One mark of a talented author is rhythmic writing, but this can be a difficult writing strength to master. Rhythm in writing is defined as the way the words and sounds come together, usually to create a beat. Long sentences might sound smoother but more… Read More »How to Vary Your Sentences to Create Rhythmic Writing
As a book editor, I’ve seen fiction novels take place in a variety of settings and even a variety of times, from Tanya S.M. Kennedy’s The Terarch Rebellion (which takes place in a medieval fantasy type setting) to David Charles Shaw’s Brain in a Jar (a futuristic sci-fi novel). If… Read More »The Rules for Referencing Specific Dates in Your Book
What is a writer’s voice? As an author, is it important that you have a unique “voice”? And can every writer have a distinctive writing voice? These are some of the questions my clients ask me. An author’s voice is the unique style, tone, and personality that… Read More »3 Steps to Develop Your Writing Voice
If you’re an author, you should know that your purpose is to create books that are as concise as possible. (After all, that’s my number-one goal as your book editor: To help you create incredible, well-written books!) What does that mean? That means cutting out whatever… Read More »Don’t State the Obvious
I’m just going to say it: If you’re a serious author, you need to be a part of a writers’ critique group. But if you’re an introvert like me, you might be a little hesitant in meeting with a group of strangers (they’re authors, too…but still!) and baring… Read More »4 Best Tips for Joining a Critique Group
Characters drive your story’s plot and help readers connect emotionally with the narrative. Well-developed characters make readers care about what happens to them, which keeps them invested in the story. Essentially, characters and their level of development are one of the key parts that will… Read More »Everything You Need to Know about Creating Great Characters
When you’re writing a high-stakes action scene (like a shootout between your character and the bad guy, for example), one of the greatest disservices you can do to yourself as an author is to write the scene so that the pacing goes too quickly. What… Read More »How to Slow Down Time in an Action Scene
Your book’s beginning—specifically, the first five pages—are the most important for your novel. Why? The first few pages of your book set the tone for the entire novel. Readers who aren’t sure if they want to buy your book will start reading at Chapter 1 and,… Read More »How to Nail Your Book’s First 5 Pages
Finishing a book is bittersweet—even more so when the author creates an impactful last line. The final line of a book is important as it is the last thing the reader will read and will stay with them long after they have finished the book.… Read More »How to Write Your Book’s Final Line
Pacing is everything in a hard-to-put-down novel. In the current market, readers prefer plot-driven fiction, which means that they prefer to read a story about a character overcoming a major obstacle by the end of the book. Yet when your book has underdeveloped sources of conflict, no… Read More »Common Pacing Issues and How to Avoid Them