by Kathy Ide Originally posted July 10, 2010 on kathyide.com To tighten your manuscript, do what I call a Scissor Edit. Cut out everything that doesn’t absolutely need to be in the manuscript. The tighter the writing, the more publishers—and readers—will like it. Here are a few ways to cut. Look for more next week! Change multi-word…
by Sue A. Fairchild Here we are in the last month of 2018. At this point in the year, some of us might be focused solely on Christmas presents and holiday parties, but some of us might still be scrambling to finish up editing projects before the end of the year. A lot of us…
by Iola Goulton Do we capitalize personal pronouns when referring to God? This question came up in one of the (many) Facebook reader and writer groups of which I’m a member. My initial reaction was that it’s a yes/no question, so there has to be a “right” answer. I was taught in school that we…
by Karin Beery “You look good … for someone your age.” Left-handed compliments. Those comments that start off well but end with an insult. You’re expecting one thing but get something completely different. That’s recently become a trend—and a problem—in fiction. I call it the Active Telling syndrome. Here’s what happens: the chapter opens with…
by Ken Walker Twice in recent months I have underestimated the time required to edit a book by a first-time author, which cost me valuable income. After years of freelance writing, and now editing, I am convinced that no matter what the job you will be best be served if you take your time in…
by Sue A. Fairchild I’m constantly thinking about relationships in my editing business. I like to get to know my authors and to understand why they write and what they hope to convey to their readers. It’s this constant consideration of the author/editor relationship that first came to mind one Sunday as my pastor spoke…
This Excellence in Editing Award spotlight is Spark by J. M. Hackman, edited by Michele Israel Harper and published by Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, LLC. Irene Chambers, EIE Coordinator, interviewed author J. M. Hackman and editor Michele Israel Harper. Author J. M. Hackman J. M., how did you develop the idea for this book? While pregnant with my second child in…
by Iola Goulton Registration is now open for PENCON 2019, Christian Editor Network’s annual conference. Click here to register. PENCON promises to be a great event for Christian editors. But we can’t all attend conference. I’d love to, but I live in New Zealand and attending a conference in the United States costs almost as…
Sarah Barnum is a freelance editor with an eye for both detail and story. She has been involved with Inspire Christian Writers since 2011 and is a published writer—most recently in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She serves on the board for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. Sarah enjoys ranch life in Northern California with her graphic designer…
