by Amy Bennet, Book Editor, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror I work with a number of writers at the beginning of their careers, maybe with their first novel, or the first novel they’re ready to shop around, and they often ask how they can get started with publishing. Many writers would like to get an agent and/or a …
by Amy Bennet, editor As a writer, I get it. You’ve worked hard on your book. You just want to know if it’s good, and if there are things you can do to make it better. You have options when it comes to editing. Developmental editing, also called content editing or substantive editing, is a …
by Amy Bennet, editor Recently I’ve seen a number of manuscripts by talented new writers who are falling into a trap. Writers are overcomplicating their novels, often by choosing unnecessarily experimental narrative techniques, or by deliberately leaving out important plot information. The choices range from switching, seemingly randomly, between past and present tense or first …
by Amy Bennet You’ve heard you need to grab your reader’s attention with a compelling first page, but often I see writers who start their novel with action, but not tension. The difference is perhaps subtle, but very real. Tension is created when the reader sees a character grappling with specific and relatable problems, while …
by Amy Bennet Book Editing Associates Feeling pressed for time is common, both for writers and for editors. Over 16 years in the publishing industry I’ve learned a few things about meeting deadlines, and I’ll share them here. First, be willing to narrow your focus. This can take practice but is the first step to …
by Amy Bennet, editor It used to be that novels would lavishly describe the setting. But with today’s focus on tight pacing, a few details here and there usually have to be enough. Here’s how to make those details count. If you’re writing in close third person point of view, or first person point of …
By Amy Bennet Occasionally writers will ask me, “Am I writing science fiction, fantasy, or something else?” Science fiction is more than advanced technology, spaceships, or aliens, and fantasy is more than magic or supernatural creatures. Genre elements attract readers – aliens, dragons, spaceships, elves, and zombies are fun. But for your book to get …
By Amy Bennet Imagine an interesting person with a serious problem. Ideally this is a problem you know something about, if not, do some research. The problem ought to be something that people care about and can picture themselves facing, even if it takes place on another planet, or is set in a world where …
By Amy Bennet So many times I have seen a promising science fiction, fantasy, or horror, story fall flat, because there’s no tension in the beginning. The author starts out describing the character, their history, and the history of their civilization in loving detail. But that in itself is not compelling. What is? Humans like …
Amy Bennet Developmental Editor | Book Editing Associates Science Fiction Editor and Author Developmental Content Editor Marketing Materials Including Elevator Pitches Agent Query Packages This is a marathon, not a sprint. Be prepared for rejection. Be prepared for your work to be ignored, insulted, and misunderstood. Be aware that the people closest to you may …
by Amy Bennet Developmental Book Editor Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror Often I see a science fiction or fantasy story that starts like this: a handful of paragraphs of description that slowly start to explain how the world works, and who the characters are. The problem is that there is no problem. See instead the following …
Amy Bennet Developmental Book Editor This advice is geared for the science fiction, fantasy, or horror novelist. I’m going to assume you are serious about your work and want to publish more than one novel. These days it’s probably easier to get an agent first, because most publishers don’t take unagented submissions. But getting an …
Amy Bennet Developmental Editor | Book Editing Associates Science Fiction Editor and Author Developmental Content Editor Marketing Materials Including Elevator Pitches Agent Query Packages A good editor will have relevant work experience and testimonials from published authors who have worked with her. She will ask what your goals are and customize her work to fit …
by Amy Bennet A writer told me, “I think I’ll start out with self publishing because I’m new.” And I thought, “Of course authors get daunted by the prospect of getting published, and don’t know how to start.” There is a story that traditional publication is better. People in power said yes, so your work …
by Amy Bennet Book Editing Associates Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror What is a developmental edit and how do I know I’m ready for it? I think of a developmental edit as the deepest edit. It’s what I do to try and help make the novel that you wrote as close as possible to the novel …
by Amy Bennet Book Editing Associates Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror Writer’s block is a common experience where you feel like you can’t write. I see it as a symptom rather than a problem. Here’s some advice for getting past it. Remember that the world is not set up to support your writing. You have professional …
By Amy Bennet Lately I’ve heard the phrase, “Said is dead” offered as writing advice. I’ve even heard that people are paying money at professional writing conferences to be told this nonsense. So I had to look up the source of this idea that the word “said” is somehow out of favor. Because the advice …