Category: How To and Tips
Show Don’t Tell … What The hell?
Show, don’t freaking tell, people! Perhaps the most overused term in fiction editing right now. And I bet you’re bored of hearing it; fed up with checking out pretty much every single writing blog ever and seeing this advice; constantly wondering what the heck this stupid phrase is, and why it’s sooooo stupendously important. Sure […]
Helpful Tips on Historical Research
Many writers set their work in the past, but only a very few have the luxury of a training in historical research. Yet online resources are making it easier than ever before to get to grips with the history that matters to your latest project. As a university historian, I spend a lot of time […]
5 Reasons You Should Still Pursue a Traditional Book Contract
I can’t tell you how often I am asked if I am self-published, and even though it’s a fair question I admit I am a bit sensitive to the assumption that I couldn’t have gotten my book published the old-fashioned way. This is because I worked pretty hard to be traditionally published and while I […]
How To Get The Most Out Of Social Media
As a social media manager with clients in the book world, and a writer with a blog and online presence since 2011, I’ve found ways to get the most out of social media. I run social media courses for writers too and my neetsmarketing blog posts are inspired by questions from clients and course attendees. […]
Editing, a Look at Process
One of the few truisms about the craft is that everyone’s writing process is different. Regular writing schedules, writing even when (especially when?) uninspired, and training to work in less-than-optimal working conditions are fairly standard pieces of advice from career authors. I can vouch for this, as I’m currently working with two preschoolers crawling on […]
How Writing Helps Me With The Empty Nest
It has been my experience that my best novels are rooted in the most painful real life experiences. Bummer, right? Well, not exactly. Since I was young the way I would deal with emotions, particularly sadness, was to write about it. I was a committed daily diary writer, and even once I was an adult, […]
Talking Yourself Down and Talking Yourself Up (aka: Fighting the Two-Headed Dragon of Insecurity)
Insecurity, covered with writhing, glinting scales, is a dragon – a truly frightening creature. But here’s the worst part: the dragon has two heads. The battle against the beast begins the moment you put your fingers to the keyboard with serious intent. Your intent is to be a writer. A writer in the wool-stocking, coffee-gesturing, […]
Choosing Your Words Carefully
Have you ever thought of words which excite a ready response in readers? Choice is important, and in cases of dramatic suspense, vital. Perfumes can awaken some nostalgic sense in the mind of the person who is reading the book. It may be the scent of honeysuckle, or the warm sweetish perfume of a byre, […]
A Writer’s Work Is Never Done
The other day my daughter walked into our family room and asked me for a ride somewhere. I didn’t turn my head; instead I waved her away, “Shh—I’m working!”“Umm, you’re watching TV,” she said. “Yes, I’m watching TV. It’s the last episode of Downton Abbey and yes, I’ve seen it three times. It’s called feeding […]
Is There Any Hope For Qualifiers?
Very, quite, really, pretty, a bit, just, fairly, rather, amazingly, almost, nearly, obviously, clearly… such naughty words! Or are they? Placed directly in front of adjectives or adverbs they are a shorthand method of qualifying the meaning of that adverb or adjective. Sometimes they flounce around by themselves only accompanied now and again by a […]
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