Odds are you’ve seen at least the first season of The Hand Maid’s Tale, but have you read the book? If the answer is no,…
Do speech tags need to be descriptive?
Do you feel the need to be creative or descriptive with your speech tags? Do you think that ‘said’ or ‘says’ is a bit boring?…
Six-step plan to help you fall back in love with your unfinished novel
Are you stumped? Not sure where to start? Here’s a suggestion for a way in.
Show don’t tell – its subtle power
You are probably aware of the writing mantra: show don’t tell. There are loads of really helpful posts about it, often illustrated by the pitch-perfect…
Is your book ready send to an editor?
How do you know when your book is ready to send to an editor? I sometimes receive very raw drafts from writers asking for a…
Manuscript appraisal with a difference
Have you written as far as you can go and edited as much as you can? A manuscript appraisal could be the next step for…
Five ways to get back into writing your novel
New Year’s resolution: finish that novel. So this is the year you’re going to finish that novel. Hoorah! But where do you start? Or maybe…
Hyphens are here to help
Hands up if you’re sometimes unsure about when to use a hyphen. I know I was before I studied editing. Here’s a tip: a hyphen…
What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?
Sometimes the words editing and proofreading are used interchangeably, but there is a very clear difference, especially in the publishing world. Here’s the short answer:…
Getting from brain dump to first draft
Are you struggling with your first draft? Have you started with a brain dump and don’t know what to do next? If you prefer to…
Three essential questions to help you write a report or briefing paper
Have you ever found yourself totally stumped halfway through writing a paper, briefing or report? Perhaps you’ve covered all the background and context, made some…
Smooth transitions can help your story flow
Do you feel you need to account for every moment and movement in a scene? I’ve found a lot of new writers do. But look at this extract from Emily Bitto’s beautiful novel ‘The Strays’.