Lara Zielinsky

Loose ends

In the same vein as several previous articles, this week I’m going to discuss getting your draft manuscript (possibly the one you worked on for NaNoWriMo just past) ready for other eyes. This might be when you are self-editing, or getting the work ready for beta readers or a professional editor. Stories are driven byContinue reading “Loose ends”

Editing Prep

Authors have many choices these days to get their words published. I’ve discussed the process from draft to done. In this week’s article, I’m going to focus on what authors should do to prepare their files for sending to editors or agents who will make changes to the manuscript. This is going to be oneContinue reading “Editing Prep”

Writing with Others

Reference: This is a post about writers workshops and writing groups, and is my take (and expansion) on ideas presented by academicwritingsuccess.com. Disclosure: I am an editor. I also definitely have a teaching approaching when working with clients. It’s a new year and, if you are like many writers, some of your resolutions revolve aroundContinue reading “Writing with Others”

Attributions in Dialogue

Reference: Managing Attributions in Dialogue Scenes: Who Said That? (Florida Writers Association) One of the toughest things to explain, IMHO, is when attribution is necessary, when it’s not, and whether it goes in front or behind the dialogue. This blog linked above from the FWA is very bare bones and I don’t think goes quiteContinue reading “Attributions in Dialogue”

2021 Year in Review

My year of editing full time was a blast! An absolute joy. Every day. Stats From January through December 2021, I edited: short stories (under 15k) = 6 collection of shorts = 1 novellas (15k=45k) = 4 novels (50k+) = 13 This list represents more than 1.3 million words. I also helped writers one-on-one withContinue reading “2021 Year in Review”

Processing Feedback

In a previous blog, I discussed the steps to go from first draft to done and ready to publish. Step 2 is getting feedback. Whether this is from alpha readers, beta readers, developmental editors, you need to get feedback from people who look out for what readers need to be able to read your workContinue reading “Processing Feedback”

Editing Yourself

I generally recommend only that you edit yourself after a very long break – and stick to broad concepts. Unless you have already internalized the grammar rules – or are willing to look them up when you’re not absolutely sure (professional editors do this all the time) – it is next to IMPOSSIBLE to copyContinue reading “Editing Yourself”

From Draft to Done

Listen to this post in Spotify or on Anchor.fm In today’s blog post, I’m going to try to discuss the entire writing process from first draft to publication- or submission-ready. Where you are in the process should give you some clues as to what type of editing assistance you may need to get to theContinue reading “From Draft to Done”

What comes after NaNoWriMo?

Welcome to December, NaNoWriMo-ers! Yay! you’ve got 50k. But do you have a story? self-editing Ran across this blog by author Amy Jewell which offers some issues pantsers might come across as they are trying to edit. As I read I kept hearing myself mutter, “I have a solution for that in my February workshop…thatContinue reading “What comes after NaNoWriMo?”

What’s word (count) go to do with it?

Stacey Carroll has a great post about word counts and where they fit in short stories, novellas, novels, and even the different genres. Go read it. I won’t repeat it here. What I want to talk about is answers to the questions “how many words make a scene?” This question about word counts really shouldContinue reading “What’s word (count) go to do with it?”