Editing & Writing Tips
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How to Choose Your Editor(s)
Experience is a key aspect of finding the right editor to work with, but it’s not the only thing to consider. I like to break down my list of things to ask/information to gather into two levels: the vibe check and the details.
Get Messy
The best thing you can do while drafting is to get out of your own way. Worrying that you’re not doing it “right,” or that you’re messing it up, etc. is going to slow down your creativity. Save the...
It’s PADDY’S Day
In the spirit of the day, today's tip is simple: It's St. Paddy’s Day, not “Patty’s.” Paddy is the shortened version of Pádraig (the Irish spelling of Patrick), while Patty is a shortened version of...
Switch Up Your Reading Habits
Strengthen your creative muscles by reading or writing in a genre, tense, or point of view other than the one you usually read or write in. You may not stick with it long-term, but changing things...
Writing Sprints
Ever feel restless, unfocused, or unable to find a rhythm while you write? Try writing in quick sprints! Set a timer for ~15 minutes and focus only on drafting/editing for that time. When the timer...
Freelancers, Know Your Worth
This one is for the freelancers. Whether you’re a freelance writer, editor, illustrator, designer, etc. you have to know your own worth and the value of your expertise and skill. So, why do we...
Mental Reset
Having trouble spotting typos and issues as you revise? Our brains can get used to our own words, skipping over issues because WE know what we meant. Switching up something small like the typeface...
Sidestep Your Blocks
Stuck on a scene or need to research something in order to flesh out the details in your story? It’s OK to make a note to come back later so you can keep writing. Even in publishing there's an...
Fragment Sentences
Fragment sentences are not always the enemy you were told they are. When used intentionally, fragments can be a great means of heightening emotion, emphasizing or making your point, drawing...
Invest in Yourself and Your Writing
For self-publishers, editing and cover art costs can be a huge financial hit. Developing a savings plan as soon as you start drafting a new novel can be a way to get ahead of those costs so that...
Lose the Very
Words like “very” and “really” are fine in conversation, but weaken your writing. Instead, look for a strong adjective. Sites like Lose the Very and Word Hippo can help you find alternatives and...
See You in 2023
As you look to next year and consider resolutions, remember to go easy on yourself. Remember your mental health. Word count goals are great. Number of books (or pages) read is great, too. But so is...
Round vs. Flat Characters
Round characters are complex, with depth and motivation that helps them to evolve throughout the story. Flat characters are, well, flat. We likely don’t know why and how they are who they are or...
Author Website
When I visit your website, I should know from the home page what your latest book is or, if it’s not out yet, what it is and when it’s landing. I should also know where to buy it (and hopefully have...
2023 Resolutions
If your 2023 resolution is going to be to get published, your end of 2022 resolution should be to revise your manuscript. This is a busy time of year for agents and publishers due to NaNoWriMo and...
Don’t Compare Yourself to Other Writers
Stop comparing your draft to published work. Just as we don’t look like magazine models who are taped into dresses or bathing suits and then airbrushed, your draft isn’t going to look as polished as...
Breathe and Be Kind to Yourself
Didn’t hit your word count goal yesterday or last week? Restart the clock. Missed it again? Restart the clock. Forgive and move on. The more time you give to thinking about what you DIDN'T write,...
Beta Reader vs. Developmental Editor
For a writer to improve what isn’t working in their manuscript, they need to know what is. Different professionals can help you in different ways. While beta readers are intended to give you their...
Author Self-Promotion: Planning Your Social Media Strategy
Do you have a social media calendar/planning spreadsheet? Do you schedule your posts? Plenty of folks don’t realize how critical this can be in promoting yourself and your work across multiple...
Line Editing vs. Developmental Editing
I saw a comment in a Facebook group from an editor trying to convince a writer to skip the developmental edit because a line edit is “basically the same thing.” 🚩🚩🚩 This is bad advice! Both line...
Don’t Rush Yourself Out of an Opportunity
I met with the head of a literary agency last week (because: work) and we were talking about NaNoWriMo. This person told me they are already preparing for the influx of submissions “because people...
Friday Tip: First-Person Point of View
First-person POV opens you up to the fun of an unreliable narrator. Because we lose the all-knowing perspective of third-person omniscient, first-person allows for info to be withheld (deliberately...
Friday Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Go Out of Order
Your story doesn’t have to be told in order. Plenty of wonderful books aren’t. But if time is shifting (flashbacks, flash-forwards, flash-sideways) then you as...
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