Tag: editing

Appearance is everything – or is it? How much character description should a writer give?
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Appearance is everything – or is it? How much character description should a writer give?

Helena Fairfax17 Comments

Another month, another authors’ Round Robin. And another through-provoking question in our writers’ group… What do you define in your writing about your characters and what do you leave to the reader’s intuition? Is there anything you never tell about a character? There’s a LOT to these questions but they got me thinking in particular…… Continue reading Appearance is everything – or is it? How much character description should a writer give?

Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling Characters
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Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling Characters

Helena Fairfax25 Comments

This month’s authors’ Round Robin is all about character, and the inspiration for the topic comes from author Connie Vines. Jane Eyre, James Bond, Harry Potter, Fagin, Bridget Jones and Anne of Green Gables – human beings are always interested in the story of other human beings, and we remember the characters in a story…… Continue reading Making Readers Care: 9 Tips on Crafting Compelling Characters

helena fairfax, freelance editor Formatting your manuscript made easy: some great tips on using Word styles
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Formatting your manuscript made easy: some great tips on using Word styles

Helena Fairfax2 Comments

In my work as a freelance fiction editor for self-publishing authors, and as a reader for the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme, I sometimes receive manuscripts that aren’t as professionally formatted as they could be. (This is understandable, as no one knows there’s a ‘best way to format a manuscript’ until they’re told!) Image…… Continue reading Formatting your manuscript made easy: some great tips on using Word styles

6 ways to avoid repeating the same old words and phrases in your writing
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6 ways to avoid repeating the same old words and phrases in your writing

Helena Fairfax18 Comments

It’s August, and time for another authors’ Round Robin. This month the topic has been set by author Rhobin Courtright. Do you have any character habits or favourite words that always crop up in your writing? The short and simple answer: yes! The difficulty is, spotting this repetition when it happens. My husband always reads…… Continue reading 6 ways to avoid repeating the same old words and phrases in your writing

Kill your darlings: 5 tips for cutting and editing scenes you love
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Kill your darlings: 5 tips for cutting and editing scenes you love

Helena Fairfax16 Comments

Another month, and another of our authors’ Round Robins. This month we have another thought-provoking topic, this time set by author Marci Baun Deleting scenes: Do you ever delete scenes? When and why do you delete them? And what do you do with them? Do you save them? Or just toss them?  When I first…… Continue reading Kill your darlings: 5 tips for cutting and editing scenes you love

How do you develop the theme of your novel? And does theme matter?
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How do you develop the theme of your novel? And does theme matter?

Helena Fairfax26 Comments

It’s time for another of our authors’ Round Robin posts, and this month we have another thought-provoking topic set by author Rhobin Courtright… ‘Most novels have an easily understood point to make to the reader. Do your stories ever have more subtle themes?’ When I first start a novel, I’m not consciously aware of what…… Continue reading How do you develop the theme of your novel? And does theme matter?

helena fairfax fiction set in hotels How do you develop realistic characters who are different from yourself?
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How do you develop realistic characters who are different from yourself?

Helena Fairfax20 Comments

It’s time for another of our authors’ Round Robins, and this month the topic is… How do you develop a character who is different in personality from all the other characters you have developed, or from yourself? If you’ve followed my blog for a while you’ll know I’m a big fan of Georgette Heyer and…… Continue reading How do you develop realistic characters who are different from yourself?

helena fairfax freelance editor Editing Tips: How to Focus Your Story and Keep Readers Turning the Pages
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Editing Tips: How to Focus Your Story and Keep Readers Turning the Pages

Helena Fairfax15 Comments

In my work as a fiction editor I often give writers the same piece of advice: focus, focus, focus on your core story. There, I said ‘focus’ three times. And here’s an image of someone focusing, too. That’s how important I think it is! What do I mean by ‘focus on the story’? Well, a…… Continue reading Editing Tips: How to Focus Your Story and Keep Readers Turning the Pages

helena fairfax, diane drake Three of the best books for fiction writers on the craft of writing
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Three of the best books for fiction writers on the craft of writing

Helena Fairfax15 Comments

No matter what stage you’re at with your writing – whether still at the first draft, or with dozens of books to your name – there’s always something new to learn about the craft of writing. Besides writing, I also work as a freelance editor. (In fact, for quite a while now the editing has…… Continue reading Three of the best books for fiction writers on the craft of writing