Before you can plot your novel, you need a solid idea. This phase is all about exploring different concepts and finding one that resonates with you. Today, we’re going to embrace 80s horror—think VHS tapes, neon lights, and synth music echoing through dark, eerie landscapes. Developing an Idea starts with questions. If we start too basic, we could be here all night, so let’s skirt by vague questions like “What is horror?” and go for fun stuff that might build on our 80s horror theme. But aren’t those just overdone tropes? Tropes exist for a reason,…
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Great Expectations: What to Expect From Your Editor
Just like any profession, editors come with varying levels of experience, expertise, and specialties. Some editors may excel in developmental editing, helping you shape your story, while others might be more adept…
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What Happens When I Request an Edit?
Step One – Your Initial Inquiry Fill out my quote form to initiate the process. This tells me more about your book and your expectations for your edit. You can include a…
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Active vs Passive Voice
Look, while we’d like to imagine that authors are masters of their craft, that’s just not always true, and thank God for that. There are a lot of wonderful stories to be…
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How to Get Constructive Writing Feedback
We’ve already addressed how to give constructive feedback with our discussion over TAG and Compliment Sandwiches. But I found this really helpful when I read it, so I want to share it…
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Rules for a Great Writing Group
Greetings! The following are an accumulation of rules and tips that I’ve encountered over the years. So use them with the knowledge that I don’t own them! Workgroup Rules: 1. Be kind.…
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What Kind of Edits Do I Need Right Now?
We need to spend some time talking about what kinds of edits there are before evaluating what you need. At a minimum, most manuscripts need to go through at least three rounds…
