Blog

Editing Is a Conversation

Too often people view editing as a one-way service in which the editor “corrects” the author’s prose. To get the most out of the author–editor relationship, however, it’s important to remember two things: • Editing is a conversation. • Edits are suggestions. (Though general principles still apply, the following is geared toward the relationship between […]

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Book Review: The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Any Justin Cronin release is an event. The books of the Passage trilogy are among my favorites (oh, that first hundred pages), and The Ferryman shows the author at the top of his form with this stand-alone. His latest resonates with the motifs readers will recognize from his earlier works: falling, the wonder of stars, […]

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Scene It First Interview with Marshall J. Moore (Ep. 4)

On April 26, 2023, I was thrilled to welcome fantasy author Marshall J. Moore to the fourth episode of Fictionary‘s Scene It First series, in which we speak with bestselling, award-winning authors to talk about first scenes, share secrets of writing craft, and celebrate the stories that thrill and inspire us all. In this episode, […]

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Fictionary Interview with Authenticity Reader Crystal Shelley

On April 4, 2023, I was pleased to interview authenticity reader Crystal Shelley before a live audience in the Fictionary community. I’ve long benefited from the resources Crystal produces, and I have unending respect for her and for the way she approaches her work. In this informative interview Crystal sheds light on authenticity reading and […]

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Scene It First Interview with Rio Youers (Ep. 3)

The third episode of the Fictionary Scene It First interview series welcomed bestselling author Rio Youers on March 22, 2023. In this episode, Rio talked about his graphic adaptations (Sleeping Beauties, Refrigerator Full of Heads) and novels such as The Forgotten Girl, Halcyon, Lola on Fire, and No Second Chances. Just before the seven-minute mark, […]

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Fictionary Interview with Ellen Jovin

On March 4, 2023, I had the honor of interviewing Ellen Jovin, author of Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian. In this lively discussion we talked about her adventures with the Grammar Table, her approach to language, and the wonders of the English language.   Upcoming interviews can be joined […]

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Scene It First with Delancey Stewart (Ep. 2)

The second episode of the Fictionary Scene It First interview series welcomed bestselling romance author Delancey Stewart on February 22, 2023. In this episode, Delancey talked about all things romance, writing strategies, and her favorite tropes. Upcoming interviews can be joined live by registered members of the Fictionary community, and it’s always free to register. In […]

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Scene It First with Jonathan Janz (Ep. 1)

The first episode of the Fictionary Scene It First interview series kicked off with my interview of horror author Jonathan Janz on January 25, 2023. Janz is one of my favorite authors, so it was a true pleasure to speak with him about his celebrated career, his upcoming works, and his insights on scene construction.   Upcoming […]

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Blocks spell out the word "Thanks."

January Thanks

This January I tweeted daily thanks for helpful things in my editing world. The following tweets offer useful resources and provide insight into my editing life. I missed the first two days, so I’ll send a special thanks to authors everywhere and to The Best Punctuation Book, Period from June Casagrande, with honorable mentions to […]

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I’m Now a Fictionary-Certified Editor

I’m pleased to announce that I’ve completed my Fictionary certification and am now listed among the program’s Fictionary-Certified StoryCoach Editors.     The training program entailed two months of text and video lessons, biweekly Zoom calls with Fictionary founder Kristina Stanley and other members of the class, and the completion of an entire developmental edit [...]
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