by Zoe M. McCarthy | May 19, 2016 | Writing
“‘As long as readers know what I mean, does it really matter whether there’s a typo here and there, a comma in the wrong place, or a few words misspelled?’ Yeah. It does.”—Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, by Kathy Ide, published by Lighthouse Publishing...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Mar 24, 2016 | Writing
“Scenes are capsules in which compelling characters undertake significant actions in a vivid and memorable way that allows the events to feel as though they are happening in real time.”—Jordan E. Rosenfeld (Make a Scene) Scene ChecklistPurpose [ ] Has 3 reasons the...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Nov 12, 2015 | Writing
“Pacing is a tool that controls the speed and rhythm at which a story is told and the readers are pulled through the story events.” —Jessica Page MorrellWe’d wince at these comments in reviews:Too much description and explaining bogged down the...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Oct 15, 2015 | Writing
“What’s the first thing acquisition editors look for when they begin reading a fiction submission? … ‘The first thing I do is find a scene with some dialogue. If the dialogue doesn’t work, the manuscript gets bounced. If it’s good, I start...
by Zoe M. McCarthy | Aug 27, 2015 | Writing
“The skill of a skilled writer tricks you into thinking that there is no skill.” —Dwight V. Swain (Techniques of the Selling Writer)I recommend the following books on the craft of writing. Here are quotes from each to inspire you to get a copy or reread...
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