Line Editing Tip: Why Cutting Filter Words Isn’t Always Enough
In fiction, strong point of view (POV) is the reader’s lifeline to immersion. The deeper the POV, the more readers can live inside a c...
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Posts about Editing
How Long Does a Developmental Edit Take?
There’s no one set way for an editor to conduct a developmental edit, and therefore how long one takes will vary widely from editor to...
Read moreWriting Advice Myth: Eliminating ‘to be’ Verbs
There’s a piece of writing advice floating around out there that recommends authors comb through their writing cutting out the word ‘w...
Read moreThe Most Comprehensive Guide to Self-Editing?
Self-Editing for Self-Publishers – Incorporating: A Style Guide for Fiction by Richard Bradburn is an immensely generous book. It’s a ...
Read moreHow to Address Unconscious Biases in a Manuscript
As an editor, it’s your duty to educate yourself on potential unconscious biases that might occur in a piece of writing so you can hel...
Read moreHow to Avoid Starting Sentences with I
You’re editing a first-person narrative and realise nearly every sentence starts with the pronoun ‘I’. It stands out, and feels ...
Read moreHow to Edit Metaphors: A Guide for Line and Copy-Editors
Metaphors are powerful weapons in an author’s writing arsenal. (See what I did there? That was a metaphor.) A thoughtfully writt...
Read moreHelping Authors with Their Novel Synopsis
A synopsis is a one-page summary of a novel, used to demonstrate the author’s story-crafting skills to a literary agent (or publ...
Read moreHelping Authors Write Their Query Letters
If you’re a fiction editor and your author-clients want to follow the traditional route to publication, you might offer to help ...
Read moreDoes an Ellipsis Have Spaces Between the Dots?
Does an ellipsis have a space between each dot (. . .) or should all the dots be together (…)? The short answer? Either is fine....
Read moreThe Different Stages of Editing a Novel
It may surprise you to discover there are three stages of editing that a novel should go through before publication. The first looks a...
Read moreWhy Most Grammar Guides Suck (and Where to Get Answers Instead)
A little while ago I had the pleasure of seeing Professor Geoff Pullum, head of linguistics and English language at the University of ...
Read moreLiminal Letters
The newsletter that shares lessons and reflections on the art and business of editing.Course updates, special offers and honest opinions on the editing and publishing industry – plus insights into the life of a small business owner: how I juggle a toddler (not literally), limited hours and high ambitions while trying to cultivate meaningful work.
