Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
Not everyone will like what you write and how you write it. An encouragement when the voice of detractors seems louder than the voice of your fans.
Backstory can bring depth to characters and their motivations. It can reveal reasons for the status quo at a story’s opening. But it could overwhelm current story events, if you don’t keep it in its place.
Continue reading When To Bring Backstory Out of the Shadows »
You’re ready for submission, but is your manuscript? Take one final pass through your story using these tips to help with last-minute cleanup.
Some writers have been discouraged from including faith, religion, and beliefs in their fiction. But every subject is open for exploration by writers. And religion can introduce emotion and other elements in a way that other story elements can’t.
Speech and thought patterns should differ from character to character. Learn tips for differentiating character voices.
Who says you can’t use incomplete sentences in fiction? If you were taught that “rule” in school, take your liberty and write in sentence fragments if you want to. Keep in mind, however, than not all incomplete sentences work.
Does grammar matter? If so, to what degree? Is it more important to be grammatically correct or to write the way people speak today? An exploration of prescriptive and descriptive language and grammar in fiction.
Continue reading Rules vs. Practice—Prescriptive and Descriptive Grammar »
Tips for writing character thought and inner dialogue. There are options for punctuation and method.
Continue reading Inner Dialogue—Writing Character Thoughts »
Writers sometimes don’t know how to begin writing a new story, but you can begin anywhere, with any story element. You can begin at any point in the story.
A story can’t be about everything and everyone; there must be focus. Direct characters and readers by pointing them where you want them to go and cut out everything that distracts or doesn’t belong.
The reader will focus on what stands out. Turn the reader's attention where you want it to go.
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freelance editors, and everyone who loves words
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Copyright © 2010-2018 E. A. Hill Visit Beth at A Novel Edit
Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
