Tag - developmental editing

That One Motivating Writing Tip

Musings from the Pipeline with Jan Fix ~~I'm always looking for it. That one writing tip that will stick with me like glue, send me over the top to the finish line. My least favorite tips but most often heard: Write for 20 minutes every morning.  Commit to 500 words a day.  Cut something out of your life to make time to write.   I don't know about you, but the regimens don't work for me.  I must be inspired, moved, and...

For Every Season, Forgiveness

It's a book about forgiveness. And cowboys. And doing what's right. And a horse named Whisky!! Ken Capps' first book surely foreshadows more great stories to come.  Just what the world needs now. For presale at www.forgivingwaters.com

The Relevance is in the Awakening

Musings From the Pipeline, by Janet Fix ~~ May 19 RELEASE :: Rude Awakenings by author Keith Donaldson  On three novels now, I have I had the pleasure of working with Keith (thank you, Keith), an inventive writer whose mind tumbles so fast-forward at times that I feel I can see the future through his eyes. That case is none the more true than in this novel, his third, where we worked diligently through the editorial process to refine and capture the immensity...

Backstory Burnout

Musings from The Pipeline by wordshaper Janet Fix  ~~ I often vacillate between about the importance -- or unimportance -- of backstory in a novel, how much detail is too much or too little.  Obviously it differs between books, but in general it is a greater challenge to exclude backstory or to offer the details more creatively than an "explanation dump." I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this subject.  Do you find backstory a challenge one way or the other, and...

Demand a Reciprocity of Your Passion — “Guts,” Part 2

~~by Editor Jan  (Part 2 in the "Guts" blog) Authors: Demand a reciprocity of your passion! Surround yourself with professionals who match your intensity for each written word in your manuscript; who look at things from new angles and will share those with you, respectfully and with good humor; and who enjoy the new flavors of innovation. This doesn’t have to be expensive, mysterious, or time-consuming. Be relentless and demanding in your selection of creative people who can assist you not just in...