When Revising, Ask Yourself: Who Cares?
If your answer doesn't in some way relate to the reader and them experiencing your story in the best way possible, then "revision needed."
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- Nov 24
- 2 min
DON'T Query (or Publish) That First Draft!
Take time away from the manuscript before you revise, then get some insight from beta readers before you revise again.
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- Nov 17
- 3 min
Embrace Variation in Your Writing Style
Mindfulness plays a huge role in becoming a skilled writer. Understand how sentence and paragraph lengths affect your readers.
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- Nov 10
- 1 min
"Writing is rewriting." –Donald Murray
While everyone has their own process, the revision phase of writing is typically a longer journey than the initial drafting.
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- Sep 8
- 2 min
Remember: Feedback is Subjective
If we followed one another on TwiX, you may or may not have seen tweets from me that noted that being able to receive feedback is as much an
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- Jul 28
- 2 min
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...
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- Jun 22
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Don't Be Afraid to Negotiate
If an editor (or cover designer, illustrator, book formatter, etc.) seems out of your price range, don't give up! Ask if they have...
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- Jun 15
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Know Your World
What YOU know about your world and your characters should be greater than what makes it to the page. If you find yourself explaining...
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- Jun 12
- 2 min
Developmental Editing vs. 1:1 Workshopping: Which is Right for You?
Not sure which of my services is right for your story? This is a question I get often when someone first reaches out, and the answer...
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- May 18
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Mindfulness During Revision
Accept even before you begin writing that the final draft of your story or manuscript will likely look very different from the first...
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- Apr 6
- 2 min
Friday Tip: Consistent Verb Tenses
Note: This tip was requested by a follower over on Twitter (Aug. 3, 2023 Update: RIP little bird). Copy editors, please step in to add...
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- Mar 16
- 1 min
Friday Tip: 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...
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- Feb 3
- 1 min
Friday Tip: 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...
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- Jan 27
- 1 min
Friday Tip: 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...
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- Jan 20
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Fragment Sentences
Fragment sentences are not always the enemy you were told they are. When used intentionally, fragments can be a great means of...
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- Jan 6
- 1 min
Friday Tip: 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...
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- Dec 23, 2022
- 1 min
Friday Tip: 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....
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- Dec 16, 2022
- 1 min
Friday Tip: Playing with Punctuation
Playing around with punctuation can not only change the meaning of a sentence, it can also allow you to shape the pacing and emotional...
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- Oct 27, 2022
- 1 min
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...
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- Oct 23, 2022
- 1 min
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...
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