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Self-Editing Fantasy, Memoir & Thriller: Genre Specific Examples
Self-editing shifts by genre – a fantasy writer tracks worldbuilding for consistency, while a memoirist hones emotional clarity and boundaries, and a thriller author builds suspense without leaks. Here are examples for self-editing fantasy, memoir, & thriller to spot in your pages. Fantasy: Continuity & Info Dumps In a fantasy draft, a dragon’s scale color…
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Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: Basics from Browne & King
Before you hire an editor, a few simple self-editing passes can make your draft clearer, stronger, and easier to work with. One of my favorite resources for this stage is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, a book full of practical techniques that help writers tighten prose, clarify scenes, and strengthen…
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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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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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Self-Editing My Writing Prompt
Leaving My Bubble This February I decided to leave my introverted bubble and attend two different writer’s groups that meet locally. One of the groups does a monthly writing prompt and asks members to prepare their prompt to share before the meeting. I had quite a time editing my writing prompt. I don’t consider myself…
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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…
