Tips on Self Editing from The Artful Edit

Editing has less to do with comma-spotting and more to do with staying attentive and open to more important matters: ponder the piece to comprehend its purpose and meaning; listen to determine the pace and sound of the writing itself.

Listen for the Music – Self-Editing Tips 

Self-editing takes time. Attention. Focus. We’re making decisions based on what we hear, listening with a discerning ear, to separate the music from the noise. Listen for the music. Eliminate the noise.

When You Really Need Next-Level Edits

It can be a bit discouraging to realize you aren’t done yet, but your project will always need another look—a closer look. Now it’s time to refine your style through a careful reading.

What to Do When You’re Unsure How to Begin

It’s a lot of pressure to get the beginning of our projects right, so we fret and stew about whether we’ve begun our piece in the best possible way—we can end up frozen, paralyzed by the thought that we don’t have what it takes to hook the reader. This post offers several solutions.

Try This Writing Prompt to Get the Creative Juices Flowing!

I tend to encourage my clients to move toward practical goals, to create work that is going to be published. But at the same time, I also encourage writers to play, to get past the gates we put in front of ourselves and try to tap into those first thoughts without fear of being misunderstood.

Metaphor Magic: Wield Your Pen Like a Wand

Learn about metaphors as tools to connect one idea or image to another, which connects your words to your readers, as well. This post discusses the difference between metaphors and cliches.

Focus on Your High-Level Edits First

Focus on your high-level edits first. Clarity before commas, high-level concerns before proofreading, high-order concerns before low-order concerns. Learn more in this post.

Quick Fixes for Comma Splices

Comma splices might be a red flag to a conservative editor. Why risk a negative response to your work when you have so many other ways of constructing a sentence. Especially if you’re in the early stages of your career as a published writer, I recommend you eliminate comma splices. This post explains how.

Never Go to Bed without a Story to Tell

As writers, we want a lot of stories to draw from. To build a collection of stories available for your creative work, making you a better writer, wind down your day with at least one memorable moment. This post offers multiple approaches to do so.

Are Creative Writing Prompts a Help or Hindrance?

Are prompts mere distractions, diverting writers from purposeful, goal-oriented writing? Or do they do spark creativity, tease out long-buried memories, and help us spin creative storylines we would never have imagined on my own?

Patrice Gopo on Meaning Making on the Page and Studying the Craft

In this conversation with Patrice Gopo. We discuss her work as an essayist and meaning-making on the page. She gives us an inside look at her writing process, including several techniques she’s used study the craft of writing as well as the importance of feedback.

Poetry as a Playful and Pleasurable Creative Practice, with Mark McGuinness

With inspiration from Mark McGuinness, you’ll integrate poetry into your writing life as a pleasurable practice that elevates your prose. You’ll see ways poetry intersects with and impacts prose—you can even play a literary game he describes at the end.

Make Your Sentences Sing: 7 Sentence Openers to Add Music to Your Prose

Craft better sentences with ideas from this short video course that reminds you of the 7 sentence openers you can use to create variety within sentences and enhance the way you write.

ACW Studio (The Art & Craft of Writing membership)

ACW Studio is an always-open membership designed to provide the instruction and support—alongside a community of like-minded writers. ACW Studio will set you up to become the writer you know you can be.

One-to-One Coaching with Content Review

You want to level-up your writing and crave honest input on your work from a professional—all with a positive approach. Work with me 1:1 as your writing coach for personalized guidance on your submitted work. We’ll identify your strengths and explore targeted ways to improve your project. Choose from several levels of support.