⏰ “It is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Cyril Northcote Parkinson, The Economist,1955. I gave myself the morning off today and I’m really glad I did. It’s been a mad few weeks and yesterday evening when I hit send on this month’s main editingContinue reading “What is Parkinson’s Law? Knowing this helps me to be a more efficient editor.”
Tag Archives: personalblog
Cherry Edits: making in-roads with traditional publishers.
That’s the proofreading test done for the big ol’ publisher. 🤞 It’s just over two years since I finished P3, my third CIEP training course. And it was noticeable this weekend as I was finishing off the test sample how much more confident I felt than when I did the final course exercises at theContinue reading “Cherry Edits: making in-roads with traditional publishers.”
How writing could help you if you’re feeling stuck.
Feeling stuck? Do some writing. (Or basket weaving or something. Whatever suits. 😁) Caught two minutes of the Steven Bartlett podcast and learnt a cool thing that I’d never thought about before. Well, I have, but not quite in such straightforward terms. Mel Robbins (? — I will look her up…) was talking about peopleContinue reading “How writing could help you if you’re feeling stuck.”
Indie authors: I’m making in-roads with publishers and that will benefit you too.
One of the Big Five traditional publishers has asked me to do a proofreading test. If I’m successful, I will hopefully be added to their freelance pool. The sample is from a fiction manuscript. It’s typeset and will need marking up with PDF tools. It’s ‘proper’ proofreading. As in, it does what it says onContinue reading “Indie authors: I’m making in-roads with publishers and that will benefit you too.”
How do you concentrate on more than one book at once?
❓’How do you stop yourself getting drawn into the novel and staying in the proofreading zone?’ I was asked this question on LinkedIn the other day when I said I was proofreading a thriller, and it got me thinking… I find it pretty straightforward to compartmentalise what I’m reading. I always have several books onContinue reading “How do you concentrate on more than one book at once?”
I enjoy flexing my imagination at creative writing groups. Do you?
I attended Shap writing group again yesterday, this time on Zoom. My second time joining in and it was a lot of fun. There are some proper characters in the group. I mean that with affection. 😊 Like the first time I met them and one of them said he lives near the house whichContinue reading “I enjoy flexing my imagination at creative writing groups. Do you?”
What’s it like working with me? Check out this testimonial.
🎉 A new testimonial. This has kindly been sent to me by S. A. Houghton, author of ‘A Father’s Love’. “Claire was recommended to me by another author, and boy am I glad. I am a first time author so there was quite a lot of work to be done. Still, Claire was able toContinue reading “What’s it like working with me? Check out this testimonial.”
Should you read The War of Art to help you get past writer’s block? After careful consideration: Yes!
I read it in a day. Many people had recommended it to me. Will I recommend it to you…? 😬😅 Well… Yes. It’s certainly something. Definitely some thought-provoking ideas in there. I think ‘provocative’ is probably a good word for it. What did it provoke in me? So, a total mixed bag. But, I amContinue reading “Should you read The War of Art to help you get past writer’s block? After careful consideration: Yes!”
Key message in The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday: stoicism rocks!
So I listened to The Obstacle Is The Way over a couple of days. Finished it while cooking New Year lunch. Unbelievable that Ryan Holiday was 26 when he wrote this. Clever so-and-so! This is what happens when someone reads ALL the books. Great interview with Tim Ferriss at the end as well. Key themes:Continue reading “Key message in The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday: stoicism rocks!”
Why I offer a free sample edit/proofread to indie fiction authors.
Before the festivities begin tomorrow, I’ll be working on a sample proofread for a thriller writer. 1000 words from the middle of his manuscript*. It’s such an important stage of working with a potential client. ✔️ It gives me a flavour of the writer’s style and story.✔️ I get a sense of how much interventionContinue reading “Why I offer a free sample edit/proofread to indie fiction authors.”
CherryEdits 