Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
Tales and novels have different structures and purposes. Explore the differences and learn why telling tales in the middle of a novel is often not a good idea.
Chapter endings have at least two purposes—to look back at what’s already happened and look forward to what might happen. Both characters and readers benefit from the dual purposes of chapter endings.
Writers can’t write novels of any length, not if they want to be published traditionally. Word count is important, especially for the first-time novelist.
There’s a lot of contention concerning narrative tense—should stories always be told using the past tense or is present tense a true option.
Continue reading Narrative Tense—Right Now or Way Back Then »
Punctuation can overwhelm a sentence or paragraph. Poor punctuation can be a distraction, pulling readers out of the fiction and out of the mood to read your work. Let words tell the story. Use punctuation for other purposes.
Continue reading Use Words, Not Punctuation, To Tell Your Story »
Plot, setting, and character are the three major elements of fiction. Get an overview of what they do and how they interact.
Continue reading Plot, Setting, and Character—Fiction’s Top 3 »
Not knowing how to format a novel for submissions can be more than annoying. Learn how to format your manuscript in a way acceptable to agents and publishers.
Good scene transitions are vital for making your novel move forward without dragging and to keep you, the author, from giving too much importance to every moment in your characters’ lives.
The middle chapters of a novel can give a writer a challenge. The middle section is often bloated and slow. Look at ways to remove sag and bloat from saggy, soggy middles.
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,
freelance editors, and everyone who loves words
***
*****
Copyright © 2010-2018 E. A. Hill Visit Beth at A Novel Edit
Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
