

Information Overload: Where to look for (and remove) info dumping in your novel
When you write a novel, there is a lot of information you have to give your readers. They need to learn about your characters, your...
Dec 2, 20194 min read


You’re Such a Know-It-All: Things to consider when writing in third-person omniscient point of view
One of the first things you have to decide when you sit down to write a book is what point of view you’re going to use. The first choice...
Oct 31, 20194 min read


Getting Someplace while Going Nowhere: Two lessons about writing that I learned from stationary swim
Let’s start with the obvious question: What in the world is stationary swimming? It is just swimming while using a contraption—basically...
Sep 6, 20193 min read


Go Ahead. Give Up: Why letting go of a goal is sometimes the right choice
Writing is hard. Building a career out of writing is even harder. That’s why people are always telling writers not to give up. You don’t...
Jul 29, 20194 min read


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....
May 30, 20194 min read


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...
Apr 18, 20194 min read


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...
Jan 4, 20194 min read


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...
Nov 27, 20184 min read


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...
Sep 1, 20184 min read


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...
Aug 1, 20184 min read