CONTACT MAGIC WORDS

Congrats to client Hokunani Sorci on her debut release today of her anthology of terrifying tales, perfect for Halloween reading!

My Dreadful Dreams, available on Amazon (see the link in my bio) and as a delightfully spooky audiobook on all the platforms. 👻🎊
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CONGRATS to client Jamie Ishino @pinkjamie on her new book The Opal Queen, out today! 🥳💥🙌🏻

“Because the lands themselves are rich with magic, deep in the earth, all people in Egriden are capable of magic.”

One might expect a princess’s life to be a fairy tale, but for sixteen-year-old Inise, it’s not that easy. Every day is a relentless cycle of lessons and training, all to prepare the future queen. As if that wasn`t enough, a terrible truth hangs over her—queens wield unimaginable magic, a gift this princess has yet to demonstrate.

When tragedy strikes, her loyal friends help her escape the kingdom and her ambitious uncle, Vischant. But the outside world brings no reprieve, because in order to claim the throne, she must manifest four elemental stones and master their power.

As Inise grapples with her purpose and duty, she encounters a found family better than one she could have ever dreamed of, including Pashendra, a mysterious fae who claims she and Inise have a special connection. Will Inise muster the strength to overcome her uncle’s malevolent ambitions and stop the ruin of her realm?

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I loved working on this lush and exciting fantasy—and isn`t that cover divine? Go check it out at the link in my bio!
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#bookstagram #booktok #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagramfollowtrain #bookstack

❓QUESTION: I`m building an author website. What do I put on it?

🗨 ANSWER: That completely depends on where you are in your author journey, but if you`ve already published a book, a must-have is a link to purchase it.

Here are some other ideas:

INFO ABOUT YOU
Current and future readers want to know who you are! If you`re comfortable with it, include a photograph. Write a little blurb. Give them a few fun details about the person behind the words. You can go into as much or as little detail as you like.

YOUR TITLE LIST
If you`ve published a book or two, make a page for those. Include a photo of the cover and a BIG, GIANT LINK to purchase. You might include the book`s blurb here, too. (Bonus ideas: character sketches, map art, book glossary, deleted scenes, prologues, etc.)

UPCOMING PROJECTS
Got a WIP? Give readers something to look forward to. Even if you just have the barest idea of a plot and/or characters, I`m sure your fans would love to know what`s coming next.

INFO ON HOW TO CONTACT YOU
If you don`t want to give out a personal email address, put a contact form or use an address that`s only for website inquiries.

LINKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Put these on every. single. page! Links to your Insta or TikTok from your author site are a great way to build your following.

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
If you`re running a newsletter, don`t forget to also include a spot on ever page for fans to sign up.

A BLOG
A caveat: a blog isn`t absolutely necessary, but if you have one, or run a Substack, put up a link to it in your site`s main navigation.

Do you have an author website? Drop your link in the comments below! I`d love to take a peek. 👁‍🗨
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CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD: full vs. fulsome

These words might seem to be interchangeable at first glance, but they have distinct connotations and probably should not be used as synonyms. Here`s a look at why:

💡 FULL
(adj.)
:complete in detail, number, or duration

💡FULSOME
(adj.)
: characterized by abundance; copious

Now in some sentences—

👉🏻 The waiting list is FULL. <--- Pretty standard use indicating there is no more room on the list. You couldn`t substitute "fulsome" and retain the same meaning.

👉🏻 The FULSOME praise was over the top. <--- The praise was generous, abundant, copious, to the point of being cringe. Substituting "full" here might work, but the sentence wouldn`t say quite the same thing.

It`s always a good idea to pay attention to the connotations of the words you choose. English is a whacky language, and words that seem like they should mean the same thing often don`t as a result of their typical usage over centuries.

