Kia ora, I don’t know about you, but I am hanging out for the Christmas break. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve had a great year editing a lot of fantastic manuscripts for wonderful authors, but summer is here and the beach is calling. Wherever you are in the world, whether you celebrate Christmas orContinue reading “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”
Category Archives: Email
Are you a writer?
Kia ora, A writer I worked with earlier in the year got in touch recently with an update. He’d just finished self publishing his first book – the book we worked on together. “I guess I’m a writer now!” he said. I shared his joy, of course! Getting that first book out is huge. ButContinue reading “Are you a writer?”
There are more important things to argue about than commas
Kia ora, I would like to file a complaint with the manager, who is, unfortunately, me. I allowed myself to get into an argument with someone about the Oxford comma. On Facebook, no less. Who have I become. If you need a refresh, the Oxford comma (or serial comma, or series comma) is the finalContinue reading “There are more important things to argue about than commas”
Pull your writing out of the toddler zone
Kia ora, Have you ever got stuck talking to a toddler who’s telling you all about their trip to the playground and that they got to feed the ducks, and then they got chased by the ducks, and then they stood in duck poo, and then they found a stick, and then, and then, andContinue reading “Pull your writing out of the toddler zone”
Grief is strange
Kia ora, Grief is strange. I’ve had two pets from different sides of the family die in the last few weeks. Both deaths have hit me in different ways. The cat was my grandma’s. When Grandma died, the cat moved in with Mum. The cat dying felt like the proper goodbye to Grandma, so allContinue reading “Grief is strange”
Goals (and an important chicken update)
Kia ora, Good news! My sick chook is sick no more! She got that egg out! It was one of those eggs with the weird, rubbery shell. Now her comb is back to its healthy red and she’s pecking and scratching the ground with gusto. Not to induce panic on this sunny morning, but it’sContinue reading “Goals (and an important chicken update)”
Chickens and trust
Kia ora, I’ve had a special guest in my office this week: a chicken in a box. She’s egg bound and making unsettling gurgles. But I’ve followed the advice (have you ever given a chicken a bath and massaged olive oil on her cloaca?) and I’m keeping her out of the galeforce wind and rainContinue reading “Chickens and trust”
What book editing looks like behind the scenes
Kia ora, Last week I talked about a client who was initially hesitant to work with an editor because they didn’t really get what editing is and didn’t know what it would involve. (Here’s last week’s email if you missed it.) This week I’m going to show you my process of editing a manuscript. IContinue reading “What book editing looks like behind the scenes”
Why writers don’t work with book editors
Kia ora, Why have my chickens decided that the best place to lay their eggs is under a soggy, droopy fern and not inside the hen house where the nest boxes are filled with fresh, dry saw dust? They are delightful beasties but I do question their decisions sometimes. But onto the topic at hand:Continue reading “Why writers don’t work with book editors”
Writing routines and changing clocks
Kia ora, The clocks changed here in Aotearoa over the weekend, so my sleep schedule is now out of whack with the cats’ breakfast schedule. On Tuesday morning, one of them got fed up with waiting so she sourced her own rabbit and proceeded to eat it in the bedroom. Thank you. That wet crunchingContinue reading “Writing routines and changing clocks”
Deborah Shaw Adventure Editing 