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?”
Tag Archives: Self-editing
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”
The joy of maps and following along
Kia ora, A friend asked me about my editing work recently. I had great joy in explaining how I created a custom Google Map for a recent edit so I could follow the places the writer visited. For another project, I zoomed in even further and followed the adventure street-by-street. The friend was surprised –Continue reading “The joy of maps and following along”
Where are you hanging out online?
Kia ora, I’ve been feeling adrift since leaving Instagram earlier this year. I miss seeing what adventures people have been going on and the writing updates that people share. I want to feel that connection again, so can you help me out? Which socials are you hanging out on? Is it Insta still? Threads, Bluesky?Continue reading “Where are you hanging out online?”
The Proofreading Checklist is almost here
Kia ora, I’ve lit the fire every morning this week, partly so the living room is cosy for lunch, but mostly to keep the cats warm and out of my office. Don’t tell them, but they’re not the best editorial assistants; their suggestions are rarely in keeping with the writer’s voice and I have toContinue reading “The Proofreading Checklist is almost here”
Good at my day job
Kia ora, At the weekend, a friend and I went on a day trip to pick up fruit trees for the garden. Sure, we could have got them from a nursery in town, but these ones have been grafted from trees that tolerate the cold and windy weather that blasts this part of the SouthContinue reading “Good at my day job”
How many books do you have?
Kia ora, You may have read about the controversy surrounding the best-selling book, the Salt Path, by Raynor Winn. According to reporting from journalists at the Observer, the details about how they lost their home don’t match the account Winn gives in the Salt Path. I want to write a longer piece about truth inContinue reading “How many books do you have?”
When do I capitalise animal names?
You meet all sorts of animals on your adventures, from dogs and cats to tigers, birds, snakes and centipedes. They’re generally easy to spell, right? But what about when you get into the details, when you’re writing about Labradors, Main Coons, snow leopards, tūī, and damselflies?
Mid-year check-in
Last week I was knocked out with a cold. I must have caught it in Wanaka when I was at the festival. So I took a few days off; editing is brain work, and if the brain is fuzzy, the editing is too! This week I’m reflecting on the first half of the year andContinue reading “Mid-year check-in”
Can you help me test this proofreading guide?
Kia ora, I have been working on a resource for writers, one that I hope will give your book a valuable boost without stretching your budget. It’s called the Proofreading Checklist. It’s a checklist, yes, but it’s more than that. I walk you through the proofreading process, what it is, what it’s not, what toContinue reading “Can you help me test this proofreading guide?”
Deborah Shaw Adventure Editing 