May 16, 2021Free Webinar: How to Structure a Novel into Chapters and ScenesDo you need to know who many scenes should be in a chapter? Or perhaps how to group scenes in a chapter? — We’ve invited JoEllen Taylor, CEO of First Editing, to talk about the importance of structuring a novel into chapters and scenes and how to do that to ensure a story is powerful. Join us Friday, May 21, 2021 10:00 AM (EDT). We’ll cover: Definition of a draft novel Target word…Writing2 min read
Mar 10, 2021Why Characters per Scene are Important for Story EditorsFor professional fiction editors — One of the most important services you can offer a client is to get to know the characters in their story. You’ll evaluate the story based on the characters and how they relate to the story. Making a list of the characters in every scene forces you to focus on…Storytelling4 min read
Mar 6, 2021Connect Readers with Characters Using DescriptionConnect readers with your characters by describing characters in a way that keeps the reader engaged. — But how do you do this in the most effective way? The most important element you can use for describing a character is not describing what they look like. It’s showing the reader what a character does. The second most important element you can use for describing a character is…Storytelling5 min read
Mar 1, 2021Best Tools for Writing Fiction1692Robin NemesszeghyThank you for the mention. You've made my heart happy today.Thank you for the mention. You've made my heart happy today.1 min readThank you for the mention. You've made my heart happy today.----
Mar 1, 2021Find Your Editor’s Voice and Shine!Like an author, an editor must work hard to find their editor’s voice. — An author’s voice is the unique style they use when writing. An author can be funny, serious, flowery. They can use short, punchy sentences or long descriptive sentences. Sometimes it takes years and several novels for an author to create their voice. An editor’s voice is the unique style they…Storytelling5 min read
Feb 28, 2021What is a Character Arc?A compelling character arc is the emotional journey your character takes throughout your story that engages your reader. — Storytelling7 min read
Feb 24, 2021Why Does a Story Editor Need a Blurb?A blurb is a promise to the readers — Every story editor should request a blurb from their client prior to starting to work. What is a blurb? Think of a blurb as the copy that goes on the back of the published book. This tells the reader what the story is about. A blurb does not give away the ending of a…Storytelling4 min read
Feb 23, 2021Linking the Inciting Incident and ClimaxOne more step to ensure readers love your story. — Linking the inciting incident to the climax scene is one more step to ensure readers love your story. We’ve covered the major plot points in detail, so let’s go one step deeper and see how two of the plot points must be linked together to ensure the reader is satisfied…Storytelling4 min read
Feb 21, 2021An Editor’s View of Character NamesA fiction editor has many responsibilities. One of them is to give a writer the editor’s view of character names. — Character names are a way for readers to connect to the characters and are the first way a writer describes the characters. Inexperienced writers may not put a lot of thought into name choices, and even an experienced writer may not see if they’ve confused a reader with ineffective names.Storytelling4 min read
Feb 19, 2021What is a Plotpoint or is it Plot Point?First, let’s talk about spelling of plotpoint. One word or two. It’s doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you know what a plotpoint is and how to use it in your story. My point. It won’t matter how perfect your spelling and grammar are if you don’t have a…Editing3 min read