Self-editing is an essential skill for any writer. It allows you to polish your work and create a more compelling story. In this comprehensive guide, I lay out various tips and techniques to help you become a proficient self-editor, focusing on novel writing. Drawing inspiration from Evan Marshall's The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing and my own The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine, this article will provide you with a roadmap to successfully edit your novel. 1. Establish a Strong Foundation: Time, Character Goals, and Logical Behavior Ensure Time Tracks Accurately in Your Story An essential aspect of self-editing is ensuring that time flows consistently throughout your novel. This entails verifying that the sequence of events and the pacing of your story are coherent and logical. Pay close attention to details such as the progression of days, weeks, and months, as well as the timing of specific actions and dialogues. Clarify Your … [Read more...]
From Pages to Pixels: A New Kind of Book Illustrated with Animated AI Art
In the ever-evolving world of book publishing, I’m writing a new chapter, a new kind of book illustrated with animated AI art – one that seamlessly merges the realms of literature, art, music, psychology, and technology. I’m using animated AI generated art in short-form video (as you see on Tik Tok and Instagram) to illustrate a webbook designed to be read comfortably on mobile devices. This kind of book revolutionizes the reading experience, transforming a simple story into a dynamic, interactive masterpiece. Yes, it really is a masterpiece, because not only is the imagery in this book illustrated with animated AI art stunningly beautiful, it’s also set to inspiring music created by my husband Kris Newland – see his albums on Bandcamp. And the story is a first-person psychological journey told through archetypal fantasy characters and deep symbolism that combines psychological theories of archetypes and the unconscious mind with Greek myths and Eastern philosophy. The book is … [Read more...]
Writing the Perfect First Paragraph of a Novel
As a writer, I know how challenging it can be to start a novel. You have an idea in your head, but putting it down on paper can be intimidating. The first paragraph of a novel is the foundation of your book, and it's essential to get it right. In this article, I will share a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect first paragraph. Why the First Paragraph of a Novel is Crucial The first paragraph of a novel is the first impression your reader will have of your book. It's your chance to hook them in and keep them engaged throughout the entire story. A great opening paragraph can set the tone for the entire book and leave a lasting impression on your reader. Think of the first paragraph of a novel as a handshake. You want to make a good first impression and establish trust with your reader. If you fail to capture their attention in the first few sentences, it's likely they will put the book down and move on to something else. Understanding Your Genre and Audience Before … [Read more...]
The Ultimate Guide to Worldbuilding in Fiction Writing
Image by JL G from Pixabay As a writer, you have the power to create entire worlds with your words. Worldbuilding is the process of creating a fictional world that is immersive and believable, a place that readers can lose themselves in. In this article, I'll be taking you through everything you need to know about worldbuilding in fiction writing. Understanding Worldbuilding in Fiction Writing What is worldbuilding in writing? It’s the creation of a fictional world, usually one that is entirely different from the real world, but some aspects of worldbuilding also apply to any work of fiction. When writing fiction, you have the freedom to create your own rules, cultures, and geography. Worldbuilding is essential because it helps your readers to understand and relate to your characters and the environments in which they exist. Worldbuilding is not just about creating a setting for your story; it's about creating a complete world that is rich in detail, history, and … [Read more...]
Is What Makes Good Writing Just an Opinion?
Is what makes good writing just an opinion? To answer this I think we need to look at the different levels of editing. Developmental editing This is the level of editing that looks at the book's big picture - the overall structure and story elements such as plot, pacing, characters, world-building, dialogue, descriptions, and so on. Any books on writing that you read that deal with this level of novel writing pretty much agree on what makes a book work at this level. How you apply these commonly agreed upon guidelines to any particular book, however, is necessarily subjective. But one thing I suspect all editors would be able to agree on is whether or not a book needs more work. They could also probably agree on where the problems are, on what isn't working as it should. They are also likely to make the same kinds of general suggestions based on their knowledge of what makes good writing at this level, but they may not agree on how to apply the general guidelines to a … [Read more...]
