A writer admitted this to me after we’d worked together on her manuscript: she didn’t really want to work with an editor, but her writing mentor told her to, so she did. She thought editors were human spellcheckers and I’d just go through and fix her grammar. She didn’t know what editing is, what itContinue reading “What editors do behind the scenes”
Tag Archives: publishing
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”
Let’s grab coffee
Kia ora, If we caught up over coffee together and you asked me how to go about writing your adventure book, here’s what I’d say: These are the kinds of conversations I have with my authors, along with all the comments I leave on your manuscript, too! If you’re interested talking through your project, bookContinue reading “Let’s grab coffee”
How to use quotes and epigraphs
You’ve probably read a book that has a quote at the start, or maybe each chapter opens with a quote. They’re called epigraphs, and their purpose is to give the reader an idea of the tone or theme the story intends to set. But did that person actually say those words? And were those words the actual words they used?
A blood moon and giving feedback
Kia ora, Did you catch the blood moon on Monday? I’m one of those horrific morning people so I was outside in my jammies and jacket at 5.30am watching the moon turn red. A great start to the day, I reckon. I’ve been wrapping up an adventure edit this week. It’s been great fun andContinue reading “A blood moon and giving feedback”
How’s your writing going?
Kia ora, Welcome to September and, if you’re in the southern hemisphere, spring! The daffodils and lambs are making their presence known around my way. How has your writing been going? I know how easy it can be to get trapped in a procrastination cycle. You need to look up a detail for your story,Continue reading “How’s your writing going?”
Why adverbs deflate your writing
The best travel and adventure writing immerses readers in the story. We feel the cold water tugging at you as you’re struggling to make a river crossing; we hear the growl as you fend off wild dogs; we feel your serenity as you experience a transcendent sunrise. That immersion happens through precise word choices, andContinue reading “Why adverbs deflate your writing”
Deborah Shaw Adventure Editing 