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.”
Tag Archives: forauthors
What’s the difference between an antagonist and a villain?
š„ Antagonist or Villain: two words for the same thing? Christopher Vogler doesnāt think so. In The Writerās Journey, he explores the distinct dynamics between a hero and an antagonist versus a hero and a villain: āAntagonists 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 ā 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
āØ A Gratitude Post to See Out the Week āØ 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. ā ‘Indie author’: I’m all about the indies, and I love helping early-career authors. š ‘Someone suggested I contact you’: Excellent. I love to hear from people who’ve come to me via word-of-mouth recommendations. š¬ ‘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 āenrichingā! Iāve 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!”
Between the lines: Cherry Edits off the books.
I live and breathe books: that’s true. And a bookish life is the best life of all. But like all the best novels, worldbuilding matters. Today, I’ll share a wider view of what I get up to when I’m not editing. Claire Cronshaw bakes! I’m a basic baker. I often use the cook book that’sContinue reading “Between the lines: Cherry Edits off the books.”
It’s late. You’re reading. You’ll treat youself to the next chapter if… (Poll)
This poll was surprisingly tricky to construct; we all read at different speeds and perhaps our format choice affects our answer… So please take this poll as a jumping-off point, really. I’m interested to hear what the cut-off is when you’re at the end of a chapter and you decide whether or not you wantContinue reading “It’s late. You’re reading. You’ll treat youself to the next chapter if… (Poll)”
Get Your Novel Editor-Ready free webinar: registration closes soon
Early-career writers. Sitting on the fence about whether to join the Get Your Novel Editor-Ready webinar tomorrow? Here’s a taster from our last session in January.* š We show you examples of writing craft gone awry to help you fine-tune your radar for spotting glitches in your own writing. Tomorrow we will cover POV/Perspective asContinue reading “Get Your Novel Editor-Ready free webinar: registration closes soon”
Is it sprang or sprung?
š· Spring has sprung. Or at least it will soon. But what we know for sure is that it hasnāt āsprangā. Tis the season for a grammar explainer. š¦ The Present Tense: ‘Spring’. Iām looking at the verb today. āSpringā as in āto jumpā. Like that mnemonic for the clocks: āSpring forward, fall back.ā LoveContinue reading “Is it sprang or sprung?”
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