The Pendrilo journal
For the writing life.
Practical ideas for your next chapter, your finished book, and everything in between.
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Show, Don't Tell — and When to Just Tell
"Show, don't tell" is the most common writing advice and the most misapplied. Here's what it actually means — and when telling is the better choice.
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Filter Words: The Quiet Drain on Your Prose
Filter words like "saw," "felt," and "noticed" put a layer of narration between the reader and the scene. Here's how to spot and cut them.
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How to Use Drop Caps in Your Book (Print vs. Ebook)
Drop caps look polished in print, but the same design breaks in many ebook readers. Here's what works, what doesn't, and how to use them safely across both form
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How to Price Your First Ebook (Without Guessing)
How to price your first ebook: the genre going rates, why $2.99 beats $0.99 on KDP, and the launch pricing play that earns reviews without leaving money behind.
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KDP vs. IngramSpark: Which One (or Both)?
KDP vs. IngramSpark for your paperback: how reach, royalties, and returns differ — and why most indie authors end up using both.
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Are Amazon Ads Worth It for Self-Published Authors?
Are Amazon ads worth it for self-published authors? Sometimes. Here's the honest framework for deciding before you spend a dollar.
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How to Write a Book Blurb That Sells
How to write a book blurb that sells: why it's a hook and not a summary, the four-part structure that works, and the mistakes that flatten conversions.
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Front Matter and Back Matter: The Right Order
The correct front matter and back matter order for a self-published book, which pieces are optional, and how page numbers actually work.
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How to Write a Scene Break (And Format It Right)
A scene break marks a shift inside a chapter. Learn when to use one instead of a chapter, how to signal it in prose, and why Pendrilo's scene-break ornaments su
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How Many Beta Readers Do You Need?
How many beta readers do you need? Three to six is the working range for most novels. Here's why, how to recruit them, and how to handle the feedback.
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What Is a Weasel Word in Writing? (And How to Kill Yours)
A weasel word is a vague qualifier that weakens a sentence without adding meaning. Here's how to spot and cut them in your own writing.
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How to Format a Book for KDP Print (Without Getting Rejected)
Format a book for KDP print the right way: trim size, margins, gutter, bleed, and PDF specs explained so your paperback passes review the first time.