Dialogue tags & action beats
Formatting attributes of speech alongside action in fiction I've written about the basics of formatting dialogue here. This blog is a...
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- Oct 6
- 3 min
Editorial passes vs. rounds
"Passes" and "rounds" are common terms used in book publishing, but their meanings can often become confused. There are, in general,...
- May 11
- 5 min
Dealing with the grammar police
(And why they have nothing to do with editing.) Whether you’re a writer or an editor, putting yourself and your writing in front of...
- Apr 27
- 3 min
Formatting dialogue in fiction
A grammar miniblog Most writers are familiar with the basics of formatting dialogue in fiction such as in the following examples: “I...
- Apr 1
- 4 min
Client story: manuscript review
I’ve received quite a few questions about my new manuscript review service. First, I want to say, no, this is not a review like you might...
- Feb 16
- 5 min
More on vetting editors: work samples
Finding a best-fit editor for your project can be a chore. There’s a sea full of editor-fish but not one of them are alike! A writer must...
- Feb 6
- 3 min
Narrative tense
Writers have a lot to consider when they choose the narrative tense of their novel. Deciding on the right tense for your story has a...
- Dec 16, 2022
- 3 min
Line- and copyediting versus proofreading
Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep the stages of editing straight and remember exactly what each one includes. From my experience,...
- Dec 8, 2022
- 3 min
Manuscript evaluations
What developmental editors do can be a bit of a mystery to the uninitiated, so I asked some of my DE colleagues for a broad picture of...
- Nov 10, 2022
- 3 min
Lowering editing costs
In the editing world, time really is money. Editors have to strike a balance between setting a rate they can live on and completing work...
- Nov 3, 2022
- 4 min
What kind of editing do you need?
It’s a wide world of freelance editors out there, and not every editor provides the same types, or levels, of editing. Start your search...
- Oct 27, 2022
- 3 min
Style sheets
One of the first things I learned about that was new to me as a freelance proofreader and editor was style sheet creation. Yet, it’s...
- Oct 22, 2022
- 6 min
Finding a reputable editor
In an unregulated industry that primarily takes place over the Internet, scammers abound. Indie authors often save for professional...
- Oct 11, 2022
- 4 min
An editor's take on proofreading software
There’s no beating around the bush here. Of course, I’m going to tell you that you can’t rely on grammar checking and proofreading...
- Sep 29, 2022
- 4 min
Investing in your writing career
Independent authors are faced with many decisions during the self-publishing process, not least of which is determining what type of...
- Sep 22, 2022
- 5 min
Sample edits and why you should get one (or more!)
Not everyone knows they should ask for a sample edit when they are searching for the perfect editor for their book. Here’s what you need...
- Sep 18, 2022
- 3 min
Fired Up Freelance Review
If you're an editor, copywriter, marketing guru, formatter, or any other professional in a freelancing field, and you're looking to level...
- Sep 13, 2022
- 7 min
What's in the price?
There are quite a few articles and blogs circulating around amongst indie author and editor Facebook groups on what goes into the cost of...
- Sep 6, 2022
- 3 min
Hidden benefits of hiring an editor
When you hire a professional editor, the obvious benefit is a polished work as free of typos and mistakes as it possibly can be, but...
- Aug 19, 2022
- 4 min
You've written a book. Now what?
Pat yourself on the back, first of all. You wrote a book! Let that realization wash over you, then set your novel aside. It's time to...
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