tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post5690739025775976530..comments2024-03-18T04:40:38.214-05:00Comments on Murderous Musings: Writing Advice from Editor Helen GingerChester Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07155257451021065218noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-24629379977903031152010-11-11T21:35:57.599-06:002010-11-11T21:35:57.599-06:00Great post, and I'm really glad I found it. L...Great post, and I'm really glad I found it. Look forward to future postings. I truly believe every author needs to work with a professional editor BEFORE they even consider sending their work to agents or publishers, and for any author considering self-publishing it's an absolute must.Linda S. Pratherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10346358209621450429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-88869278809732074972010-07-16T21:56:18.157-05:002010-07-16T21:56:18.157-05:00Wonderful advice, Helen. Thank you so very much f...Wonderful advice, Helen. Thank you so very much for sharing your expertise with us.<br /><br />Jean - So glad you hosted, Helen. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-48598831028673490812010-07-16T19:35:59.291-05:002010-07-16T19:35:59.291-05:00Brilliant collection of advice for writers. Thanks...Brilliant collection of advice for writers. Thanks so much :)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-88530525264039703172010-07-16T14:08:51.725-05:002010-07-16T14:08:51.725-05:00What a nice way of putting it, Sia.
Sometimes wr...What a nice way of putting it, Sia. <br /><br />Sometimes writers, and I include myself, are too close to their work. They can't see the rough edges or extraneous fat that needs to be cut. It takes someone not invested in the work to see it. That someone could be a critique partner or an editor. Doesn't mean you have to take every suggestion or cut, but it does mean that this other person is most likely seeing the words on the page; whereas, a writer often sees what's in his head.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-7190539024996265212010-07-16T13:16:41.579-05:002010-07-16T13:16:41.579-05:00Some great suggestions, Helen. I'll admit that...Some great suggestions, Helen. I'll admit that starting the book where it needs to start, in the now, has been a hard one for me. While you have to anchor the stories setting in the mind of the readers quickly, there is a balance. <br /><br />So much of what we write a story is for US. These are things WE, not the reader, need to know. I've learned to write it as it comes and then go back and edit what the reader needs now.<br /><br />Absolutely, all writers need an editor to cut away the blemishes and rock, so the facets of the story are clear and bright. Kinda like jewlers cut away and polish when cutting facets in diamonds.~Sia McKye~https://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-31825536469051715982010-07-16T12:42:57.480-05:002010-07-16T12:42:57.480-05:00Hi Glynis and Jemi. Jemi, was that difficult to cu...Hi Glynis and Jemi. Jemi, was that difficult to cut that many pages...or did it seem so clear that it had to done that it didn't hurt?Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-90149376926087386562010-07-16T12:32:27.108-05:002010-07-16T12:32:27.108-05:00Terrific interview ladies :)
I think my biggest s...Terrific interview ladies :)<br /><br />I think my biggest step forward as a writer was cutting 30 pages off the beginning of my ms. It was important stuff for me to know and visualize, but not for the reader at that time. Great point!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-5922870300985989072010-07-16T12:20:38.504-05:002010-07-16T12:20:38.504-05:00Helen is a great supporter of aspiring writers. He...Helen is a great supporter of aspiring writers. Her blog is so interesting. I have learned a lot there over the last year+.<br /><br />Thank you Jean for hosting Helen, enjoyable interview.Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-72581013001851754562010-07-16T11:54:59.036-05:002010-07-16T11:54:59.036-05:00Very true Tamika. The more you can work on and per...Very true Tamika. The more you can work on and perfect, the less the editor will have to do. If your editor charges by the hour, that could save you some money. But even beyond that, the more you do yourself, the more you learn, the less likely you are to make the same mistakes next time.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-75161237811203212322010-07-16T11:48:04.149-05:002010-07-16T11:48:04.149-05:00I knew I wouldn't be disappointed:) Thanks Hel...I knew I wouldn't be disappointed:) Thanks Helen. I look forward to passing my work along to a professional editor one day before I tred the agent waters. It's good to cover all the bases first though~ I wouldn't want to waste their time or mine.Tamika:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04874834971492028558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-41543229418433539402010-07-16T11:13:16.511-05:002010-07-16T11:13:16.511-05:00Great advice, Helen! And I loved learning a littl...Great advice, Helen! And I loved learning a little bit more about your background and how you came into independent editing. Thanks! :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-46791451180628609142010-07-16T11:11:42.482-05:002010-07-16T11:11:42.482-05:00As usual, great advice.As usual, great advice.Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-53560984964988493742010-07-16T11:01:09.500-05:002010-07-16T11:01:09.500-05:00Maryann, blocking a scene is great advice!
