Author Archives: clairecherryedits

Improve your writing craft in 2025 – free and paid options

Looking to improve your writing craft in 2025? Join the free Cherry Edits Writing Craft Facebook group or invest in 1-to-1 coaching for personalised support. Let’s make your writing shine!

Reading outside your genre can help you learn storytelling tricks.

Discover how reading outside your genre can improve your storytelling skills. Learn practical tips, like mastering scene transitions, and explore how techniques from thrillers, romance, and more can enhance your writing.

Can I use song lyrics in my novel?

“Wondering if you can use song lyrics in your novel? This video explains what writers need to know about copyright and permissions. Originally shared in my FB writing craft group as part of #TipThursday, it’s a must-watch for authors tackling this common question. Editing slots available from June 2025; writing coaching opens in the new year!

Should Your Main Character Be Likeable? Insights from K. M. Weiland’s Crafting Unforgettable Characters

Should your protagonist be likeable? In Crafting Unforgettable Characters, K. M. Weiland challenges the notion that niceness is key. Instead, she argues that imperfection and charisma make characters truly compelling. Discover why flaws and internal struggles create more memorable stories.

Let’s talk need vs desire in storytelling. Here’s what John Truby says.

Need and desire are two distinct yet crucial story elements, often misunderstood as a single step. In The Anatomy of Story, John Truby explains how need drives internal transformation while desire propels external action. Understanding and balancing both can elevate your storytelling and deepen audience engagement.

“Never name an emotion,” says K.M.Weiland in Helping Writers Become Authors

Explore K.M. Weiland’s insights on crafting deeply emotional fiction in this blog post inspired by the Helping Writers Become Authors podcast episode, ‘6 Tips to Write Deeply Emotional Fiction.’ Discover why emotions should arise naturally from your story’s context and why ‘naming an emotion’ should be a last resort. Share your thoughts and learn how to master showing emotions through subtext, actions, and reactions. Join the conversation now!

When body parts wander: how to avoid disembodiment in your writing.

It’s spooky season, and we’re diving into the quirks of body parts going for a wander in your writing! But even in spooky stories, context and nuance are key. Join me as I break down when these ghostly limbs work and when they don’t—watch the video to see my editorial thought process in action.

FantasyCon 2024. Will you be there?

Jon and I are excited to attend our first FantasyCon, which is on between the 11th and 13th October 2024 in Chester, UK. We’re both appearing on panels, with Jon discussing the apocalyse, disability, grimdark, and rogues. I’ll be discussing editing, naturally! There are so many sessions on that have piqued my interest, so myContinue reading “FantasyCon 2024. Will you be there?”