Michael Ehret, WritingOnTheFineLine
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While I’m watching mental fireworks (no real ones, too much fire risk), enjoy this post from the past. I think the advice is still good. Earlier, we looked at ways to be more clear in your writing by eliminating redundancies and overwriting, and choosing simple words when appropriate. Now, let’s look at how the right…
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In these posts, with the author’s permission, I look at their work pre-editing and post-editing—and at what I did to improve the piece. Ruth Logan Herne and I go way back. I won’t say how far because she might kill me. You think I jest? Well, maybe so, but let’s just say I’m not willing…
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“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance; but he has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” St. Augustine, (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430) Procrastination. My longtime enemy and the enemy of many writers. To-do lists don’t work for me. I’m not driven by placing tick marks next to a task. Guilt is a…
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Many believe there are only seven basic plots. What amazes me are the variations on those plots writers come up with—the twists and leaps they make within those structures. As a freelance editor, I see manuscripts in all shapes and sizes. One conclusion is unmistakable—those who work with me are all creative people. But what…
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In these posts, with the author’s permission, I look at their work pre-editing and post-editing—and at what I did to improve the piece. Oh my! Are you in for a surprise. Today Mary Connealy is In The Edit. You know Mary “Romantic comedies with cowboys” Connealy. Her latest book, In Too Deep, takes place in…
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“I learned never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.” –Ernest Hemingway From what I understand, Hemingway always chose his words carefully. He “learned” to never…
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C’mon in. It’s safe here. Sit anywhere. Believe me, I understand how difficult it is to submit your freewheeling creative side to the strictures of goal setting, accountability, and—shudder—planning. I fought that fight for years, and still strain against the leash. You want to be successful and accomplish something meaningful, but setting goals is difficult…
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In these posts, with the author’s permission, we look at their work pre-editing and post-editing—and at what I did to improve the piece. This week we get a first glimpse at Jim Hamlett’s follow up to his novel, Moe. Moe was a finalist in the 2011 Operation First Novel contest, which is run by the…
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“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ― Madeleine L’Engle L’Engle had a profound effect on me as a teen after I discovered her A Wrinkle In Time series: A Wrinkle In Time (1962) A…
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It’s easy to let your writing go and have projects pile up. Here are 10 easy things you can do to clear some space on your desktop. 10. Keep it simple You have many ongoing writing projects. Prioritize and be realistic. 9. Break it down Do you need to brainstorm a new story? Have you…
Writing On The Fine Line 