Karen,...Maryann, blocking a scene is great advice!<br /><br />Karen, I have manuscripts somewhere in storage that will never see the light of day.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-66845406703500339882010-07-16T10:24:19.387-05:002010-07-16T10:24:19.387-05:00Wonderful post, Helen, filled with lots of great t...Wonderful post, Helen, filled with lots of great tips and advice. Thanks for hosting her, Jean.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-79416829569882437602010-07-16T10:18:43.610-05:002010-07-16T10:18:43.610-05:00I loved the bit about the note to an author tellin...I loved the bit about the note to an author telling them that their book started on page 16. I've had some authors where their first BOOK needed to be tossed because they used it to find their voice and the voice of the MC. They needed to understand the character first, really get inside their MC's head...and <i>then</i> go on to grab the reader by the imagination.<br /><br />So tossing 15 pages? In that perspective...not bad..lol.<br /><br />This was a GREAT interview.<br />Thanks Jean and Helen.<br />Helen never disappoints.Karen from Mentorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03685540761526680384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-19949728611890557862010-07-16T09:50:04.225-05:002010-07-16T09:50:04.225-05:00Great advice, Helen. So glad you pointed out the i...Great advice, Helen. So glad you pointed out the importance of reading work aloud, and not just the dialogue. I don't have a background in Speech, but because of my acting and directing experience, I learned the importance of reading my work aloud, as well as blocking scenes. My dog looks at me like I'm nuts when I get up from my computer and move around my office mentally blocking a scene if I'm having trouble seeing it as I write.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-82507985717879145982010-07-16T09:37:08.347-05:002010-07-16T09:37:08.347-05:00Good advice, Helen. Having to capture your reader ...Good advice, Helen. Having to capture your reader within that first sentence or paragraph and keep them reading to the last page make it more important than ever to have a qualified editor go through the manuscript before even thinking about publishing it.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-69128133226267936612010-07-16T09:14:29.472-05:002010-07-16T09:14:29.472-05:00I agree Jon. I need quiet. I don't even have m...I agree Jon. I need quiet. I don't even have music in the background. I do know people, though, who play music and write in busy places like a coffee shop. Doesn't work for me, though.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-52645284118033549162010-07-16T09:11:59.356-05:002010-07-16T09:11:59.356-05:00Great advice, Helen. And I didn't know you had...Great advice, Helen. And I didn't know you had a degree in speech as well.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-79077307419578037102010-07-16T08:44:46.298-05:002010-07-16T08:44:46.298-05:00Nice interview, Jean, and terrific answers and ins...Nice interview, Jean, and terrific answers and insights, Helen. Helen is one of the most giving people in the blogosphere, always has great advice, and a positive spirit in what can sometimes be a grinding experience. She's one of those touchstones that keeps me sane.<br /><br />One thing I would add is the importance of place - you need someplace free of distractions where you can write.<br />~jonJ. M. Strotherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01117770768990691070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-57950117742810520752010-07-16T08:29:30.666-05:002010-07-16T08:29:30.666-05:00Great interview, Jean, Helen. You hit the nail wi...Great interview, Jean, Helen. You hit the nail with reading the words aloud. While your dialogue may seem fine on paper, when you read it aloud, it may not sound plausible or even logical. Thanks for sharing your insight.Mark W. Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127689413680147200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-72702211415629248422010-07-16T08:27:37.955-05:002010-07-16T08:27:37.955-05:00I hope it's not restricted to writers, but you...I hope it's not restricted to writers, but you're right Simon. Just about every writer I know is excited when they hear another writer has succeeded at getting an agent or self-publishing or hitting the best seller list or whatever the accomplishment is.<br /><br />So true Jennifer! We're so close to our work that we can't always see the small (or even big) problems.<br /><br />Joanne, two very common word problems are using the passive voice too much and not taking the time to describe things in a unique way. Okay, three things -- also not making use of all the senses, not just sight.<br /><br />Hi Laura. Wow. How sweet of you.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-31743547439226524992010-07-16T07:47:08.096-05:002010-07-16T07:47:08.096-05:00Thank you, Jean and Helen. Fabulous advice from a ...Thank you, Jean and Helen. Fabulous advice from a woman who practices what she preaches. I've never seen anyone with such a powerful presence online as Helen.Laura Enohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-34017693097944973512010-07-16T07:42:56.605-05:002010-07-16T07:42:56.605-05:00Thanks for sharing today, Helen and Jean. I'm...Thanks for sharing today, Helen and Jean. I'm intrigued with how your speech degrees seemed to open up the language to deeper layers. Grammatically, with words rather than style or content, what's one of the most common errors or weaknesses you see while editing?Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6404036170106001374.post-39789684868061131662010-07-16T07:32:18.211-05:002010-07-16T07:32:18.211-05:00It's a pleasure to host Helen today. She provi...It's a pleasure to host Helen today. She provides a valuable service to aspiring writers on her blog site and in her newsletter, and deserves all the kudos she receives.Jean Henry Meadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08146960738692672013noreply@blogger.com