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,...
- Sep 8
- 3 min
Query Letter 101
A query letter is a formal letter that a writer sends to literary agents or publishers to introduce themselves and their work with the...
- Aug 11
- 6 min
Elements of a successful book: reviews
In this final post in the Elements of a Successful Book blog series, I'm talking reviews—what they are, different types, how to get them,...
- Jul 20
- 2 min
Elements of a successful book: metadata
Metadata feels like a nebulous term, and for many writers, it’s components seem hard to pin down. However, it’s vital that your book has...
- Jul 6
- 5 min
Elements of a successful book: the back cover blurb
You’ve written your book and edited the heck out of it, and you don’t want to deal with it anymore. Sounds about right? But then you...
- Jun 22
- 3 min
Elements of a successful book: title
Book titles and subtitles feel pretty basic—every book has a title (at least), and I don’t think it’s controversial to say that your book...
- May 25
- 5 min
Elements of a successful book: content
Dive in with me as I explore the commonalities between successful books no matter how they were published, what genre they are, or...
- Apr 15
- 5 min
US copyright and permissions
What every writer should know Confusion about intellectual property, copyright, and permissions abound in the self-publishing world. It...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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...
- 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 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...
- Aug 29, 2022
- 2 min
KDP and IngramSpark comparison
Self-publishing is no simple feat. It requires a lot of time, research, and yes, money. It's easy for hopeful authors to become bogged...
- Aug 23, 2022
- 4 min
Reputable self-publishing resources
With the whole wide world of the internet out there, it can be a bit daunting to put your book into the hands of total strangers. How can...
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