Category Archives: the craft of writing

The craft of writing is a complex one. From vague concepts like the author’s voice to more specific skills like spelling, grammar and punctuation (SPaG).
These posts include information, tips and hints for writers wanting to polish their work.

4 Grammar Myths Busted!

In the world of proofreading, grammar myths abound. These are typically presented as ‘rules’. Overzealous pedants may therefore try to correct things that are not actually mistakes. But skilled editors and proofreaders will only make changes when they are necessary. To help … Continue reading

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6 Familiar Creative Struggles and how to conquer them!

Beginning your journey as a writer is new and exciting but it has it’s challenges too and learning how to conquer any creative struggles that will pop up is essential to a long author career. Every author has faced obstacles … Continue reading

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What’s the difference between a writing coach and a mentor?

The difference between a writing coach and a mentor is a coach works with you for a particular purpose or goal. A mentor is a guru who is with you over an extended period in an advisory role. The relationship between … Continue reading

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The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Debate

AI is the biggest news story of 2023, causing impassioned debate in the creative community. (Listen to The Creative Penn podcast by author Joanna Penn or read her blog.) Opinions can be polarised: on one side, you have a kind … Continue reading

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Conscious Language: Q&A with Crystal Shelley

Words have Power I don’t think any of us refute that statement. Words can empower and uplift people or isolate them and cause harm. My training as a teaching assistant taught me many useful skills. It also gave me valuable … Continue reading

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Ultimate First Draft Checklist: Secrets to Bestseller Success

Are you in the process of writing your first novel? Have you taken part in NaNoWriMo this year? Do you have a first draft written and ready for the next stage? 🎉That’s fabulous!  🎉 You’re at the perfect stage to take advantage of … Continue reading

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3 Reasons To Ask For Reader Feedback

Today, I want to talk about reader feedback and reviews. Your career as an author will make more money if your readers are happier. It’s not rocket science. But how do you keep your readers happy? How do you even … Continue reading

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Secret to Bestseller Success for Indie Authors

Do you know what the Secret to Bestseller Success for Indie Authors is? Have you ever wondered how one self-publishing author manages to write their books so successfully over another? 🤔 Well ponder no longer, dear writer, for I know … Continue reading

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6 Levels of Editing: How to Choose the Right One for Your Book

As a fiction editor, one of the most frequent questions I’m asked is, Do I have to get my book proofread? Proofreading is the final stage in the publishing process before that “publish” button is hit. There’s a lot of … Continue reading

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SPaG: Affect or Effect – 3 tricks to remember which to use💡

Hello, welcome back. Do you struggle to know whether to use “affect” or “effect” in your writing? Are you tired of giving up and using “impact” instead? Woohoo! Fantastic! I can help with that because today, I’m going to let … Continue reading

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