It’s tempting to load your adventure scenes with detail-rich descriptions that capture what you experienced in the moment. But too much detail can overwhelm a scene and slow the pace.
Category Archives: Blog
The problem with colonial charm
The phrase “colonial charm” often pops up in travel writing, such as in accommodation listings, descriptions of architecture, or the general vibe of a town. There’s just one problem with it. Or rather, three problems,
Benefits of working with a human editor
Automated grammar and spelling tools can help improve your writing, but there are still benefits to working with a human editor (like me!).
When you work with a human editor, you benefit from our encouragement, suggestions, queries, and experience.
Is that creature venomous or poisonous?
Knowing your venomous creatures from your poisonous ones will go a long way in building trust with your readers. Using the correct words shows you know what you’re talking about.
How to reduce the number of ‘I’s in your writing
I went here, I saw this, I did that. Too many ‘I’s can make your narrative all about you, which makes for a dull narrative akin to a report from Julius Caesar: I came, I saw, I conquered.
Can I use brand names in my story?
Can I use brand names in my story? The short answer is yes, but be careful about how you use those brands.
How to use verbs to boost your descriptions
Verbs convey action, but some verbs can have the opposite effect: they can flatten your writing and drain all the energy from a scene.
Improve your writing by removing filter words
Removing filter words from your writing is an easy way to deepen your narrative and engage your readers.
When do you capitalise “mum” and “dad”?
“Mum” can be used as a title or as a common noun. When it’s used as a title, it’s capitalised. When it’s used as a common noun, it’s lower case.
What does editing look like?
If you’re nervous about having an editor review your work, you’re not alone! Sending your manuscript to someone you’ve never met is daunting. What can you expect? What will they change? What if you don’t like their changes?
Deborah Shaw Adventure Editing 