What’s the last book that made you cry? James Rebanks’s English Pastoral.

πŸ“š I read a book in a day yesterday. It’s been a while since I did that. And why was I so hooked? πŸ„ Because it’s James. And because it’s Little Strickland. 😊 I genuinely feel privileged. I bet few people have the opportunity to read a beautiful, raw and moving book about the exactContinue reading “What’s the last book that made you cry? James Rebanks’s English Pastoral.”

Reflections on CIEP 2020. Day 2 at the conference.

Another busy but successful day. 😁 I managed to fit in two sessions of #CIEP2020. Total fangirl moment with Denise *the Scottish one* Cowle’s interview with legend of dictionary corner, Susie Dent. I learnt about the etymology of ‘quarantine’, why some words from this year are likely to have short shelf-lives (like quarantini 🍸) andContinue reading “Reflections on CIEP 2020. Day 2 at the conference.”

Reflections on Day 1 of CIEP 2020.

Day 1 of #CIEP2020. What a mood boost 😁 Loved meeting other fiction editors in the networking session this morning. Top folk! This afternoon’s session on style sheets was illuminating. I use them for all my edits yet it was really valuable to see how other people approach them. It’s made me think about aContinue reading “Reflections on Day 1 of CIEP 2020.”

Who’s excited for CIEP 2020?

πŸŽ‰The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) conference begins tomorrow. πŸ–₯️ Online, of course. πŸ‘©β€πŸŽ“ I’m excited to reflect on how far I’ve come since I attended my first conference with them in 2018. πŸ†• Back then, calling myself a newbie editor made sense. I set up my business in the January and startedContinue reading “Who’s excited for CIEP 2020?”

Libraries in Lockdown report: ebook usage increased by 146%.

Wow. Fascinating reading from the Libraries in Lockdown report conducted by Libraries Connected. Ebook usage increased by 146%. That’s amazing. I know that we contributed to the numbers. During lockdown, we downloaded Borrowbox onto our devices and were thrilled by the selection of ebooks and e-audiobooks available. And, remember, the authors of the books youContinue reading “Libraries in Lockdown report: ebook usage increased by 146%.”

Can I make a living wage from self-publishing?

πŸ’· A family friend awkwardly asked my indie-author husband: “But, is it a living wage?” For sure, not everyone who goes down the self-publishing route will make a living out of it. But, if you know what you’re doing, and you put effort into both the creative and business side of things, you can makeContinue reading “Can I make a living wage from self-publishing?”

How can I teach myself to spell? (You’ve just got to get on with it!)

Flannal ❌ Deodorent ❌ Lables ❌ πŸ’¬ Family member: You’ll going to have to improve your spelling if you’re to become an English teacher. 19-year-old me: 😬 True story. These were misspellings on my holiday packing list. πŸ›„ At that time I was doing an English degree. And I had high hopes of being atContinue reading “How can I teach myself to spell? (You’ve just got to get on with it!)”

Yorkshire Day: my favourite Yorkshire dialect words.

πŸ—―οΈ You know I’m a fan of regional dialect. Today is #YorkshireDay and, while that’s not my heritage, the 12 years I spent living there were happy ones. To celebrate the linguistic variety of this beloved place, here are a few of my favourite Yorkshire-isms. (Now, it’s a BIG county so not all folk useContinue reading “Yorkshire Day: my favourite Yorkshire dialect words.”

πŸŽ‰Milestone! I’ve edited 1,000,000 words.

*In the voice of Dr. Evil πŸ“’ ONE MILLION WORDS! ❓So, should I stop calling myself a newbie? πŸ˜† One million words. That’s how many words I have proofread or edited since I started counting. And I started counting in Feb 2018 when I established Cronshaw Editing. Not bad, eh. Alongside teaching, too. πŸ˜… πŸ”’Continue reading “πŸŽ‰Milestone! I’ve edited 1,000,000 words.”

Five top tips for getting the most out of your library.

5️⃣ Top tips for getting the most out of your library. πŸ“š 1. Non-fiction. I look longingly at hardback non-fiction in bookshop windows but talk myself out of Β£15+ purchases. Library non-fiction is a great way to try before you buy.* 2. Maps. During lockdown, I was keen to find new walking routes. Google doesn’tContinue reading “Five top tips for getting the most out of your library.”