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Why I Would Decline an Edit
I don’t take on every manuscript that’s sent to me for editing. The simple reason is that many are not ready for a professional edit. A look at my reasons for turning down an edit.
Tags: encouragement, first novel, manuscript Posted in: A Reader Asks..., Beginning Writers, For Editors
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Multi-Tasking Characters or Impossible Actions?
Characters look phony and unreal, making fiction seem unreal, when writers give them concurrent actions that can’t possibly happen at the same time.
Continue reading Multi-Tasking Characters or Impossible Actions? »
Tags: multiple action, writing mistakes Posted in: Beginning Writers, Craft & Style, Grammar & Punctuation
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Writing Basics—The Paragraph
There’s much more to a paragraph than what you learned way back when. See what your paragraphs can and should be doing for your stories.
Tags: basics, paragraph Posted in: Beginning Writers, Grammar & Punctuation
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Clear and Simple Writing Advice
New writers need to hear it for the first time and experienced writers need reminders—basic writing advice.
Tags: basics, writing advice Posted in: Beginning Writers, Writing Tips
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The First Draft—What it is and What it isn’t
A novel’s first draft is never the final product. Learn both what’s missing from a first draft and what should be taken out to make it a better manuscript.
Continue reading The First Draft—What it is and What it isn’t »
Tags: draft, first novel Posted in: Beginning Writers, Craft & Style
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How to Write a Novel
How to write a novel—everyone has advice. This is mine. Tips for writing the novel you always said you’d write.
Tags: basics, novel, writing advice Posted in: Beginning Writers, How to
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Invite Readers into Your Story
Invite readers into your story with a compelling open. Readers want to be enticed into new worlds—make yours an attractive one, a world readers will willingly step into, willingly stay in while your fictional events unfold.
Tags: fiction, story opening, writing advice Posted in: Beginning Writers, Writing Tips
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Common Writing Mistakes
Common writing mistakes can be made by any writer at any stage in his career. Write better fiction by being aware of these common writing mistakes.
Tags: fiction, writing mistakes Posted in: Beginning Writers, Writing Tips
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Anyone Can Write a Book
Anyone can write a novel. Or can they? Plenty of people think they can, that it’s easy to craft a story and write a book. But writing a book isn’t as easy as it seems.
Tags: fiction, first novel Posted in: A Writer's Life, Beginning Writers
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Who Needs an Editor
Every writer needs a second pair of eyes. Discover the reasons why you might need an editor and the circumstances when you don’t need one.
Tags: editor Posted in: Beginning Writers, Recommendations
The reader will focus on what stands out. Turn the reader's attention where you want it to go.
Thank you for reading The Editor's Blog, an Internet resource for fiction writers, 