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...
Read moreBlog
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 Write Powerful Metaphors
Metaphors are powerful weapons in an author’s writing arsenal. (See what I did there? That was a metaphor.) A thoughtfully writt...
Read moreHow to Write a Novel Without a Villain
Every novel needs conflict, and every novel needs antagonistic forces. But this doesn’t mean every novel needs a villain (a pers...
Read moreHow to Use Coincidence in Fiction
Years ago, I was staying in a tiny traditional guest house in South Korea for a few days on my two-week journey around the country. Wh...
Read moreDoes an Ellipsis Have Spaces Between the Dots?
I’ve been asked this question a couple of times recently, so I thought I’d clear things up! Does an ellipsis have a space ...
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 moreFREE Get More Clients:
The Ultimate Checklist for Book EditorsSubscribe to Liminal Letters to get this free resource + 10% off all courses. This isn’t one of those boring, impersonal newsletters. It’s a peek behind the curtain at the true intricacies of running an editorial business, sent once or twice a month.
