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Common Fiction Writing Mistakes: Part 2 (POV, Cause & Effect, and More)
Every writer has blind spots. Some over-describe, some jump POV mid-scene, some repeat favorite words without even noticing – and none of this means you’re a “bad” writer, it just means you’re human. These are all common fiction writing mistakes, some grammar related, that are easy to fix. Inconsistent POV (Head-Hopping) Head-hopping happens when a…
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Common Fiction Writing Mistakes: Part 1 (Passive Voice & More)
If you’re worried there are “secret rules” you’re breaking in your manuscript, you’re not alone – most writers feel this way at some point! Let’s break down some common fiction writing mistakes so you know what to work on. Passive Sentence Structure Passive voice sneaks in when the subject receives the action, like “The ball…
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Battling Author Procrastination? Let’s Nudge Those Words to the Page!
Tips for Author Procrastination: Nudge Your Next Words Forward Is your manuscript feeling a bit neglected lately? If so, you are absolutely not alone. All writers – even those with multiple bestsellers and a morning routine worthy of envy – encounter waves of delay. It’s not laziness, it’s simply part of the human creative cycle.…
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Grammar Tips from an Editor
What Do Authors Need to Know? 9 Most Common Grammar Mistakes Whether you are polishing your first manuscript or gearing up for publication, grammar is essential. While storytelling is the heart of your book, clear and correct grammar is the vessel that delivers your story to readers. Even seasoned writers slip up on the basics,…
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3 Signs You Might Be Too Close to Your Manuscript (and what to do about it)
Are You Too Close to Your Manuscript? You’ve been living inside your manuscript for weeks, maybe months, or even years. You know it inside and out. You’ve rewritten scenes, reshaped chapters, reworked whole sections. And now? You can’t tell if it’s brilliant or a disaster. This moment is completely normal, and a telltale sign that…
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Why Editing Isn’t Just About Grammar: It’s About Protecting the Reader’s Experience
When most people hear the word editing, they think of red pens, grammar rules (the dreaded grammar police), and someone wagging a finger at a misplaced comma. But editing isn’t just about grammar. While yes—grammar matters. But as a book coach and editor, I can tell you that editing goes much deeper than sentence structure.…
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Why You’re Not “Too New” to Work with an Editor
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How to Punctuate a Pause
Readers have expectations; writers have responsibilities. How does an author communicate to the reader the way in which they intend the text to be read? Punctuation. How do you punctuate a pause in the text? Let’s explore. We know the basics: a period ends a statement, stop here; an exclamation point shows excitement; a question…