When in doubt, consult the dictionary. 😎🤓

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Are there any words that sneakily sound the same that you mix up sometimes? Let me know in the comments below!
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#amediting #editingtip #amrevising #editingadvice #editingtricks #wordcountgoals

CAN YOU SPOT THIS EDITING CONUNDRUM? How would you edit this sentence? 🤔

"As a child, my mother took me to the zoo to see the elephants."

Let me know in the comments what you`d do to fix the issue in this sentence, and see what I`d do as a professional editor. 😉
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#bookeditorneeded #amediting #editingtip #amrevising #editingadvice #editingtricks #wordcountgoals

Q for the weekend: Is it okay to mention real-life company names in a book or story? Will I get in legal trouble if I do?

A: Yes, it`s probably okay to use real-life company names. But there are some caveats to that.

If you`re mentioning a company name in passing and in a positive or neutral way, you more than likely have nothing to worry about, legally or otherwise. Pro tip: Take care to make sure the company name is spelled right, especially if it`s a trademark. (A good copyeditor will look it up for you and flag it if your usage doesn`t conform to the company`s trademark.)

If you`re drawing negative attention to a company in any way, even in fiction, it`s probably best to create an entirely fictionalized name to stand in for the real one to avoid any legal hot water.

Whether you`re using a real-life company name negatively or positively, consider the shelf life of your book. Company names come and go, and if your book references an old name, it might risk dating your story.

*****

Got questions for a professional editor about writing, editing, or book publishing? Send me a DM, and I`ll answer it in an upcoming Q&A!
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CONGRATULATIONS to client Christina K. Glover on the publication of her debut novel, The Switchboard! 🤩🥳🎉

This story is one that will crawl inside your head and never let go—in the absolute best way. Read this description and tell me you don`t wanna rush right out and snag a copy 😉:

FOR MAGIC. FOR MEMORY. FOR EACH OTHER.

Mortal mage Henley Yu has enough to worry about between the storms caused by broken magic and his strained relationship with his father. He’s trying to keep his head above water, but when he finds a stranger hiding in his kitchen cabinets he’s forced to reconsider his priorities.

Chief Operator Kittinger has overseen the flow of magic for centuries, but he’s no fighter. Betrayed by his protectors in their quest to gain control of the magic, he’s running for his life when he makes Henley his accomplice. Kit might lose his new ally if Henley finds out that Kit’s secrets go deeper than the magic itself.

Together they’ll venture into the Between, where magic connects worlds, to fight an army of officers ready to finish what they started when Kit fled the scene. For Kit, failure means death. For Henley, it means losing the memory of the only person who gives him purpose. Henley won’t let anyone interfere before he finds out what that means for their future together.

He’ll save Kit. He`ll save the magic—or he won’t be the only one who dies trying.

GET YOUR COPY HERE: https://tinyurl.com/bdtmr3nv
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GUMS time! (That`s grammar, usage, and mechanics.) Have you heard the term "split infinitive"? Wonder if you`re splitting your infinitives in your writing?

You probably are—but that`s okay!

A split infinitive is formed when an adverb or other word is placed between TO and a verb. Example:

to boldly go <-- "boldly" is the adverb, "go" is the verb

Are split infinitives wrong? Nope. Their banishment is a “zombie rule.” They’re fine, especially in fiction. Sometimes splitting the infinitive even aids clarity.

So "boldly go" right ahead and split them. You have my permission. 😎😎😎
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#bookeditorneeded #selfpublishedauthor #wordcountgoals #amediting #editingtip #amrevising #editingadvice #editingtricks #bookeditor #copyeditor #lineeditor #proofreader

An FAQ I see from indie authors over and over: What kind of editing do I need?? 🤔

If you have a final draft of a manuscript, you probably know the next step in your publishing journey is editing. But—what level? Developmental, substantive, copy, line, structural . . . there are so many different editing types, and a few even have different names depending on the editor! (And, it`s all just proofreading, right? Er, no.)

To help you figure out what level of editing your story needs, I`ve created a quiz on my website to walk you through them all. Answer a few questions about where you are in your publishing journey, and the results at the end will tell you what level is most appropriate for your manuscript at that stage.

