Self-Edit: Trim Unnecessary Words
Tighten your writing by trimming unnecessary words and let your verbs do the heavy lifting.
Filter Words Manipulate POV
Writers can use filter words to manipulate point of view.
Filter words “tell” readers what a character is experiencing, often via their senses.
Optional Commas
Commas seem to be one of the greatest stressors for writers, including my clients. It makes sense–the comma is the most versatile punctuation mark and is used in so many different ways.
Adding to the confusion: there are instances where you–yes, you the author–get to decide whether or not to include a comma.
Said Is the Best Dialogue Tag
If a writer sticks to speaking words (said, asked) for their dialogue tags, then the tags will fade into the background for the reader, keeping their attention on the good stuff, the actual dialogue.
Can You Use Song Lyrics in Books?
There’s nothing like finding the perfect song lyrics to capture a moment between characters, or to illustrate the concept you’re trying to express. But think twice before you include the song lyrics in your manuscript.
Growth Mindset for Writers
While having a growth mindset is applicable to so many areas, I love its implications for our writing practices.
Don’t Use This Word Like That (Word Usage, 1 of 3)
Why do we confuse words and conflate their meanings?
Words to Retire (Word Usage, 2 of 3)
Our words impact our readers, so it’s important that we choose them with care.
Words That Are More Exhausted Than These Puppies (Word Usage, 3 of 3)
Let’s dig into some worn-out, tired, exhausted words, words that have become bereft of their actual meanings based on usage.
Start in the Middle
A blank page can be a frightening thing to behold, especially for a new manuscript. There’s so much potential for greatness. And failure.