Gryphon Quill

Front-loading Backstory: Opening Pages Shouldn't Read Like a Wikipedia Entry

Start the Story in the Right Place

Sep 19 • 

Renee Fountain

49

30

6

August 2025

Tight Writing: The Art of Word Choice

Fewer words. Bigger Impact

Aug 27 • 

Renee Fountain

74

36

12

Less Is More: An Agent's Case for Cutting the Clutter

Tighter prose, stronger voice, bigger impact

Aug 15 • 

Renee Fountain

48

42

9

July 2025

The Ticking Clock: Going Beyond Thrillers

A Sense of Urgency for Any Genre

Jul 21 • 

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 • 

Renee Fountain

50

17

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 • 

Renee Fountain

39

10

7

June 2025

Revenge Isn’t a Stake—It’s a Symptom: Why Stakes Matter More than Motive

Ensuring Bigger Consequences for Your Characters

Jun 24 • 

Renee Fountain

35

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 • 

Renee Fountain

83

48

21

Plot Twist or Cheap Trick: When Technique Replaces Purpose

All Hook. No Substance

Jun 2 • 

Renee Fountain

47

31

2

May 2025

The REAL Truth About Agents at Writing Conferences

Setting the record straight on "shady" literary agent practices

May 16 • 

Renee Fountain

86

84

16

The Fear Trifecta: What Really Blocks Your Words

This is not another “Imposter Syndrome” Post

May 4 • 

Renee Fountain

36

26

6

April 2025

The Midbook Slump: Why Great Writing Can’t Save Your Novel

(And How to Fix It)

Apr 25 • 

Renee Fountain

86

32

16