TAKE THE QUIZ HERE: www.magicwordsediting.com/quiz/

Or click the link in my bio. 😎🤓
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Had an amazing time at the Unbound Book Festival @unboundbookfestival in Columbia, Missouri, last weekend!

Emily St. John Mandel was the keynote speaker, I got to meet Matt Bell and Sequoia Nagamatsu (two of my favorite authors), and sat in on craft workshops over novel structure and endings.

My head was buzzing with ideas all the way home! Definitely going back next year.

PHOTO DUMP:
1. The Unbound Book Festival, April 18-21, 2024, Columbia, Missouri

2. Emily St. John Mandel, keynote speaker, signed my copy of Station Eleven.

3. Matt Bell was a panelist, and gave me the *best* signature on my well-loved copy of Refuse to Be Done (if you follow me, you know I use this book *a lot*).

4. Caroline Leavitt, author of Days of Wonder, gave an amazing workshop on structuring a novel.

5. Mark Cecil, podcast host of The Thoughtful Bro and author of Bunyan & Henry, gave an excellent and entertaining workshop on novel endings.

6. Saw a book I proofread for Tor in the local bookshop @skylarkbookshop. Always a thrill!

7. Came away with additions to my TBR pile!

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. . . and I use every one! 😎🤓

#bookeditor #copyeditor #lineeditor #proofreader #editorslife #bookeditorneeded #amediting #editingtip #amrevising #editingadvice #editingtricks #indieauthors #writersofinstagram

HOW DO YOU PUNCTUATE DIALOGUE QUOTED IN OTHER DIALOGUE? 🤔😬

When a character quotes an exact line of dialogue from another character, how is that punctuated? It`s not as tricky as you might think.

Here`s a quick tip from The Chicago Manual of Style:

13.30: Quotations and “quotes within quotes”

Quoted words, phrases, and sentences run into the text are enclosed in double quotation marks. Single quotation marks enclose quotations within quotations.

EXAMPLE:
“His exact words were, ‘I shot the sheriff, but I did not shoot the deputy.’” (Note the placement of the final single quote: it goes *outside* the period. For question marks/exclamation points, it goes *inside*.)

Now you know! 😎
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#editingtips #amediting #amrevising #bookaneditor #lookingforaneditor #bookeditorneeded #publishing #writingtips

Q. What are "alpha readers"? Why do I need them?

A. Alpha readers are, generally, the very first readers of your book. They usually read a first or unpolished draft to help you catch early mistakes with plot, characters, or setting, and can give you much-needed inspiration to continue drafting or revising if you feel stuck.

Alpha readers can be anyone: editors, family members (although they might not give you unbiased feedback!), other writers, critique partners. The best alpha readers know something about craft to the point that they can give you targeted feedback, know how to offer constructive criticism, can look beyond the flaws of a first draft—like spelling and punctuation errors—and have the time and energy to read your story and comment on it.

How many alpha readers should you have? Typically, a small number (3–5) works best, but have as many as you need to work out any particular problems or stuck places.

Over to you: Have you ever used alpha readers? What was your experience like? Did they help? Let me know in the comments below!
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NOW ACCEPTING WAITLIST SIGNUPS! 🥳🎉🤩

If you`re the type who loves to plan ahead, or you have a fall publishing schedule, sign up now to get on my Quarter 3 (August, September) waitlist for the following services:

👉🏻 line editing
👉🏻 copy editing
👉🏻 story assessments
👉🏻 query assessments and editing

Waitlist members are contacted on a first come, first served rolling basis. As of today, all spots are taken for July, but openings remain for August and September.

Add your name here --->

🎯 Visit this link: www.magicwordsediting.com OR
💌 Send me a DM OR
🙋🏻 Click the link in my bio

*Got a smaller project? I might be able to work you in before my next opening. Let`s talk!
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WHO vs. WHOM: Come jump in the deep water with me, magic writer, and learn when to use “who” and when to use “whom.” It’s easier than you think with this trick.

