Tag: writing
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Understanding Active and Passive Voice
Narrative voice in literature can refer to the narrator or author’s emotions, attitude (e.g., formal or informal), tone (e.g., serious, lighthearted, witty, depressed), and point of view. Voice also helps establish the mood of a piece of writing. Grammatical voice refers to the relationship between the subject and the action in a sentence. Though they…
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The Dos and Don’ts of Naming Characters
What every writer needs to know about naming characters JK Rowling knew what she was doing when she named her characters. Harry, for example, is derived from Henry, “a name which was favoured by many an English king.” Dumbledore’s first name, Albus, means white, the colour of his beard. In iZombie, Liv Moore’s name is…
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The Art of the Paragraph Break
Why it matters more than you think Knowing when to break a paragraph in fiction writing can be confusing. In my editing practice, I often split up longer paragraphs and combine shorter ones to improve flow. As an author, I’ve only recently begun to experiment with smaller, more frequent breaks to help punctuate my narrative.…
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What It Means To Show and Not Tell
What is meant by “showing” versus “telling” and how can you tell the difference? Is it ever okay to “tell?” Is there such a thing as showing too much? Explore these important questions by looking at dialogue, description, pacing and transitions, and learn how to invite your readers into the scenes you write.
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Top 3 Formatting Mistakes Made by Indie Authors
As a self-published author, your book is in competition with over 2.6 million other self-published books. Your book will appears alongside more than 560,000 traditionally published books. When I talk about traditional publishers, I mainly refer to “Big 5” publishing conglomerates (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, and Macmillan) that have…
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Busting Editing Myths
Busting Editing Myths – Sunday February 9th [Virtual 1pm] Have you ever wondered what an editor does, or why you might need your book edited before submitting to an agent or publisher? What about self-publishing? Anyone can do it, so why should you pay someone to change the book you wanted to write? MJ Moores…
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York Writers Conference
Panel Session: Answering Your Burning Questions. I will be participating in a Q&A panel featuring seasoned authors MJ Moores, Kim McDougall, and myself at the York Writers’ Conference! Together, we bring years of expertise in crafting compelling stories, navigating the publishing world, and growing our careers. Whether you’re a new writer seeking guidance or an…
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The power of a strong premise: How to develop a compelling idea for your novel
When writing a story, a strong premise is the foundation of a great novel, driving the story forward and grabbing your reader’s attention by promising an engaging and satisfying read. The question is: how do you come up with a compelling premise for your novel? A good premise should: Once you have a general idea…
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The Art of Storytelling
Storytelling is an art form that has been around for thousands of years. It’s a way for people to share their experiences, beliefs, and values with others. Good storytelling forges emotional connections with the audience. The most powerful stories make the audience feel something, be it joy, sadness, fear, or excitement. To create this emotional…