Lara Zielinsky

Creating setting

Listen to this post on Spotify or Anchor An historical story will not use the same words (or even sentence structures) as a contemporary one. And a book with a college-educated protagonist will feel different from a book with a middle school protagonist. Word choices, what’s described about where and when they are, the imageryContinue reading “Creating setting”

Throw away the crutches

Copy editing (and line editing – I do both together) are organized around making sure your story is streamlined and contains the best word choices to suit the characters, the tone or tension of the situations, and the setting or time period. The application of grammar rules is balanced with the author’s style and theContinue reading “Throw away the crutches”

Homophoning and Malaproping

I don’t usually discuss copy editing, grammar and punctuation here on this blog, but beyond there, their, and they’re is a whole host of words that can get written incorrectly in the draft because you’re more attuned to hearing language than writing it. Homophoning This error tends to show a lack of reading. Why? BecauseContinue reading “Homophoning and Malaproping”

Stop asking WWYD

WWYD (“What would you do?”) is a common question in writing groups. It happens when an author reaches an impasse in the story for the character’s actions. So often it comes across like a popularity contest: I’ll have the character do whatever most of them say they’ll do, and that will make my story popular.Continue reading “Stop asking WWYD”

recent (client) releases

All of my clients are indie authors, and as their editor I do like to help them spread the word of their books. You’ll find I’ve updated my client books pages with several new titles: Married to the Interstellar Colonist. This is author Ami Wright‘s sixth, and final, book in The Lost Romans science fictionContinue reading “recent (client) releases”

Don’t take my word for it

With the proliferation of places to self-publish your stories, there’s a lot more reading material out there to choose from. Some authors might say marketing is their secret. They know what their readers like and they know where they go to find reading material, and they buy ads to reach them. But a lot ofContinue reading “Don’t take my word for it”

Advice for when writers struggle

Writer’s block. Some say it exists. Some say it doesn’t; it’s all in your head. Pointedly, both sides are right. Everything about story writing is in your head. Until it moves to your fingers to the rhythm of a swishing pen, or the clickety-clack of keys on a keyboard. Author Peggy Lantz posted about herContinue reading “Advice for when writers struggle”

Going Serial

Some writers start at the beginning of their writing plans and know that they want to write a series. Others have a vague idea. Still others, however, may not realize they are writing a series until either, they near the end of the draft of the first book, or they get feedback and reviews fromContinue reading “Going Serial”

Holiday (stories) editing sale

Today is the beginning of summer in the U.S. and it is the perfect time to write a winter holiday novel for publishing in December. It is also the perfect time to secure a space with your editor. I have a deal for you… LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS: Theme: The story should have a holiday settingContinue reading “Holiday (stories) editing sale”

More authors books now available

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. I am a reader as well as an editor, and I do not get involved in editing stories I can’t see myself getting behind wholeheartedly. That said, many clients have published the books which I edited for them since I last updated a couple months ago. SoContinue reading “More authors books now available”