Tag: Tips for authors

  • 3 Signs You Might Be Too Close to Your Manuscript (and what to do about it)

    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…

  • Why Editing Isn’t Just About Grammar: It’s About Protecting the Reader’s Experience

    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.…

  • Why You’re Not “Too New” to Work with an Editor

    Why You’re Not “Too New” to Work with an Editor

    So, you’ve written a draft (or you’re in the messy middle) and you’re starting to wonder: Is it too early to get help?Am I even “ready” for an editor?Do I have to be more experienced before I ask for feedback? Let’s clear that up right now:You are not “too new” to work with an editor!…

  • Self-Editing My Writing Prompt

    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…

  • How to Punctuate a Pause

    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…

  • How to Use Track Changes

    How to Use Track Changes

    Okay, so you have just received your manuscript back from your editor and you are freaking out over all of the crazy marks on the page! Take a deep breath! Using Microsoft Word’s Track Changes and Comments features looks scary at first, but I am here to help!

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