Wow, is it fun to work in fiction! In 2009 I launched my editing business and began work with my first fiction clients, my brain literally exploding with everything I wanted to say about fiction. At that time, my husband had already sat through 11 years of animated dinner-table conversation… Read more“Art & Craft of Writing Series”
Author: Victoria
Hating the essay I’m writing this minute
I’m very happy to post this guest essay by the curiously refreshing Amy Carey, author of numerous articles on parenting, fitness, travel, and health: I used to think writer’s block was a myth. Maybe writers got distracted or felt uninspired, but certainly they weren’t unable to write. Then, for several… Read more“Hating the essay I’m writing this minute”
Deadheart: Making Use of Discovery in Writing
I am very pleased to post this essay by my friend Lucia Orth, author of the 2008 critically-acclaimed Baby Jesus Pawn Shop: I came across some old notes in the past few weeks from an interview and the follow-up research I did while working on the early stages of my… Read more“Deadheart: Making Use of Discovery in Writing”
Writing in a second language
I’m happy to post this guest essay by the insightful Mark Budman, author of My Life at First Try: English is a second language for me. I learned it as an adult. The accident of birth and immigration is both a curse and a blessing, but “blessed is the one… Read more“Writing in a second language”
7 Aspects of Writing from Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin
I used to listen to the radio so much I actually played it all night while I slept when I was a teenager. Then I stopped for about thirty-five years and just started again this past weekend when it occurred to me it’s a really easy way to listen to… Read more“7 Aspects of Writing from Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin”
5 Ways Writing is Gardening
Recently we’ve talked about my cat, who is not a writer (or else who is, depending upon how many opposable thumbs you think it takes). Now this morning the cat is peacefully asleep on my legs, and I am sore all over from working in my garden all weekend. So… Read more“5 Ways Writing is Gardening”
Becoming a freelance independent editor (part 3)
Dear Victoria, I came across your lovely website while googling the difference between copy-editing and line-editing. I was a news sub-editor for a year and worked for six years as a quality assurance proofreader of technical documents. I’ve also worked in Asia, bringing ESL texts up to English native speaker… Read more“Becoming a freelance independent editor (part 3)”
Becoming a freelance independent editor, for young writers (part 2)
I regularly receive requests from high school and college students asking how to become a freelance independent editor. So here is our interview for this week: 1. What education do you recommend? I have done some research and found that an editor often has a B.A. in English or Literature… Read more“Becoming a freelance independent editor, for young writers (part 2)”
Understanding freelance independent editors
You don’t have to floss all your teeth. Just the ones you want to keep. —dentists’ motto Ever since I began this blog in 2009, everyone in the publishing industry has been weighing in on the big question: “Do you really need to hire an independent editor? Don’t agents love… Read more“Understanding freelance independent editors”
Understanding writer credentials
We’re talking this month about the mechanics of the publishing industry: understanding author bios, understanding freelance independent editors, understanding agents. So today let’s talk about understanding writer credentials. There’s something very important that you should know. Dashiell Hammett wasn’t the world’s greatest writer. He wasn’t even the world’s greatest self-marketer…. Read more“Understanding writer credentials”