She Said or Said She – Which Is Right?
February 22, 2022When it comes to writing dialogue, I see two types of uses to indicate who spoke. Here they are in a nutshell: “I’m hungry,” said…
Writer Rants
Best Practices for Writing Descriptions of People and Places
February 22, 2022In my editing of other authors’ novels, I’ve discovered that many authors have a blind spot when it comes to descriptive writing, especially of people…
Should I Offer My Manuscript for Beta Reading?
January 4, 2022What Is Beta Reading? Beta reading is part of the polishing process of your manuscript. It is where you offer your book to a specific…
Pacing and Detail in Your Novel
March 25, 2021First, understand that there are all kinds of readers. Some love non-stop action and adventure, a fast-paced rollicking story that carries them from start to…
Too Much Realism Is Too Much
March 24, 2021A mistake many authors make is trying to be too realistic in their writing. By this, I mean they want to drag a reader through…
Which Point of View Is Better for a Novel?
December 15, 2020There are two common points of view taken when writing novels: the first person (I, me, we) and the third person (he, she, they). Writing…
Using the Point of View to Give the Narrative Character
December 15, 2020As already stated in another article, the point of view (POV) is your most important tool in drawing the reader into your story and creating…
Dangers of Christian Pet-peeve Writing
November 21, 2020As an editor, I occasionally see books that are based on an author’s pet peeve. Topics could be anything from dissatisfaction with how churches are…
Do Your Research When Developing Your Story
November 21, 2020A key to good writing is telling a believable story while creating a willing suspension of disbelief in your readers for those parts of your…
Do I Need an Editor?
November 18, 2020It is nearly impossible to edit your own work thoroughly. Even if you have a strong command of the English language and are adept at…
