Looking for Exercises for Writer’s Block This Summer? It’s easy to get into a summer writing slump. There’s so much happening in the summer—vacations, summer camps, festivals, parties, outdoor activities, so many distractions and, heat. But summer also often offers windows of time for writing, if you could just get rid of writer’s block. I […]
My Top 10 Tips to Overcome Writer’s Block Read More »
Why Write about Nature? Nature has been one of the primary inspirations for writers and artists since homosapiens began artist endeavors. What motivates its depiction and interpretations varies somewhat from era to era, century to century, decade to decade, generation to generation. And individual to individual. What is Nature Narrative Writing? Nature narrative writing is
If you’ve been reading my blog this summer, you know that I’ve been focused on genre conversations recently—until last month when I stepped away from genre to discuss the levels of editing. This month I’m going to bring it back to genre and show you how those conversations are—or can be—connected. One of the
Editors are frequently asked about the differences between various types of editing, or the levels of editing. We go over this with every new client, unless they are experienced authors who are thoroughly familiar with the process. But even then, if the author and editor are new to working together, a conversation is probably still
Considering the Levels of Editing for Self-Publishers Read More »
Last month I emphasized the importance of knowing your genre so you can articulate it in discussions with editors and preparation for promotional materials. This month I’m discussing genre again, but this time from another perspective: not allowing it to overly rule your writing. Some books are genre books. They and their authors don’t want
Untying the Genre Knots Read More »
Do you know your book’s genre? That might seem like an odd question for an editor to ask a writer, but there are an array of answers to it. Many writers would know exactly what to say in response. They knew their genre before they even started writing the book—maybe even before they had
A few mornings ago, as I was up early brewing tea, feeding my cats, tossing seed to the birds outside, and preparing for my morning asanas, the sky illuminated deep and bold tones of color that demonstrate why the mountain range to the east of where I live is known as the Sangre de Cristos,
Understanding Your Proofreader’s Work: Non-English Words in English Texts Read More »
There’s a lot of criticism (hopefully constructively stated) involved in the editing phases of the publishing process. Comments and suggestions can be enormously helpful in the revisions process—they can lead to valuable discussion and insights, and it’s often possible to find solutions that satisfy both author & editor/proofread or author & beta reader. However, “helpful”
Constructive Criticism: Had Enough? Read More »
Congratulations on reaching the stage of your self-publishing adventure where you’re ready to bring an editor on board! Working with an editor who understands your message and has the ability to refine it through careful revision suggestions can be a transformative experience. Often, the first round of edits reveals that some crucial rethinking and reorganizing
The Search for a Compatible Editor Read More »
Embarking on a self-publishing journey is an exciting and nerve-wracking experience, and authors who have opted for this route—either of necessity or choice—are often aware of the freedom and added responsibility that goes along with the independence of standing under the umbrella of a publishing house. I’ve been working with such authors, mostly nonfiction writers,
3 Things Self-Publishing Authors Should Know about Working with Editors Read More »