💡 WHO
"Who" is used as the subject of a sentence.

>>> Example: Who wrote the letter? <<<

💡 WHOM
"Whom" is used as the object of a verb or preposition.

>>> Example: For whom was the letter intended? <<<

⭐ THE TRICK:
One neat trick you can use to figure out when to use one or the other is to invert the sentence and substitute a different pronoun: he/she, him/her, or they/them.*

>>> Who wrote the letter? <<<
THEY wrote the letter. HE wrote the letter. SHE wrote the letter.

Him, her, or them don`t work in this sentence, so we choose "who."

>>> For whom was the letter intended? <<<
The letter was intended for HIM. The letter was intended for HIM. The letter was intended for HER.

He, she, and they don`t work in this sentence. So "whom" is correct. (Note the M on the end: them/whom, him/whom, her/ . . . er, trust me on that one.)

📣 *BUT!
Caveat time. In speaking and modern everyday usage, “who” is often used in place of “whom.”

>>> Who is the letter intended for? <<<
>>> Who did you say is calling? <<<

Can’t remember which one to use? Don’t want to sound like a 19th-century grammarian?

Use "who." It’s okay. Really. Even Shakespeare did it. 😎
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Q: Where can I find legitimate writing workshops that will actually help me become a better writer?

A: By "help me become a better writer" I`m going to assume that what you`re looking for is a workshop that offers:

👉🏻 deep, constructive feedback on YOUR writing;
👉🏻 instruction from writers who`ve found success in the field and/or themselves are excellent writers;
👉🏻 and, perhaps, effective exercises you can apply to your own writing.

Because a combination of the above is what will get you from where you are now as a writer to where you want to be. Quickly. 😉

So here are four highly regarded writing workshop providers that fit the bill:

🌟 Iowa Summer Writing Festival
Affiliated with the University of Iowa`s world-renowned writing program, the festival offers in-person weekend and weeklong writing workshops on a variety of topics during June and July. You have to travel to Iowa City for the summer classes, but there are a few online workshops in April and May available if you hurry.

🌟 Gotham Writers Workshop
Or just "Gotham"—it`s that well-known. The workshops have produced National Book Award winners, NY Times bestselling authors, and an Emmy-winning TV writer. Their classes are offered online and in person, and classes are anywhere from 6–10 weeks . They also list day-long intensives if you`re in a real hurry.

🌟 GrubStreet
A nonprofit creative writing center based in Boston, GrubStreet is known for its multiweek and even year-long intensive, membership-based programs. Those puppies aren`t for the faint of heart! But they also offer writing workshops for beginning and intermediate writers. Online and in person. Scholarships are available.

🌟 Hugo House
Coming out of Seattle, Hugo House leans more "community arts center" than those listed above, but they still provide online and in-person writing workshops on anything from poetry to memoir to fiction. Lots of speculative fiction classes on tap here!

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I`m signed up for a couple of workshops in the Iowa festival this summer. Maybe I`ll see you there!

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CAN YOU SPOT THIS EDITING CONUNDRUM? How would you edit this sentence? 🤔

"I wanted to sit in the comfy chair with a cup of coffee in my pajamas and peck away at a keyboard."

Let me know in the comments what you`d do to fix the issue in this sentence, and see what I`d do as a professional editor. 😉
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#bookeditorneeded #amediting #editingtip #amrevising #editingadvice #editingtricks #wordcountgoals

Here`s a super fun writing challenge for you:

If you`ve got a sticky plot point that you can`t get moving, try keeping a dream journal for a week or two. See what situations pop up in your dreams that you can adapt to your WIP.

Give it a try, and if you have great results, come back here and post in the comments. Or if you`ve had a go at this in the past, let me know below—maybe you`ll inspire someone!
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