Too many new writers let common myths about editing hold them back from working with the very people who can kick their writing up a notch. I’m taking about editors like me. I’m not here to just check your spelling and grammar, and I’m never going to tell you that you’re a bad writer. I’mContinue reading “Busting myths that travel & adventure writers have about editing”
Tag Archives: Writing resources
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?”
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”
Avoid boring travel narratives: six ways to bring your readers along for the ride
When you’re writing for readers who aren’t your mum or best friend, you want to avoid sounding like all you’ve done is gone from a to b to c. That’s a sure-fire way to turn off readers.
The best way to avoid that “I went here, then I went there” trap is to pepper in details that will make readers care.
What editors do behind the scenes
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”
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”
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?
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”
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”
Deborah Shaw Adventure Editing 