Inventing Reality Editing Service

Five Great Pieces of Advice to Aspiring Writers

“The only way to learn to write is to write.” - Peggy Teeters

“A young musician plays scales in his room and only bores his family. A beginning writer, on the other hand, sometimes has the misfortune of getting into print.” - Marguerite Yourcenar

“The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” - Philip Roth

“Don’t romanticise your ‘vocation.’ You can either write good sentences or you can’t. There is no 'writer’s lifestyle.’ All that matters is what you leave on the page.” - Zadie Smith

“A writer, like an athlete, must ‘train’ every day. What did I do today to keep in ‘form’?” - Susan Sontag

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Scranton, Pennsylvania, or a small town like Funk, Ohio, I can provide that second eye.

Through the act of writing, a writer learns more about herself than she could ever imagine

For many writers, the greatest yield from their writing is not a royalties check or the adulation of fans at a book reading. Instead, it’s self-discovery.

To that end, many writers keep journals. By writing each or every few days about what occurred to them or their thoughts about some past event, they use the empty page as a friend or a counselor, describing and explaining what most bothers them, all the while making new connections to better understand their feelings, experiences and beliefs.

Even fiction writers whose focus is creating entertaining books enjoy the benefits of self-discovery. In a sense, all authors write about their past. A person is the sum of his or her own personal experiences, and bits and pieces of what has occurred to us can’t help but wind up in our writings. A character may be a conglomeration of two people we once knew, a setting may be our cousin’s house that we visited each summer, a name might be drawn from that kid in third grade just because it sounds right for the character.

In many ways, the writing seemingly directs the author. Indeed, some writers say the characters told their own story. Of course, those characters were only constructs in the author’s mind – and those constructs tell a lot about the author.

Why? Because writing allows us to reposition ourselves so we can see what is otherwise in our mental blind spots or those things about oneself and the world that we neither can see nor understand from the spot where we stand. It’s really not much different from reading a book – another person, who has a unique perspective from our own, sometimes can get us to turn our gaze to new ideas, concepts and ways of looking at things. Writing is the neck muscle allowing us to see the important stuff in our periphery.

Often as writers, we are surprised by what we learn about ourselves. It runs counter to what we we’ve thought about who we are. But it is closer to the truth.

And for those writers, the virtues of truth and authenticity outweigh their books’ value in gold.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Fresno, California, or a small town like Frizzleburg, Pennsylvania, I can provide that second eye.

Thinking about book signing anxiety

When marketing your book, you’ll probably want to promote your book by getting in front of people, such as at a book reading or a book signing. For writers, who often are more introverted, that’s a daunting assignment. To prepare yourself for such a presentation, thinking a little about your fear actually can be helpful. Are you comfortable speaking in front of others? If not, what can you do to limit your anxiety ahead of such an event?

Related articles:
g Tips to ensure a successful book reading/signing
g How to arrange a public book reading/signing

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Boston, Massachusetts, or a small town like Boston, Georgia, I can provide that second eye.

Missing typos? Try editing old-fashioned way

When self-editing a draft of your manuscript, consider doing it the old-fashioned way: printing it out on paper.

Reading text on paper will allow you to catch errors that you might not spot when editing on a computer screen. That’s because we read text on computer screens differently than we do that on paper. With computer screens, our eyes tend to glaze over the text – hence, why so many website writing gurus encourage using bullet points and short paragraphs with white space between them.

When printing out the manuscript, you may need to adjust its appearance. Reading double spaced manuscript in 12-point Times Roman with black ink typically is easier on the eyes and provides space to write comments and make corrections. Use white paper as well.

In addition, use a red pen, just like your middle school language arts teacher did. Red ink stands out best against the black print and will be easier to spot later.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Washington, D.C., or a small town like Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I can provide that second eye.

Editing client publishes second crime novel

A long-time editing client of mine, Texan Drew Davis, has published his second novel, “Down by Contact.” The book tells the story of Kay Davenport, who burned by a cheating ex-husband finds solace as a top-level executive for Michael Scanlan, a handsome, wealthy businessman hiding a mysterious past. When good-looking celebrity TV journalist, Cole Laurence, comes to town for a story about Scanlan, concealing his investigation of an illegal drug operation run by organized crime. Kay becomes entangled with Cole, repressing her attraction from fear of again having her heart broken. As Cole gathers evidence against those involved in the drug dealing, they end up running for their lives. Will this Texas beauty attain the love and happiness she so badly desires? Or will the mob catch up to her first? The book can be purchased online.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Burlington, Vermont, or a small town like Humptulips, Washington, I can provide that second eye.

