Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing
by Sam “SR” Staley Perhaps no advice has been more instrumental in improving the quality of my fiction than embracing the mantra “Show, Don’t Tell.” I don’t think I fully understood its importance until my second novel was published (which goes a long way...
Revising and Editing, The Business of Writing, The Craft of Writing
By Mark Wayne Adams Beta readers are non-professional readers who can provide useful feedback and suggestions for your book before you hit publish or submit your manuscript to an agent or publisher. They read a pre-release manuscript or sample book to find and improve...
Revising and Editing, The Business of Writing, The Craft of Writing
Even after our previous post here about beta readers and the fabulous discussion on CONVERSATIONS Around the Writer’s Table with Mark Wayne Adams, some questions still linger about this topic. I also want to elaborate further on a few points. One reader/listener asked...
Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
You must appraise your work. Appraising isn’t cold-hearted criticism. It is the effort you make to turn your raw ideas into elaborated beauty. Appraising is your duty. Appraising our work is an uncomfortable phase of the creation cycle, but it is a vital one in order...
Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing, The Writer's Life
When a thing is not done, continuing to work on it is the strength. When it is done, the strength lies in stopping. Work, appraise, complete; work, appraise, complete: this is the creative life. The creative life and the writing process are cycles. We have ideas, we...
Revising and Editing, The Craft of Writing
Point of view is one of the most difficult concepts for authors to master. In this post, fellow editor Heather Whitaker provides some pointers for defining the POV in your book. Heather and I have edited some of the same books, sometimes by coincidence and...
