When you start submitting your short fiction to editors for consideration, the cover letter portion can seem incredibly daunting. What goes into a short story cover letter? And how do you learn to write a short story cover letter that impresses first readers and editors? Let this quick-and-dirty how-to guide be your guide. What Is … Continue reading How to Write an Impressive Short Story Cover Letter
Editing and proofreading. You've probably heard these terms used interchangeably. They're far from the same thing, however. Rather, they're two distinct parts of the editing process, and knowing what the difference between editing and proofreading is can make you seem like a knowledgeable editing client. I've got an easy-to-digest breakdown of the different levels of … Continue reading What Is the Difference Between Editing and Proofreading?
So you've got a completed manuscript on your hands. Congratulations! Now you just have to edit it. But what kind of editing do you need? I've got seven good reasons to hire a developmental editor below. What Is Developmental Editing? A developmental edit takes into account all the "big-ticket" items regarding your manuscript: plot, pacing, … Continue reading 7 Good Reasons to Hire a Developmental Editor
Ever finished a book and wondered how the author managed to pull it off? It's usually because they were working with a great editor. Hiring an editor isn't like pressing the Easy Button, however. Self-editing your fiction is an invaluable part of the writing process, one that too many aspiring authors are quick to skip … Continue reading How to Self-Edit Your Fiction: 3 Issues to Tackle First
Writing better dialogue doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, you can probably improve upon the dialogue you've already written, no matter how bad it is. Here's a handy cheat sheet to help you spot the signs that your dialogue needs work and write better conversations between your characters. How to Write Better Dialogue For … Continue reading How to Write Better Dialogue