Category Archives: Uncategorized

Come in. The water’s fine. How working with an editor can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

I reckon signing up with an editor must be like looking at the sea and deciding whether you want to dive in. It could be amazing. It might be awful. I shared with you recently that the next six — now eight! — months are looking really decent for me work-wise. All fiction. Perfect. AllContinue reading “Come in. The water’s fine. How working with an editor can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

How 2022 was the year that changed everything. My editing journey.

It’s the end of the year and I’m going to be self-indulgent and reflect on the fact that this was the year that changed everything. Early in 2022, I had a financial story session with Mahmood Reza. We worked out that if I scaled up the editing work I’d been doing part-time, I would beContinue reading “How 2022 was the year that changed everything. My editing journey.”

The best non-fiction I’ve read this year: ‘Dialogue’ by Robert McKee

Ah, this was much harder to decide. But here’s my top NON-FICTION read of the year. (Though I’m not enamoured with your cover, Mr McKee.) I’ve also read McKee’s popular ‘Story’, but I found this one better. It’s less pretentious. More actionable. And thoroughly entertaining. It seems I love learning from non-fiction books with aContinue reading “The best non-fiction I’ve read this year: ‘Dialogue’ by Robert McKee”

The best fiction I’ve read this year: ‘The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue’ by V E Schwab

⭐ The best FICTION I read in 2022 … ⭐ The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue Stunning piece of writing. Gripping plot. Wide-ranging. Spans centuries and geography. I want to tell you my favourite line, but it’s kind of a spoiler, so I won’t. There are fantasy elements for the sake of the story, notContinue reading “The best fiction I’ve read this year: ‘The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue’ by V E Schwab”

The best way to learn is through stories. A review of The Glamour of Grammar by Roy Peter Clark

The best way to learn is through stories. The Glamour of Grammar is not a textbook. It’s a story of language from one who loves its bones. You will remember so much more about language because the lessons here are attached to tidbits, anecdotes and analogies. I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook. Clark narrates his ownContinue reading “The best way to learn is through stories. A review of The Glamour of Grammar by Roy Peter Clark”

Is it OK to end a sentence with a preposition?

Where are you from? 😅From where are you? 😬 People get themselves in knots trying to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition. Roy Peter Clark comes up with three magic words you can add to avoid this. So that you don’t have to face the horror 😱 of ‘from’ being the last word ofContinue reading “Is it OK to end a sentence with a preposition?”

Is it lay or lie?

🛑 Stop the press. At some point I shared my advice on the lie/lay confusable. I thought I did a fairly decent job explaining the difference. BUT! Proper dues to Roy Peter Clark who offers this tip: 💡 Use the vowel sound to remind you. Lay as in place. And Lie as in recline. That’llContinue reading “Is it lay or lie?”

Is it farmers’ market or farmers market? Assassins’ guild or assassins guild?

What does a farmers market have in common with an assassins guild? Well, I consulted this MW article about the former’s apostrophe (or lack thereof) and wondered whether I could apply the principle to the latter…https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/is-there-an-apostrophe-in-farmers-market-punctuation-possessive “Style guides try to make a distinction between possessive phrases and those that are merely descriptive. Since a farmersContinue reading “Is it farmers’ market or farmers market? Assassins’ guild or assassins guild?”