Vellum is a relatively new software that converts manuscripts into beautifully formatted digital and print books. As an author, I’m a huge fan of its user-friendly capabilities. However, as an editor and proofreader also providing […]
Penning and Planning
67 posts
This blog for independent authors explains how to punctuate character speech and dialogue in fiction, and why it matters to readers. Why does character speech and dialogue need to be punctuated? Character speech and dialogue […]
Editing and proofreading are basically the same skill, aren’t they? Actually, no. The differences between the two are significant. Therefore, this blog details the basic differences between editing and proofreading services. Editing: Imagine your story […]
Are you an an author planning to self publish? Does some of the jargon associated with self publishing confuse you? For example: What does going ‘wide’ mean? What is an ARC? How is a hybrid […]
Are you a debut author struggling to write a great synopsis for your completed (or almost completed!) nonfiction book? This blog will help you to write a structured nonfiction synopsis to submit to your chosen publisher.
Although this blog is titled 7 common mistakes to avoid in your manuscript, let me caveat that by saying that these ‘mistakes’ are outlined as a guide only. As a line and developmental editor, the […]
As an editor and proofreader I work hard with fiction authors to make sure their debut (and subsequent) novels are the best they can be and a few issues arise time and time again, even for me when writing my own books. The good news is, they are easily solved, so here are 5 easy ways to make your first novel better!
What is the difference between a blurb and a synopsis? For some, especially newer, writers, the words blurb and synopsis may seem interchangeable, however, they serve very different purposes and each follows its own set […]
What does a line edit look like? A common question new indie authors ask is, ‘What does a line edit look like?’ It’s tricky to know what to expect if you’ve never been through the […]
