How to Build a Kitchen: Advice for Revising a First Draft
We always love our Shiny New Idea and think it will be the best thing we’ve ever written. But first drafts are never perfect, and there is often a lot of structural work that needs to be done before they turn into solid manuscripts.
First-Person POV vs. Third-Person POV: Which Should You Use for a Middle-Grade or Young Adult Story?
In general, which POV is right for middle-grade novels and which is right for young-adult novels?
My Advice for New Year’s Writing Resolutions: Don’t Make Any
New Year’s resolutions are a bad idea. We’ve all made them. We’ve all failed at them. We all somehow think that THIS year will be different. But we are always wrong.
All I Want for the Holidays: Time to Write
Taking time for yourself is not selfish. Instead it is about recognizing that your need to create is valid and makes you happier and healthier. And if you’re anything like me, it also makes you more pleasant to be around.
#RevPit #10Queries
On Friday, Oct 25th, 2019, I participated as one of the editors for Revise & Resub‘s mini-event, #10Queries, in which authors entered a raffle to win the chance to submit…
Grammar Rant: Stop Making Up Words!
Irregardless of What You Think, The Reoccurrence of Made Up Words Is Not Okay
Do You Know Your Genre?
Genre has to do with the content of what you write, not the age level for which you write. For example, I could write a sci-fi murder mystery romance for middle grade, or for YA, or for adults. The age group does not affect my genre (except that I probably won’t add a sex scene in the MG version, obvs).
Do You Write Fantasy or Do You Write Magical Realism?
I know you don’t write magical realism. Okay, I’m 99.9% sure. And how do I know this, you ask as you pound your desk in consternation and insist that I am wrong and that OF COURSE you write magical realism?
Please Don’t Give Away Your Work for Free
The other day, I saw a tweet that someone posted about working for free. The person is a book cover designer and is (I assume) trying to grow a new business by offering free book cover designs in exchange for reviews on social media sites. I can only guess that the intention is a signal boost for the designer’s website.
“I’m Talking Here!” How to Make Sure Your Dialogue Can Stand On Its Own
Recently, I was participating in an online discussion with my fellow editors at Angelella Editorial about dialogue. We were all musing about why some clients seem to nail dialogue and…