Editing

a close up shot of scrabble tiles
Thank You for Inventing Spellchecker (the original AI)
I am a writer who for years has depended on the much-appreciated availability of spellchecker and the wisdom of Jane Straus—the late, great queen of all things writing related …
Blon woman with braids looking to the side, smiling, with a pencil behind her ear.
When Should an Author Republish?
If an author published a draft by mistake, should they go back and rework the material? I did. I realized (albeit years later) that the uploaded manuscript had not been …
Book Launch (insert smile emoji)
Book Launch (insert smile emoji)
Childhood innocence mixed with the haunting weight of family secrets. The turbulent events during the summer of 1972 and one woman’s resilient push to forgiveness …
You Call Yourself a Writer?
You Call Yourself a Writer?
Just last week, while in the middle of editing a magazine due to drop mid-March, I ran into this: central Indiana … and Central Ohio … referenced this way and …
Not Everyone is Meant to be Successful
Not Everyone is Meant to be Successful
I found out today that I did not make the second cut for an award that promises a publishing contract, among other things, for new novelists. Problem is, my elimination …
Blond woman with sunglasses sitting on a bench with Starbucks.
Is Being Proud of Your Work Bragging?
Why, should I consider someone a friend who is quicker to label me arrogant than congratulate me for pursuing my dream, working hard at it, and making it happen? …
close up photo of typewriter
Stop Hyphenating So Damn Much
The English language used to use hyphens a lot but there is a push to get rid of the unnecessary punctuation mark.  …
dictionary text in bokeh effect
Do You Know the Difference Between Use and Used?
I think everyone used to think they use to know the difference between the too, I mean two …
rewrite edit text on a typewriter
Do Self-Publish, Do NOT Self-Edit
DO NOT self-edit your own work, and having a few friends read your novel is not the same as line editing by someone who is not, also “reading the story.” …