Writing Resources
Embers Igniting Blog
Removing the Mystery: The Step-by-Step Process of Working with Embers Igniting Editing
Removing the Mystery: The Step-by-Step Process of Working with Embers Igniting By Madeleine Mozley If you’re interested in Embers Igniting Editing, then you’re probably wondering how the editing process works. Professional editing can be intimidating to newer authors. Even for experienced authors, finding a new editor is an undertaking. So let’s remove some of the […]
Embracing Imperfection: How to Silence Writer’s Imposter Syndrome
Embracing Imperfection: How to Silence Writer’s Imposter Syndrome By Melissa Burnham You sit at your computer, staring at a blank screen. There are no words-not on the page and not in your brain. How can you call yourself a writer when you have no words? You should probably just give up and get a boring […]
Rebel with a Clause: Seven Grammar Rules You Should Break
Rebel with a Clause: Seven Grammar Rules You Should Break By Madeleine Mozley I have a love/hate relationship with American English grammatical conventions. By and large, I love and enforce them, as do all of us editors here at Embers Igniting Editing. I appreciate how grammar forms a framework around which excellent writing can […]
Editing 101: What is a Structural Edit?
Editing 101: What is a Structural Edit? By Melissa Burnham In his book on developmental editing, Scott Norton compares fiction to a dream. The goal is to be able to read the whole book without waking up from the dream. A structural edit starts smoothing out those speedbumps that would wake your readers up. Another […]
What to Do with Perfectionism
What to Do with Perfectionism By Rachelle Clifford I am not a perfectionist. Really, I may be the furthest thing from one. Once I’ve achieved “good enough,” I’m ready to move on to the next task. But I think we all have a little perfectionism in us when it comes to the things we love. […]
10 Ways to Identify Your Writing Style
10 Ways to Identify Your Writing Style By Madeleine Mozley When I studied writing in college, there was never a lesson about voice. Setting? Check. Character? Yep. Plot? You bet. I heard endless platitudes about writing dialogue and appealing to the senses. Nearly every writing class spent at least one lecture on the anatomy of […]
English is Nonsensical
English is Nonsensical By Tracy Jones Sometimes people have no excuse for grammatical mistakes. But let’s face it, sometimes English grammar just doesn’t make sense. Take the word ‘nonsensical’ for instance. Currently, ‘sensical’ is not a word in the dictionary. That’s right. We have a non-something but not the something itself. Way to think things […]
The 4 Facets of World Building
The 4 Facets of World-Building By Rachelle Clifford As a reader and writer of other world genres (i.e., fantasy, sci-fi, magical realism), I am all too aware of the pain and pleasure that goes into world-building. For writers, it is the first building block that everything else rests on. For readers, it is the world […]
6 Pitfalls to Avoid When Creating Characters
6 Pitfalls to Avoid When Creating Characters By Tracy Jones Characters are the lifeblood of stories because of their ability to connect to the reader. You can have the most beautiful, compelling plot, but if your characters are weak, your readers will know it. Here are six pitfalls to avoid while you’re crafting your characters. […]
Travel as a Writing Exercise
Travel as a Writing Exercise By Melissa Burnham Travel is filled with inspiration for writers. What better way to spark an idea than seeing and experiencing so many new things and places? There is inspiration all around us, but sometimes it can be hard to see. Traveling takes you out of your routine and drops […]
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