Category: Advice Column

Hi Victoria—You have really good information on your website. After looking around, I have a question. What exactly are the differences between developmental editing and substantive editing? Jake Thank you for your kind words, Jake! There’s a really good reason I don’t use the term ‘substantive’ in discussing editing: it… Read more“What is the difference between developmental & substantive editing?”

I’m doing something a little different today. I was contacted by a high school student interested in becoming a freelance independent editor. She sent me a list of interview questions for a presentation she’s doing on careers, and with her permission I’m going to answer them here, for the benefit… Read more“Becoming a freelance independent editor: for young writers”

Fanfiction. Yes, I write it. Harry Potter fanfiction, to be exact. I find it a great way to practice. I’ve heard so many arguments about copyright infringement, but honestly, I myself would be flattered. As long as others don’t sell my characters off as their own, I can see nothing… Read more“What determines fanfiction & copyright infringement?”

For years I have been writing, but looking back on what I have written I’ve come to realize I finish very little of what I start. I want to stop that and to finish a work. I feel a big part of this is not-plotting and, despite knowing what I… Read more“Learning how to plot a novel”

Your remarks indicate that you love editing as much as—if not more than—writing. What is it about editing that you like? For me, the alarming part about working with an editor is that my judgement as to too much sex, too much violence, too much exposition is something I’m having… Read more“Finding the right editor for you”

Hi Victoria, I am a poet and the editor of a community journal of literature and visual art. We publish short prose and poetry, as well as the work of local artists. This is an annual, and we have just completed our twelfth journal. It is published by a not-for-profit… Read more“Breaking into freelance independent editing”

Hi Victoria, I’ve heard you speak in a Writer’s Digest webinar about the Fulcrum of a story and have been hooked on your blogs and advice column since. I do have a question though. If I have two protagonists, could they each have a separate Fulcrum that is ‘physically’ near… Read more“Developing plotlines for two (or more) protagonists”

I have a question and I’ll just get to the point. Today, I emailed an article to my unit adviser to be inserted into the June newsletter of New Directions Clubhouse. If I decide to submit the same article elsewhere for publication, do I mention that the article first appeared… Read more“Freelance journalism: notifying editors of the previous publication of your article”

I have two questions regarding publishing and platform. I’m hoping you can answer. Is it possible to be a highly successful published author, even best-selling author if the author wishes to remain reclusive, not wishing to do interviews or book tours, and writing under a pseudonym, hoping to keep themselves… Read more“Being a reclusive author in today’s publishing industry”

Victoria—A question for your advice column: is it true that opening a story with the character coming out of a dream is a cliche and should be avoided?—Mark Salter Short answer? Yes. Lewis Carroll really ruined the whole dream thing for everyone. However. . .Somerset Maugham did say there are… Read more“Beginning a story with a dream—is it a cliche?”