Understanding the Custom Manuscript Masterplan: A Manuscript Review Service
For writers navigating the often tricky terrain of revisions, a manuscript review can provide clear direction and feedback on how to...
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MUST-HAVE PUBLISHING RESOURCES FOR AUTHORS
The saying “you don’t know what you don’t know” is so true when it comes to publishing, whether it’s self-publishing or traditional publishing. Authors are writers first and foremost. They know the craft of writing but it’s all the other steps—revising and editing, publishing, and marketing—that can be daunting, even to the most seasoned among them. This blog post compiles more than fifty links to vetted publishing industry resources. And it's still growing! (updated May 2024)
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Jun 143 min read
Top 3 book opening mistakes (and how to fix them)
Every write knows that a strong opening to their book is crucial for engaging readers. It's the first impression, the hook, that either...
May 244 min read
Unraveling your narrative with a reverse outline
Have you ever found yourself lost in the labyrinth of your own writing? Do your characters often run away with the plot? Are you staring...
Jan 194 min read
A guide to using the Pomodoro Technique for writers
Have you ever had the experience of sitting down to complete a task only to find yourself overwhelmed by what needs to be done, unsure of...
Dec 8, 20235 min read
Writing in third person
Limited vs. omniscient narration Third person narration is a literary style where the narrative is told from the perspective of a...
Nov 17, 20234 min read
Dialogue tags & action beats
Formatting attributes of speech alongside action in fiction I've written about the basics of formatting dialogue here. This blog is a...
Oct 6, 20233 min read
Editorial passes vs. rounds
"Passes" and "rounds" are common terms used in book publishing, but their meanings can often become confused. There are, in general,...
May 11, 20235 min read
Dealing with the grammar police
(And why they have nothing to do with editing.) Whether you’re a writer or an editor, putting yourself and your writing in front of...
Apr 27, 20233 min read
Formatting dialogue in fiction
A grammar miniblog Most writers are familiar with the basics of formatting dialogue in fiction such as in the following examples: “I...
Apr 1, 20234 min read
Client story: manuscript review
I’ve received quite a few questions about my new manuscript review service. First, I want to say, no, this is not a review like you might...
Feb 16, 20235 min read
More on vetting editors: work samples
Finding a best-fit editor for your project can be a chore. There’s a sea full of editor-fish but not one of them are alike! A writer must...
Feb 6, 20233 min read
Narrative tense
Writers have a lot to consider when they choose the narrative tense of their novel. Deciding on the right tense for your story has a...
Dec 16, 20223 min read
Line- and copyediting versus proofreading
Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep the stages of editing straight and remember exactly what each one includes. From my experience,...
Dec 8, 20223 min read
Manuscript evaluations
What developmental editors do can be a bit of a mystery to the uninitiated, so I asked some of my DE colleagues for a broad picture of...
Nov 10, 20223 min read
Lowering editing costs
In the editing world, time really is money. Editors have to strike a balance between setting a rate they can live on and completing work...
Nov 3, 20224 min read
What kind of editing do you need?
It’s a wide world of freelance editors out there, and not every editor provides the same types, or levels, of editing. Start your search...
Oct 27, 20223 min read
Style sheets
One of the first things I learned about that was new to me as a freelance proofreader and editor was style sheet creation. Yet, it’s...
Oct 22, 20226 min read
Finding a reputable editor
In an unregulated industry that primarily takes place over the Internet, scammers abound. Indie authors often save for professional...
Oct 11, 20224 min read
An editor's take on proofreading software
There’s no beating around the bush here. Of course, I’m going to tell you that you can’t rely on grammar checking and proofreading...
Sep 29, 20224 min read
Investing in your writing career
Independent authors are faced with many decisions during the self-publishing process, not least of which is determining what type of...
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