Editing Tips

Editor Steals Author’s Work & Asks for Compensation

November 4, 2010

Weird becomes stranger . . . The Consumerist reports that editor Judith Griggs, from Cooks Source Magazine, lifted an article by author Monica Gaudio  its entirety and published it without  her knowledge.   When Monica dared to write the editor and claim her work, the editor replied that everything on the web is “public domain”. Not only [...]

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It’s Reader Critique Friday! Frivolously Indecisive Blogger

September 3, 2010

This week’s critique I prepared for Heather Condiff, author of the blog FRIVOLOUS INDECISION, who wanted some help with her elevator pitch. Much like Heather, the pitch itself has nice energy to it that buoys the reader. She’s a busy woman with lots of responsibilities and a desire to keep her life balanced with the [...]

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The Gentle Art of Critique – Part 6 – Help or Beet it

August 30, 2010

When I was a kid, my mom bought sets of plain pink curtains for two of my sisters and me.  She gave us colored markers and simple instructions:  decorate these any way you want. I was about five and not artistically inclined. She probably helped me figure how big the pictures should be, or how [...]

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It’s Reader Critique Friday! Existential Blogger

August 27, 2010

Today’s piece isn’t what I envisioned when I invited writers to send us a page for critique.  I expected a query letter, a synopsis, maybe even a scorching flame-to-the-editor.  What I got was an existential, quarter-life crisis, stream-of-consciousness blog post. Whew!  Still, our stated mission is to help the writer clarify the message.   I rolled [...]

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5 Simple Exercises to Buff Up Your Writing

July 20, 2010

Messages vying for our attention are as prevalent as stringer tanks in the gym.  Email.  Billboards.  Internet.  TV. Snail mail. Radio.  Information sweats us from too many sources to give each an equal hearing, even when we might benefit.  Only the muscle-bound messages break through our sensory defenses.   If you want your message to flex [...]

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