Feb 23, 20154 min read
How to Pack Your Character’s Emotional Baggage: What you need to know about your character
A mistake that many beginning writers make is giving their readers too much backstory. They load their first few chapters with details...
Feb 16, 20153 min read
What to Expect from an Edit
Many authors are understandably nervous when they hire an editor. You have worked long and hard on your book and have poured the...
Feb 10, 20154 min read
Leave 'em Hanging: Should you write a cliffhanger?
Many writers begin a novel with the intent to write a series. The desire is understandable. If you can hook readers with your first book...
Feb 3, 20155 min read
Author Interview - Jennifer Lawler
Today’s post is an interview with the multitalented Jennifer Lawler. She is an author, editor, teacher, and coach, and with over forty...
Jan 26, 20153 min read
Abracadabra!: Realistic expectations and the magic of editing
Working with the right editor can sometimes feel magical. She gets your ideas and fine-tunes them until they sound exactly the way they...
Jan 19, 20154 min read
Grammar Lab: The Three Most Common Errors I See
I edit a lot of books, and I see a lot of errors, but the same few mistakes crop up over and over again. For this week’s blog post, I am...
Jan 12, 20153 min read
Tell Me No. I Can Take It.
“Editing is a conversation, not a monologue.” ~Author and Editor Susan Bell When my daughter was applying to college, she kept asking me...
Jan 5, 20153 min read
How to Be a Tease: Writing a Great Book Blurb
You’ve finished your book and can’t wait to get into the hands of your readers. You know the book is fantastic, but how do you convince...
Dec 29, 20143 min read
New Year's Resolutions to Nurture the Writer Within
Happy New Year! I’m a few days early, but close enough. At this time of year, our thoughts naturally turn to what we want to accomplish...
Dec 22, 20143 min read
Great Writing versus Great Storytelling: Different Types of Editing for Different Issues
In order for a book to be great, two things are required: great writing and great storytelling. You’re not alone if you are asking,...
