Category: The Editor’s Hat

Advice for writing and editing, along with some thoughts about working with editors.

Open post

While waiting for feedback, LEAVE YOUR MANUSCRIPT ALONE!

The work of a writer is never really done. We are constantly tinkering with that manuscript, because there is always something that could be changed to make it better. But eventually, there comes a point when we have to put that manuscript into the metaphorical drawer and leave it alone.

When that manuscript is in the hands of another person, that's the perfect time to ignore that manuscript. Resist the urge to fix that typo or change that sentence. Just forget about it. Because if you keep tinkering, then the comments that come back might no longer be valid.

But some writers believe they have the perfect solution for this: Just send the editor the latest version. Never might that the editor is now screaming into the void, because everything that they had done up until that point has been made redundant and they have to start over again. But, at least they have the right version now, right?

Excuse me while I sit here with the phone at arm's length as my editing buddies go into a complete meltdown over the situation.

And the fallout is never pretty.

Read More

Open post
Woman with knee tucked up in front of her while typing on a laptop and enjoying a cup of coffee.

18 Tricks for Getting Past Writer’s Block

Writer's block is a real thing, and there could be any number of reasons for why it's happening. You could be out of practice with the flow of writing. Your editing brain could be constantly clicking in and getting in the way of your writing brain. You could be fighting with characters who want to run away with the story, and you could be getting too many ideas from outside sources, distracting you with the new shiny! Or it could be something simple as you're tired and not thinking straight.

Whatever the reason, to deny that writer's block exists is a fool's exercise. However, the ways to get past it count in the hundreds of thousands.

In today's post, I want to just throw some ideas out there on how you could get those creative juices flowing again. This list is far from exhaustive, but the more tools a writer has in their toolbox, the better the chances you have to actually solve the issue that you're having.

Read More

Open post

Hanging a lantern on it is NOT cheating

For those who don't know, the term hanging a lantern on it refers to when writers deliberately highlight something that is not what readers expect, but it is done in such a way that it's a fleeting moment, asking the reader to accept things the way the writer is presenting it. It's an important tool for any fiction writing that deviates from "normal" society.

But there are some writers who believe that hanging a lantern on it is cheating, but it's not. It's asking your reader to trust you and accept the world that you are presenting, asking them to put aside their preconceived ideas and beliefs long enough to enjoy the ride.

In today's post, I want to explore why hanging a lantern on it is an important device to have in your toolbox and how it can actually save a story from the fires of reader criticism.

Read More

Open post
Confused Mother

Is it a blurb or a synopsis? (Publishing term explained)

There are some publishing industry terms that are designed to confuse us. It's like the people who created the terms did it deliberately, determined to make all of us scratch our heads and question the sanity of those around us.

Today's term is doubly confusing, because it has different meanings depending on the context.

Blurb and synopsis. Two words that can have the same meaning, but have completely different meanings at the same time. (I did mention how some terms were designed to confuse us, right?)

Let's break this down and define these terms.

Read More

Open post

Too many short sentences make a scene feel stilted

When I was still new to writing, someone told me that to write a good action sequence you had to use a lot of short sentences. The idea was that short sentences were straight to the point and didn't give you a chance to add fluffy stuff. When I was told this advice, I was told that the short sentences would speed things up. Now that I'm more experienced, I know that this was bad advice and fundamentally not true.

Short sentences can be a great device to add emphasis, which is why this misconception exists. When used wisely, the short sentence can create urgency within your storytelling. However, too many short sentences in quick succession will create a stilted feeling in the narrative that is disjointed and slow to read. It can even make things confusing.

In today's post, we're going to discuss the true nature of using short sentences in action sequences.

Read More

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 14 15 16
Scroll to top