Tag Archives: forauthors

How readers and writers connect through common experiences

Discover the surprising power of common themes in storytelling. This blog delves into why everyday experiences like love, loyalty, and trust captivate readers and how writers can make familiar concepts feel fresh and engaging. Explore insights from Lisa Cron’s Story Genius and learn how to resonate deeply with your audience by weaving the magic of the mundane into your narratives.

Is ‘Save The Cat! Writes a Novel’ a formula or a framework?

Hey, writers. I’ve got some questions for you about the very popular writing craft book: ‘Save The Cat! Writes A Novel’ by Jessica Brody. 💬 Here’s what the Amazon blurb says about this book: ‘Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to theContinue reading “Is ‘Save The Cat! Writes a Novel’ a formula or a framework?”

Do you need a comma with ‘so’?

If ‘so’ means ‘therefore’ — YES. If ‘so’ means ‘so that’ — NO. And why am I sharing this post? Well, three reasons: To share this tip far and wide. Feel confident about the placement of this comma – Share this post so others can learn from it too. To let you know I shareContinue reading “Do you need a comma with ‘so’?”

Could you make a ‘permeance’ slip? It depends on your process.

Step 1: The creative writer is hammering the keyboard at speed. There’s a slip of the fingers and ‘oops’: they type ‘permeance’ instead of ‘permanence’.Step 2: The writer finishes the manuscript and runs a spell-check. But the spell-check does not see a misspelling.Step 3: The writer self-edits and reads what they ‘think’ is there ratherContinue reading “Could you make a ‘permeance’ slip? It depends on your process.”

What’s the difference between an antagonist and a villain?

🔥 Antagonist or Villain: two words for the same thing? Christopher Vogler doesn’t think so. In The Writer’s Journey, he explores the distinct dynamics between a hero and an antagonist versus a hero and a villain: “Antagonists and heroes in conflict are like horses in a team pulling in different directions, while villains and heroesContinue reading “What’s the difference between an antagonist and a villain?”

James Scott Bell says: Write your blurb before your outline. Thoughts?

James Scott Bell suggests that writers should write their back cover blurb before they start writing. Before they even start outlining. He says:“When you are comfortable with your LOCK elements [Lead, Objective, Confrontation, Knockout – a system to work out a basic plot; described earlier in the book] move on to the writing of yourContinue reading “James Scott Bell says: Write your blurb before your outline. Thoughts?”

The Value of Community in Writing and Editing | A Gratitude Post

✨ A Gratitude Post to See Out the Week ✨ I joined a Zoom meeting the other night and felt nervous while waiting. It was a writers’ group, and their agenda mentioned editing. I thought it might be helpful to join, hoping I could offer something valuable to the discussion. Even if I stayed quiet,Continue reading “The Value of Community in Writing and Editing | A Gratitude Post”

What this editor wants to know from the word go and why this enquiry ticks many boxes

Here’s what I love about this email that landed in my inbox this morning.  ⭐ ‘Indie author’: I’m all about the indies, and I love helping early-career authors. 📞 ‘Someone suggested I contact you’: Excellent. I love to hear from people who’ve come to me via word-of-mouth recommendations.  💬 ‘Would love to chat’: Me too.Continue reading “What this editor wants to know from the word go and why this enquiry ticks many boxes”

Talking to an editor: enrichment for all!

Apparently, talking to me is ‘enriching’! I’ve just come off a Zoom call with the student newspaper group at Notre Dame College in Leeds. I was invited along to talk about my job as an editor. What I really wanted to do was to set my job in context and to show the Year 12sContinue reading “Talking to an editor: enrichment for all!”