Writing Prompt: Go people watching

Suffering from writer’s block or need to add some spunk to your writing? The problem may be that you need to change up your routine.

To that end, try this tip: Go people watching for an hour at a coffee shop or a side-walk café. Write notes describing how people converse, how they stand in line, how they order their coffees.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Washington, D.C., or a small town like Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I can provide that second eye.

Editor unveiling ‘Writing Affirmations’

I’ll unveil my latest book, Writing Affirmations: A Collection of Positive Messages to Inspire Writers at my hometown bookstore in Menomonie, Wis., on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Writing Affirmations offers uplifting, meaningful phrases that can be read outloud or internalized weekly over the course of a year to inspire writers. Prompts and tips follow each affirmation, giving writers the encouragement and motivation to keep writing. The advice is based on my long-time experience as a creative writing teacher, editor, and bestselling author of more than a dozen books.

The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m at Bookends on Main, 214 East Main St., in historic downtown Menomonie, and is part of Small Business Saturday in which independent bookstores promote local authors. Writing Affirmations as well as my other titles will be available for sale at Bookends on Main during the event.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Grand Rapids, Michigan, or a small town like Frying Pan Landing, North Carolina, I can provide that second eye.

Five Great Quotations about Book Critics

“Thousands of people don’t like what I do. Fortunately, millions do.” – James Patterson (responding to a critic who called his writing "subliterate")

“Children read books, not reviews. They don’t give a hoot about critics.” – Isaac Bashevis Singer

“I went for years not finishing anything. Because, of course, when you finish something you can be judged...I had poems which were re-written so many times I suspect it was just a way of avoiding sending them out.” – Erica Jong

“No fathers or mothers think their own children ugly; and this self-deceit is yet stronger with respect to the offspring of the mind.” – Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

“Remarks are not literature.” – Gertrude Stein

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. I can provide that second eye.

The beginning of every writing session is like setting down a road unknown

Any time we begin something new – speaking in front of people we’ve never met, trying out a new electronic device, driving around a city we’re visiting for the first time – there’s a good chance that we’ll feel a little nervous. Our stomach might tighten, our hands could get clammy, we may even break a sweat. When that physical response occurs, our instincts tell us to avoid the danger.

As a writer, you’ve probably experienced such sensations when pulling the chair up to the keyboard or opening your notebook. Queasiness takes over because you’re uncertain what to write or if what you plan to say will be good enough. There’s a distinct danger of failing.

Indeed, for writers each new book, chapter, paragraph and even sentence is akin to setting down a road unknown. Each time we begin to write mimics turning onto tan unknown road heading into the desert. What if we run out of gas out there? What if we get lost? Who knows what other threats await in that vast emptiness?

There’s no reward without risk, though. After all, who knows what great scenery lays ahead, what discoveries may be made, what Eden awaits at the western end of that highway? We never will know – we never will finish the sentence, paragraph, chapter or book – if we do not drive onward.

Even if upon reaching our destination nothing lays ahead but more desert, the journey itself was worth it. With that trek and each one that follows, the next road becomes easier to navigate. The experience alone enriches us.

Yes, we can decide to never set down that highway and instead pull off onto the shoulder. Our queasiness and self-doubts then may subside. But what have you given up?

Only your dream.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from an urban area like Akron-Canton, Ohio, or a rural community like Toadlena, New Mexico, I can provide that second eye.

Think about concerns over marketing book

Many writers don’t enjoy promoting, or “marketing” their books. Besides being antithetical to the artistry of writing, promotion is time consuming, reducing the number of hours available to write.

Of course, for self-published writers, marketing is essential to ensure their book sells. Without some promotion, their title likely is to be lost among the more than 900 books published every day (in just the United States alone).

If you’re one of those writers who despise marketing, thinking a little about your feelings regarding this topic is important. Ask yourself, how do you feel about marketing your book? Why do you hold this view? What are your concerns about spending time promoting your book?

You may find that such thoughts help you reconcile your distaste for book promotion with the need to do it.

Related articles:
g Why you need to market your book
g Tips to ensure a successful book reading/signing

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or a small town like Boring, Oregon, I can provide that second eye.