Conscious language should be considered every day of the year, but there are particular times when it is important to focus on the communities which are so often targetted by harmful language. So, for Pride Month, I have compiled a list of terms that you should consider when discussing the Read more…
Have you finished writing your novel? Did you consider your options, and would you prefer to be published traditionally? While some smaller publishers accept manuscript submissions directly, and others have designated periods each year where you can do so, your next step should be getting a literary agent. A literary Read more…
Using ‘was’ or ‘were’ in a sentence is usually a simple choice, but it’s not always as straightforward as it seems. Do you know if you are using the right one? The technical bits ‘Was’ and ‘were’ are past tenses of the verb ‘to be’. Being an irregular verb, ‘to Read more…
If you are looking to self-publish your novel, hiring an editor or proofreader to review your manuscript before publication is a step that you should consider to ensure, among other things, that it is as free of errors as possible and internally consistent. However, with so many people offering their Read more…
Is it ‘You and I went to the market’ or ‘You and me went to the market’? Many people stumble on this construction, but there is actually a simple way to determine which to use and a good explanation as to why both can’t be correct. The technical bits ‘I’ Read more…
Does your story have a royal family? Do you keep second-guessing if it should be ‘king’ or ‘King’, ‘queen or ‘Queen’? Do you know how members of a royal family should be addressed by others? Here is a quick guide on writing royal titles and forms of address for royalty Read more…
From editors to writers, working with words requires taking a series of elements into account, from grammar to structure. Conscious language, however, has made it to the forefront of these when it comes to delivering neutral, effective text. To help you with this, I have created a free PerfectIt conscious Read more…
It is an undeniable fact that words have tremendous power. They can uplift and empower people or alienate them and cause harm. If you are writing a piece of work (especially one that is meant to be read by a large number of people), you should consider the language you Read more…
A quick Google search tells us that over 40% (nearly half!) of the world’s population speaks two languages. Fiction doesn’t always have to mirror reality (and, in a lot of cases, the opposite is the desired effect), but writing bilingual characters into your novel can add a degree of authenticity. Read more…
Outlining a novel can be tough. Even if you already have the entire story in your head, actually putting it all down in an outline can often bring your novel-writing efforts to a standstill. For help with the actual outline of your novel, or to learn just what the basic Read more…