Fantasy Book Review: The High Priestess by Val Tobin
The High Priestess: Persephone’s Return is the third book in Val Tobin’s Tales from the Unmasqued World Series, and in it she deepens and expands the stories from the previous two book. The book has two central story arcs based around characters we’ve met before. One arc follows Kelsey (a human) who is with Josh and Phillip (both vampires), following on from their story as told in book one, and the other follows directly on from book two with the mages Jaycie and Chase. Through this story we become more invested in the established characters, learn more about the world Tobin has created and get to know previously secondary characters. Unsurprisingly, given the title, this is primarily a book about the female protagonists and their growing strength and acceptance of their power, both developed of necessity. Persephone’s identity is a surprising revelation, and we follow her into the underworld, a place of dark magic and jealous gods. Persephone, it seems, has plans for … [Read more...]
Book Genres – What you Need to Know.
When I wrote my first book, I didn't know much about book genres. I knew I was writing young-adult fantasy, but that was all. Later I discovered the book was also metaphysical fiction and magical realism, and knowing that made it easier for me to find my readers. That's why it's good to know a bit about genres before you start writing. When I wrote Worlds Within Worlds, many years later and with much more knowledge, I knew I was writing magical realism, but when I examined my writing at one point, I knew the plot needed to be stronger, and it was my understanding of genre that helped me know how to pull it together. I realised that it had the makings of a thrilller/suspense style plot, so I strengthened that plot thread in accordance with what thriller readers expect, and the book came together. My knowledge of genres was pivotal in making that book work. Now I realise that the book is also transrealism. And that's an interesting genre. Rose and I have done a video on it, which … [Read more...]
How to See Edits in Word Documents
When you work with an editor on your book, you'll need to know how to see edits in Word documents. You'll want to be able to read the comments they left for you, find the parts you need to look at quickly, and accept or reject edits. For that you need to be able to use the comments, bookmarks and track changes functions in Word. If you trust your editor such that you're happy to hand your manuscript over to them and accept whatever they do, then you can dispense with learning about track changes, but you will need to know how to use bookmarks and read comments. This article refers to Word 365. For older versions of Word, see this post on track changes and this one on comments and bookmarks. Comments Editors leave comments in a manuscript so they can relate their points to a specific part of the book. I leave comments for my authors for two reasons: To educate them by explaining why I've done something; To indicate where there is an issue we need to resolve or … [Read more...]
Finding an Editor You Can Trust
Finding an editor you can trust is vital for a smooth relationship, particularly when you come to check your edits. But trusting your editor is also an important part of the relationship for both of you. Editors don't want clients who don't trust their judgement - it's a recipe for frustration. Your editor needs to be someone you can relate to well, someone who seems to be on the same wavelength as you. They need to be someone who always remembers that it's your book, who can work to your aims for the book, rather than what they think it should be, but they also need to be able to make the changes necessary to fix issues with your book and make it shine. Finding an editor Finding an editor is easy, but finding the right editor for you, once you can trust, can take time. Some authors write and have edited several books before they find an editor they feel they can trust implicitly, so be prepared to shop around. Here are my suggestions for finding an editor you can … [Read more...]
Review of ‘The Guild Codex Spellbound Series’ by Annette Marie
The Guild Codex Spellbound Series by Annette Marie was the first series of her books that I read. I immediately gobbled up the rest of her series in that world, and then those in other worlds. Now I have read all her books. For the reasons why, watch the video. https://youtu.be/eDOwPWgOhMk Buy now on Amazon The Guild Codex: Spellbound (8 book series) by Annette Marie (Author) From Book 1: Broke, almost homeless, and recently fired. Those are my official reasons for answering a wanted ad for a skeevy-looking bartender gig.It went downhill the moment they asked for a trial shift instead of an interview—to see if I'd mesh with their "special" clientele. I think that part went great. Their customers were complete jerks, and I was an asshole right back. That's the definition of fitting in, right?I expected to get thrown out on my ass. Instead, they ... offered me the job?It turns out this place isn't a bar. It's a guild. And the three cocky guys I drenched with a … [Read more...]
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