if you let doubt, uncertainty, and fear of judgement stand in your way, no one will ever read your writing. You’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t find a way to move past doubt and give it a try. 

    There’s a reason I chose a local writing contest as my first foray into sharing my fiction:
    It seemed approachable. 

    I could picture other writers just like me, living in my neck of the world, choosing to be brave and submitting their story for judges to read. That made submitting my story a little less intimidating, and helped me to feel a part of the larger writing community. 

    Even if my short story hadn’t been chosen for the anthology, just going through the process would have been worth it. After all, my identity as a writer changed over the course of six months. I can now say I’m a short story author who enters writing contests!

    It has been a fun experience to write a short story and share it with other people. And it’s something I plan on doing more of in the future, even as I continue to work on my novel. 

    I’ve learned many lessons from this publishing experience. That knowledge will help prepare me for the day that my novel is ready to go out in the world, and it will also help me prepare my clients for the realities of publishing.

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  • Are Writing Prompts Actually Helpful?

    Are Writing Prompts Actually Helpful?

    You’re staring at a blank page, and the words just aren’t coming. What do you do?

    Maybe you turn to writing prompts to help you get the ball rolling. 

    Writing prompts are thought starters. They provide some type of instruction or parameter for you to fulfill. They might be a single word, a phrase, a setting, or a question to answer. Their goal is to provide some inspiration to help you start writing.

    I’ll be honest, I have mixed feelings about writing prompts.

    I see them posted all over social media, and I know they are frequently used in writing workshops. And while using them as a warm up exercise or a fun distraction seems harmless enough, if you’re working on a novel, I question their usefulness. 

    Here’s why.

    I’m a big believer in context – the background that informs a scene and gives meaning to the details in it. It’s because of context that we understand if a reveal or plot twist is positive or negative in relation to your protagonist and their goals.

    A writing prompt is unrelated to your story. It has no context to connect it to your protagonist.

    When you rely on writing prompts, instead of spending time and energy exploring situations that would be meaningful for your main character, you’re writing about something that may lack any connection to your story.

    How Writing Prompts Can Lead You Astray

    Let’s look at a potential situation to give us context. (Hey, there’s that word again!) 

    Perhaps you’re at a difficult point in your novel, like the murky middle, and you don’t know what comes next. You’re sitting, your head is spinning, and none of your ideas seem right. In that situation a writing prompt can feel like a valid way to generate some ideas.

    And that may work. But here’s the problem. 

    Let’s say that a writing prompt really inspires you, and sends you in a completely new direction from what you’ve been writing. The words are really flowing and you love what you’ve come up with, to the extent that you want to include it in your work in progress (WIP). 

    So you start looking for ways to shoehorn it into your story. You twist character motivations and redirect your protagonist’s actions to integrate this new piece of writing. 

    Suddenly a plot that was making sense goes off the rails. The protagonist loses their agency because now you’re trying to set up the dominoes to accommodate this new information that you’re introducing. 

    If you’re making plot decisions based on whims (and I would classify a random writing prompt as a whim), it’s a sign that you need to do more work to understand your protagonist on a deep level.

    How to Use Writing Prompts Successfully

    So, how can you use writing prompts to your advantage when you’re in the midst of your novel? Here are a couple tips.

    First, ask yourself if you’re hiding from something. Why write pages disconnected from a WIP when you could write your WIP?

    The answer to this could be that you’re looking for a little mental stretch break from your novel. But it could also be that you’re avoiding your novel because the writing has gotten hard. Being aware of what’s making writing prompts appealing can help you avoid giving them more attention than they deserve.

    Second, look at the prompt as a way to explore your protagonist’s personality or backstory. This might require zeroing in on the essence of the prompt and adjusting the specifics to align with your WIP. 

    For example, the prompt could be to write a break up scene. If your protagonist isn’t in a romantic relationship or romance isn’t key to your story, you might choose instead to write a scene where they fight with a friend or family member, or you could write about an impactful relationship from their past.

    Use the prompt as a way to add complexity and nuance to what you know about your protagonist, not as a means to add unnecessary details.

    Now, I know not every writing prompt will resonate with you, let alone provoke you to jump ship on the current trajectory of your WIP. But those that do can result in a huge detour of energy and writing time. And once you’ve gone to the trouble of writing something new that you’re excited about, it can feel hard to abandon it.

    So be honest about your goals when using writing prompts. And if you think you’re using them as a replacement for cohesive plot development, it’s time to pump the brakes.