Not All Flags Are Red
I’ve talked about red flags in publishing and I’ll continue to do so because predatory people and companies prey on those who haven’t had the opportunity to learn what they need to in the industry, but it’s also important to know that not all flags we see are red. We have to be vigilant, but […]
How Toxic Positivity Can Ruin Your Writing
What is toxic positivity? Essentially, it’s the belief that negative thoughts about anything should be avoided. Sure, we can look on the bright side, but sometimes things suck, and that emotion deserves to be honoured. But wait, how does that tie in with writing? Here’s a secret that’s not so secret: Sometimes our writing sucks. […]
Finding A Trauma-Informed Editor
You may be familiar with the saying, the first draft of your memoir is for you. It’s often when a lot of the emotions and trauma tied to the topic of your memoir come to the surface and dance with you. After that first draft is done, it’s time to do a round of editing: […]
Writing the Right Words
There’s a scene in a later season of one of my favourite 30-minute shows, The Office, where Kevin starts speaking very simply. His logic is that you don’t need fancy language or words to communicate, and it will save time. “Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick.” But, of course, because The Office is a […]
Dealing With Rejection in Writing
You’ve finished your manuscript, you’ve got a query, and now you’re pitching to agents and publishers. You’re so full of hope and excitement. You check your email, and there’s a response! Excitedly, you open it only to read, “thanks, but no thanks.” That “no” is hard to read, but you’re a creative. It’s part of […]
Don’t Rush the Second Half of Your Book
It’s 6:30 on a Friday and I’m in college. I can hear the whoops and excited chatter in the common lounge of my friends and their friends. I’m sitting at my computer reminding myself that I had promised to finish this essay tonight so I could enjoy the weekend, but I’m only halfway through. Don’t […]
The Books that Changed Me
In 2021, I was given the diagnosis of religious trauma. I grew up in a Fellowship Baptist church and went to two different bible colleges. Since the diagnosis, I have begun the healing journey, and as part of that journey, I am writing a memoir. I have thought a lot about my past, and what […]
Finding The Right Beta Readers
Beta readers: authors need them, but how do they find them? And what do they actually do? Should you pay them? What Are Beta Readers? As writers – especially first-time writers, make their way down the path toward publication, they come face to face with terms they haven’t heard before, timelines they hadn’t considered, and […]
Explaining Manuscript Assessments & Developmental Edits
Have you heard these terms flying around (maybe on my own social media), but aren’t completely sure what they mean? Is there a difference? What They Are A manuscript assessment is a high-level review of the document. I take a look at plot, character development, and arc. It’s a great way to see where the […]
Can You Self-Edit Yourself Out of Needing a Professional Editor?
Self-editing is an important process of any novel writing. In fact, most of us tend to use editing as a way not to finish our draft. We think, “this chapter isn’t perfect, and I need it to be perfect to move on.” I’m not talking about that kind of self-editing. Editing comes at the end. […]
