People are often surprised by the time it takes to copyedit manuscripts, probably because they have a sense of how long it takes to read a book of similar length. But copyediting does take longer—much longer—and authors and readers benefit from the hours upon hours copy editors dedicate to their craft. (This post refers largely […]
On May 24, 2023, YA author Deborah Halverson joined me for the fifth episode of the Scene It First series, sponsored by Fictionary. In this series, I 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, […]
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 […]
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, […]
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, […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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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