Editing & Writing Tips
Omniscience vs. Head-Hopping
What many don’t realize is that omniscient points of view are like a storyteller who can see your entire story from start to finish and is relaying it to your reader. They may tell everything, they may withhold for suspense, but however they (the omniscient narrator) chooses to tell the story, they are in essence a singular narrative voice who is delivering the tale to us.
Finding Comps
When looking for comps, stop seeking exact matches and look instead for books that relate to your themes, plot, style and voice, characters, and the general structure of the journey or tale you’re...
Be Wary of Vague Pronoun References
A vague pronoun reference occurs when a pronoun could be referring to multiple antecedents. This lack of clarity can lead to confusion, especially in scenes with a lot of people speaking/acting or...
Tackle Manuscript Revisions in Passes
Revising a first (or second or third) draft can feel overwhelming. Make it easier on yourself by working in pieces—or passes.
Don’t Overuse Character Names in Dialogue
Repeating character names throughout a conversation can come across as stiff and ingenuous.
Improve Your Dialogue with a Mentor Text Exercise
Mentor texts can be a great way to study rhythm and style within a beloved novel. (See my previous tip on using mentor texts.) They can also help writers who struggle with dialogue to learn the art...
Deep Third-Person Point of View
Deep third-person point of view is a form of limited third POV that immerses your reader in the experience of your character by removing most of the narrative voice. It can help bring a stronger...
When Revising, Ask Yourself: Who Cares?
The question may come across as harsh, but it’s one of the simplest ways to decide if elements within your story are working for it, against it, or if (worst case scenario) they’re doing nothing at...
DON’T Query (or Publish) That First Draft!
If you’re planning to query, don’t do so with your first or second draft—and especially not with that rough draft you’re hoping to finish (or have finished) as part of this month’s writers’ contest....
Embrace Variation in Your Writing Style
Do you worry that your writing sounds robotic or monotonous? Sometimes when we're learning to write or rushing to capture a scene on paper, we fall into repetitive structures that result in writing...
“Writing is rewriting.” –Donald Murray
Murray's quote is one that's commonly referenced (sometimes stated as "writing is revising" or some other variation). However you've heard them said, these are three simple words of hard truth....
Organizing Your Developmental Revisions
When transitioning from your drafting phase to revision, it can be useful to approach your changes from the biggest level of edits (plot holes, character development, etc.) first and work your way...
Avoiding Agent and Publisher Scams
Writers want their book babies to be handled and cared for by folks who are truly invested in them and their work. But whether you're hoping to publish traditionally or to self-publish, there are...
Using Superstitions in World-Building
It's Friday the 13th, so let's talk superstitions! For the fantasy, horror, and other speculative writers out there, creating superstitions is a great way to dig into and expand your world-building....
Take Advantage of Grants for Writers & Artists
There’s a hard truth when it comes to self-publishing: the cost falls on the shoulders of the writer, and—when publishing is done right—that cost can be high! If you’re struggling with the costs...
Expanding Your Network, Part II: Literary Events
See Expanding Your Network, Part I: Associations Last week, I highlighted a few writers'/editors' associations to help you begin (or continue) growing your network. This week, I'm focusing on the...
Expanding Your Network, Part I: Associations
Social media is great for beginning to build your writing (or editing) community. Whether your book is out and you need it boosted, you’re in the querying trenches and need to feel understood, or...
Writing Unreliable Narrators
Unreliable narration is a literary device that can create a deeper sense of suspense or mystery, engaging your reader on a fresh level. An unreliable narrator can also be a lot of fun to write. What...
Happy Anniversary to In the Margins
Today is the official one-year anniversary of In the Margins! Fact: Although I’ve been freelance editing since my early 20s—over 16 years now (ouch)—it wasn’t until 2022 that I officially formed my...
Remember: Feedback is Subjective
The end of August was a bit of a hassle with some emergency vet visits (all good now!), so after a brief hiatus from the Friday Tips, I'm back! Writers, you don’t have to accept every edit or...
Writing Believable Dialogue
You've likely heard the advice that you shouldn't write as you speak. When we talk, our sentences are often clipped, full of pauses or ums and ahs, and depending on how quickly our mind is moving,...
Authors, You NEED a Website!
As we witness an upheaval taking place across the social media landscape, it’s important for authors to have a website to serve as the centerpiece of their author brand presence. For many, it sounds...
Choosing Your Editor(s), Part II
After an editor passes your vibe check (see last week's #FridayTip on that!), there are several other questions you’ll want to discuss before you choose who will be working on your manuscript. Here...
Choosing Your Editor(s), Part I
While experience is a key aspect of finding the right editor for your work, it’s not the only thing to consider. Here are the four main things I suggest writers look into when sourcing their editor,...
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