Writing Tips

Self-Editing–Common Errors and Easy Fixes

February 24, 2014February 21, 2014Writing Tips

Many thanks to Elizabeth for hosting me today. My noir urban fantasy, Gods of Chicago, is currently on tour. Since I’m also an editor, Elizabeth asked me to share some tips for self-editing. If all you’ve heard is the (mistaken) advice that good writers never self-edit, then this post should help dispel the misconception (I hope it does at any rate). If, on the other hand, you’re well steeped in the self-editing tradition, then I’ve got my fingers crossed that I can share some new ideas. Please add your suggestions in the comments, too!

Basics of style

The first editor I worked with gave me a valuable lesson in tightening my prose, beginning with the elimination of the verb to be from my MS. This, like all rules regarding exclusion, should not be viewed as a hard and fast proscription. However, the ‘be’ verb works best when it is limited to those instances where no other verb fits the bill. If you can use another verb in place of the ‘be’ verb, your prose will improve and your readers will thank you.Continue reading

Twitterific Writing Links

February 23, 2014June 3, 2014Twitterific, Writing Tips

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Twitterific links are fed into the Writer’s Knowledge Base search engine(developed by writer and software engineer Mike Fleming) which has over 23,000 free articles on writing related topics. It’s the search engine for writers.

I also wanted to share with my readers that if you’re looking for a new blog or website header (or just to freshen up your site), Eldon Sarte, who created mine, is offering custom blog headers for $39.

A trad pub editor stresses: for-hire ediotrs are not equivalent to in-house editors: http://ow.ly/tRhgS @andrewkarre

How Not to Spam: An Etiquette Guide for Authors: http://ow.ly/tMkrD @annerallen

Do @HughHowey ‘s @AuthorEarnings Add Up? http://ow.ly/tMnPf @stephenpub @philipdsjonesContinue reading

The Ignorance Factor

February 21, 2014February 20, 2014Mystery Writing Tips, Uncategorized, Writing Tips

by Barry Knister, @barryknister

When I first decided to write a mystery series, the initial problem I faced didn’t have to do with writing. It had to do with the crime business.

I’m not talking about the myriad ways in which crime is the business of criminals; I mean the crime-fighting experts who zigzag their way through a landscape littered with clues, in search of answers. We all know who the usual suspects are: police and CSI technicians, private investigators, FBI and CIA agents, medical examiners, lawyers, computer whizzes, etc.

But what if the writer is none of these things, and has no connections with such people? Continue reading

Assessing Pros and Cons of Outlining

February 19, 2014February 18, 2014Uncategorized, Writing Tips

By Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

It must have been 2011 when I was first asked to write an outline of a book for an editor. At that point I’d written four or five books with no outline at all and the request completely freaked me out, although I tried not to let on. I handed in an outline that was something like 20 pages long and probably took me as long to write as a book would have.

At that point, I decided I’d outline just that series, just for that editor (Southern Quilting Mysteries) and use my regular, organic process for my Memphis Barbeque series (Penguin, but different editor) and my Myrtle Clover series (self-pubbed).Continue reading

Ask Questions to Find Your Story

February 17, 2014February 13, 2014Uncategorized, Writing Tips

by C. S. Lakin, @CSLakin

I ask a lot of questions in my line of work as a professional manuscript critiquer and copyeditor. Sure, I also give a lot of suggestions and fix badly constructed sentences. But it’s the questions that get to the heart of the story. Asking authors questions helps them get thinking about what they’re writing and why.

So much important information seems to be missing in so many novels—especially first novels by aspiring authors. Novel writing is tricky; there are countless essential components that all need to mesh cohesively. To me, the key to reaching that goal is to ask a lot of questions.

Questions Create Story

Starting a novel is asking a question. What if . . .? What would someone do if . . .? What if the world was like this and this happened . . .? Then those initial questions lead to more questions, which shape and bring life to characters and story. Questions are the key.Continue reading