How many characters should your novel have? When I read a book, I want to get to know the players in an intimate way, but a story with too many characters makes it impossible to connect. I don’t know where to place my focus, I can’t get to know the protagonist, antagonist, or supporting characters in the kind of depth …
When to Hire A Beta Reader
I’ve been at this beta reading racket for just over a year now, and one of the issues I continue to see is clients who rush through the editing process and get their book in my hands too early. Today I thought we’d take a look at the importance of knowing when to hire a beta reader. First things first, …
Nailing the Ideal Word Count for Your Genre
Let’s face it, hitting the magic word count for your novel is something that can be easy to lose track of when you’re in the throes of the process. I know this, because I’m guilty myself. I churned out my first draft, shelved it, then recently tackled revisions and I didn’t think about word count for one second, until I …
Grammar Is Sexy
I’m a reader first, a writer second, and an actor last. At no point will I ever claim to be an editor. This is why I’ve never gotten all that hung up on achieving perfect grammar in any of my drafts. There are lots of people who are very talented who I can pay to help. That said, I do …
Writing Characters Your Readers Will Love
Fiction writers everywhere, I cannot stress this enough – one of the most important elements of your work are your characters. They are the lifeblood of your story. They are the reason readers will want to keep turning pages. They are why I’ll sometimes cry when I reach the end of a book. Sure a great plot helps, as does …
How Writers Conquer To-Do Lists
I am an unfocused mess, and I feel dwarfed by the size of my to-do list. It’s towering over me and every time I try to take a stab at it, I fall down one rabbit hole or the other and I feel like my brain is all over the place. How do I make the most of my limited …