Writers Helping Writers^®

Revision and Editing

Scenes vs. Sequels: What’s a Good Balance?

March 10, 2022

Scenes vs. Sequels: What’s a Good Balance?

March 10, 2022

We use the terms scene and sequel for so many definitions when it comes to writing that it can be difficult (not to mention confusing) to discuss Dwight Swain’s ideas…

Best Practices for Working with an Independent Editor

March 1, 2022

Best Practices for Working with an Independent Editor

March 1, 2022

Most writers have read the wide-eyed articles from newly-agented writers detailing the pressure of revising and returning edits on a tight schedule and working with an assigned editor. But what…

When to Kill a Character

February 22, 2022

When to Kill a Character

February 22, 2022

Well, Valentine’s Day is in the rearview, so it’s time to move on to a less lovey-dovey topic: killing people. Fictional people, of course! Let’s face it, some of our…

Your Novel: Concept to Query in 10 Months

February 17, 2022

Your Novel: Concept to Query in 10 Months

February 17, 2022

An Action Plan for Actual Humans By Fred Koehler Like almost every other writer I know, I’m not a full time novelist. Publishing is, at the best of times, really…

Stoking Your Story’s Fire: Three Considerations for Revising Scene by Scene

February 10, 2022

Stoking Your Story’s Fire: Three Considerations for Revising Scene by Scene

February 10, 2022

By David G. Brown The Two Pillars of Storytelling After my first couple years as a fiction editor, I realized that all of my developmental feedback for clients fit into…

“Perfect to Me”: How Self-Editing Can Take Your Novel to the Next Stage

January 20, 2022

“Perfect to Me”: How Self-Editing Can Take Your Novel to the Next Stage

January 20, 2022

By Michelle Barker Part of the trick of hiring an editor is knowing when your manuscript is ready to hand over to them. There’s no point submitting a draft that…

Writers, Grab a Knife: How To Kill Your Darlings

January 11, 2022

Writers, Grab a Knife: How To Kill Your Darlings

January 11, 2022

Good writing involves rewriting. An essential part of rewriting is combing through the first draft and carving out material that isn’t essential. When we edit out nonessentials, we are killing…

When Are You Ready for Professional Editing?

December 9, 2021

When Are You Ready for Professional Editing?

December 9, 2021

Many writers equate preparing for a professional edit with revision. We’ll cover a few revision tasks in this article, but revision is only half the battle. Preparing your manuscript is…

3 Simple Tricks to Immerse Your Reader In Your Story

November 9, 2021

3 Simple Tricks to Immerse Your Reader In Your Story

November 9, 2021

As writers, fusing our protagonist with the reader creates the ultimate reading experience. Teacher and writer John Gardener referred to this as “the fictional dream.” It’s a state the reader…

Meet Our Newest Resident Writing Coaches

September 30, 2021

Meet Our Newest Resident Writing Coaches

September 30, 2021

It’s always exciting when fall comes around as it means a new season of the Resident Writing Coach program is about to start! We’ve had great fortune to have so…