Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
In good fiction, characters act in ways that make sense for who they are. When their actions are out of character, the fiction is weakened and readers no longer believe the words on the page. Learn about character motivation and how to weave it into your story.
Writing teachers pound it into us. Books on writing repeat it until we feel we’ve been beaten. And if we’re brave enough to put our work in front of our peers for review, we are pounded yet again—Show, Don’t Tell, our critics intone. But what is meant by this frequently repeated advice?
We all need help with the rules of grammar and punctuation, but sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know. This list can help you with a few rules you might not be familiar with.
read Rules of Grammar & Punctuation—The Weird, Odd, or Unfamiliar »
Want to know if your reason for writing a novel is valid? It is. Whatever gets you to start and then complete your story is a legitimate reason to write.
We add dialogue to our fiction so our characters can communicate. But we also use their dialogue to mis-communicate, to increase tension, to get our characters into trouble. Learn what dialogue can and should do.
Story-specific words add an extra dimension to a story. They are beyond correct punctuation and grammar. They are deeper than plot and characterization. They go to a third level of writing, a level that deals with layers and symbols and meaning and rhythm. Mastery of the elements at this level assures the writer that each story is not only a good read but a great work.
Participial phrases have something to do with writing? You probably think I’m pulling your leg when I say that they do. But I promise I’m not. And I promise you’ll recognize these oddly named phrases once you see them. Learn how to use these modifiers correctly to bring variety and clarity to your writing.
Are there writing basics that every writer should master? Of course. Learn the elements of fiction and how they interact to create memorable stories.
Don’t know exactly what an editor does, what he or she can do for a writer? Check out different categories of editors and see just what they’re looking for when they read your manuscript.
We know that to engage readers, our fiction should touch them emotionally. But how do we guarantee that our writing touches readers on an emotional level? We use techniques that produce emotional responses.
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
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Copyright © 2010-2018 E. A. Hill Visit Beth at A Novel Edit
Write well. Write often. Edit wisely.
