The title may sound like a no-brainer. Fiction is full of dialogue; of course you need to know how to write it! That’s what I thought too. Then I joined a critique group and discovered that one of the aspiring authors didn’t know how to punctuate dialogue. While judging for a writing contest, I read a […]
Common New Author Writing Issues
When I first joined a critique group, fresh from finishing the draft of my first novel, I expected everyone else’s writing to be better than mine. Instead, I found that most of us were at about the same level, we just had different issues that challenged us. As I moved into freelance editing, I discovered that the […]
Is Your Manuscript Ready For Publication?
One of my favorite parts of being the editorial director at Castle Gate Press is the sense of hope that fills me every time I open an e-mail with a submission. Each one brings the possibility of a great story, memorable characters, and plot twists I won’t see coming. I almost hold my breath as I […]
Sci-fi/fantasy writers, don’t spend too long worldbuilding, says podcast
Writers, you’ll agree that it’s certainly a temptation to lose yourself in the details of the world you are building. You want to understand the details of it, like what’s for supper and how it got to the table, for example. Or the special creatures like this fiery deer. What about the geography of the […]
How does a novelist get started?
1. Don’t be a lone wolf. Get with other writers, show them their stuff, help them evaluate theirs. Ask them to brainstorm with you; writers all love brainstorming. A writers’ conference can be a place to make these connections, or a writers’ organization. While it’s great to find people writing in your genre, it’s not […]
Revision Prompt – Dialogue Style
You’ve heard of writing prompts, now we have revision prompts! Each prompt will give you a specific writing issue to check for in your WIP, along with tips on how to fix each. Going through this process one issue at a time will not only help polish your current novel but will also teach you specific ways to […]
Revision Prompt – Semi-Colons
You’ve heard of writing prompts, now we have revision prompts! Each prompt will give you a specific writing issue to check for in your WIP, along with tips on how to fix each. Going through this process one issue at a time will not only help polish your current novel but will also teach you specific ways […]
Writer’s Block – Is Laughter the Best Medicine?
Nearly every novelist experiences it as some point while writing a book. Writer’s Block creeps into the creative parts of your brain, shoves in the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner, and sucks out every drop of your creative juices. Often it comes at the gap between the excitement of a new story and the build-up […]
Watch out for Weasel Words
They may be different for each author, but we all have our weasel words. Like the animal they’re named after, they pop up in unexpected places. They often slip past our awareness when reviewing our work. We are so used to using them that they often don’t even register in our brain as a problem. […]
Revision Prompt – Comma after Introductory Dependent Phrase
You’ve heard of writing prompts, now we have revision prompts! Each prompt will give you a specific writing issue to check for in your WIP, along with tips on how to fix each. Going through this process one issue at a time will not only help polish your current novel but will also teach you specific ways […]