When it comes time to dust off the first draft of your story, after having left it for at least one month, there are certain things you will notice straight off: a) that you’re a genius (yeah!) b) that you’re… Read More ›
editing advice
Editing Tip #97 – Beta Reading for Others Pt.2: Intent (likability)
What’s not to like about getting to read new, upcoming books for free? Well, I guess as a beta reader we’re spending valuable time and the gift of our literate opinion, then again we wouldn’t have accepted a beta book… Read More ›
Editing Tip #96 – Beta Reading for Others Pt.1: Style
One of the best ways to improve our writing is by having someone beta read our book before doing any final self-edits. If you’ve ever had a chance to experience this, it’s uplifting to see a first-reader’s positive responses and… Read More ›
Editing Tip #95 – Have You Started Your Story in the Right Place?
In answer to the question prominently placed above, most writers will give a resounding “YES”… but half of them are likely to be wrong (my personal statistic based on editing others’ work). Over the years I’ve read a number of… Read More ›
Editing Tip #94 – Final Proofs: Don’t Take Anything for Granted
You’re that totally prepared author, you know, the one who’s done at least 3 Drafts of your book: self-edited, peer-edited, beta-edited and professional edited to the point where you’ve just received the final print proof for your book and you’re… Read More ›
Editing Tip #93 – Be Devious with your Character Descriptions
The mark of a truly talented crafts-person when it comes to writing is how the author integrates the physical characteristics of his entourage within the folds of the story. I have read many a book where an author has written… Read More ›
Editing Tip #92 – The Vocabulary Debate: Then vs. Than
It’s interesting that a debate even exists around word-usage in the context of, “Is this the right word for what I’m trying to say?” I mean, it makes sense to ask this when you’re searching for just the right verb… Read More ›
Editing Tip #90 – Evoking the Senses Pt.5: Taste
It’s one thing for someone to give the writing advice of “show don’t tell” or “use the 5 senses” to flush out your characters and scenes… it’s entirely something else to sit down and attempt to do that very thing… Read More ›
Editing Tip #89 – Evoking the Senses Pt.4: Smell
Our brain works on triggers: the baking your grandmother did every Sunday afternoon when she babysat you; your husband’s deodorant; your lover’s aftershave; that farm down the road from your childhood home that always smelled like sheep s**t in the… Read More ›
Editing Tip #88 – Evoking the Senses Pt.3: Sound
Whether you’ve taken extensive creative writing lesson and workshops or you’re doing your best to get by on the advice of blogs and writing magazines, the 5 senses will always be integral to flushing out a scene and bringing depth… Read More ›
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