by Penny Freeman | Oct 9, 2014 | Editor's Notes, Writing
BY KRISTINA HARRIS Editors follow two basic laws when it comes to grammar rules: Enforce all the grammar rules and regulations. After ensuring that everyone is thoroughly tired of being schooled on the rules, allow them to break the rules. Yep, it’s true. In the name...
by Penny Freeman | Oct 7, 2014 | Editor's Notes, Writing
BY MEGAN OLIPHANT As a reader, a writer, and an editor, I’ve had lots of experience reading beginnings of books. And the more I have read, the more I can tell by just a few paragraphs if the story is going to keep my attention or not. Many writers try to “fix” this...
by Penny Freeman | Sep 25, 2014 | Editor's Notes, Writing
BY MCKENNA GARDNER See? I can even catch your attention in a title. How do you draw a reader in with one word? One line? One sentence? One paragraph is pushing it. You better have them sucked in completely by then. Otherwise, unless their friends recommended your...
by Penny Freeman | Sep 23, 2014 | Editor's Notes, Writing
BY ELIZABETH GILLILAND A few weeks ago on the X blog I wrote about the art of writing strong female characters. Just to show that fair is fair, I’ve decided that today we need to discuss the art of writing a compelling leading man. In a conversation with a group of...
by Penny Freeman | Sep 16, 2014 | Editor's Notes, Writing
BY MERILYN OBLAD My high school English teacher liked shocking her students in any way that she could. She was an ardent KISS fan (picture a five foot nothing 56 year old woman dressed in full KISS regalia and makeup for Halloween). But that was just for physical...
by Penny Freeman | Sep 11, 2014 | Editor's Notes, Writing
BY PENNY FREEMAN How many times have you said this to yourself (or someone else): I just can’t write today. I’ve got stuff going on. And you can’t—not really. You can’t work on your current project when your whole mind/heart/soul is consumed with your stuff. So,...
