Averbs: To Use or Not to UseAdverbs get a bad rap in writing circles. Unfortunately, this is one of those writing "rules" that doesn't provide enough detail
The Basics of Plot EditingWhen most people find out that I'm a professional editor, they immediately assume that I'm an expert on comma usage and really good at...
Dialogue and Character MotivationsDialogue can be tricky. Instead of being told by your usual narrator, dialogue lets each of your characters speak for themselves. The...
Keeping Your Speakers StraightHere are some tips for using simple mechanics to help readers keep the speaker straight.
Show, Don't TellEvery writer has heard this advice: Show, don't tell. It's all over the online writing communities. But the advice is a flawed rule
Said is NOT DeadWhen writing dialogue, it can feel like you are writing an endless stream of names, pronouns, and dialogue tags. It can be a delicate...