Category: Blog
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6 Questions When Choosing Your Military Editor
If you’re writing a military-themed book—whether it’s a memoir, thriller, historical novel, or nonfiction account—hiring the right editor can make or break your project. Military writing carries unique demands: readers expect technical accuracy, emotional authenticity, and a sense of realism that honors the subject matter. Not every editor can deliver on those fronts. Here’s what…
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Selecing Literary Agents and Publishers for your Military Non-Fiction book
Writing military non-fiction is a unique mission—one that requires precision, integrity, and a strong understanding of your audience. Whether you’re sharing firsthand combat experiences, historical operations, or lessons in leadership and resilience, choosing the right publisher and literary agent is a critical step in making sure your story reaches the readers who need it most.…
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Why Reading Deeply in Your Genre is the Secret Weapon of Great Writers
One thing I’ve learned through my years of editing and writing books as a Military Editor is that Reading Deeply is a key factor to making a book great. If you want to publish a novel—whether it’s a swoony regency romance, a heart-pounding military thriller, or a twist-filled sci-fi epic—there’s one non-negotiable habit you need…
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What Is a Military Editor? (And Why You Might Need One)
When people hear the term editor, they often think of someone with a red pen, correcting grammar or suggesting word swaps. But what about a military editor? This specialized role goes far beyond basic editing—and it’s essential for veterans, service members, and military-affiliated writers who want to tell their stories accurately and effectively. So, what…
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Bringing Your Story to Life: The Power of Dialogue in Memoirs
As a Military Editor, I get a lot of questions about how to make memoirs more engaging. Memoirs are more than just timelines and facts—they’re about people, emotions, and the moments that shaped your life. One of the most effective ways to breathe life into those moments? Dialogue. When used well, dialogue transforms your memories…
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Types of Military Memoirs
As a Military Editor, I’ve ghostwritten and edited numerous memoirs with Veterans. Memoirs are a powerful way to share personal stories, offering insight, inspiration, and connection to readers. While all memoirs stem from personal experience, they fall into different categories based on their focus and intent. Understanding these distinctions can help writers shape their narrative…
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Establishing your Character’s Scene Goal
Establishing a goal for your character in each scene of a book is important for driving the narrative and engaging the reader. In all good scenes, your point-of-view character will have a goal or desire, something they want to achieve. Each scene in the novel should contain a mini-goal for the character, moving them closer…
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Military Matters
Are your military characters using the right equipment? Do they speak like soldiers? Does your character’s background support the story goals? These are just a few of the questions authors ask themselves when they are writing stories that involve characters with military backgrounds. And this is exactly why you need a Military Technical Advisor to review your…
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Creating Obstacles in Romance
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. you integrate this into your plot? Well, there are conventions you need to think about. In my blog posts, I often speak about Story Grid’s Five Commandments, which should be present in all Acts and scenes of your…
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Randy Surles Interviewed by Victor Marx Part 1
Listen to military thriller editor being interviewed by Victor Marx from All Things Possible.