Write On!: Why “debut novel” isn’t synonymous with “first novel”
You’re writing your first novel and dreaming of publishing success. It’s hard work and you’ll take encouragement wherever you can get it....
Quitting Time: The top four things that will make me put down the book I'm reading
There was a time when I would force myself to finish every book I started. (Though, I have to admit, even in those days, I quit Moby Dick...
You're Not the Boss of Me: Why a developmental editor won't tell you what's "wrong" with your book
Most writers agree that hiring an editor to find the errors in their book before they publish is a good idea. But when you start talking...
Time After Time: Common grammar errors when writing in past tense
It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post about the most common grammar errors I find while editing. In this post, I’m going to...
The Full Monty?: How to make the most of your editing budget
When people talk about book editing, they often seem to think “an edit” is a one-step process, as if you send your manuscript to an...
Goodbye, Darling!: What to cut from your novel so that every word counts
I’m sure you’ve all heard the advice: kill your darlings, cut ruthlessly, make every word count. We all know that we’re supposed to...
Blah, Blah, Blah: How to reveal your characters’ emotions without naming them
When you write a novel, you hope that it will make your future readers feel something. Whether you want them to feel terrified or...
Keep Talking: A primer on punctuating dialogue
I edit a lot of fiction, which means I edit a lot of dialogue. I’ve written several blog posts about writing good dialogue over the years...
Step Away from the DeLorean: How to avoid "time travel errors" in your book
One of the things I love about my job as an editor is that every day is different. No two manuscripts have the same combination of...
Embrace the Suck (and other lessons about writing from a budding guitar player)
Last June, I decided to finally get started on a bucket-list item by learning how to play the guitar. I’m a songwriter, and I really...
