Sandra Gerth - author of the Writers' Guide Series
How to Set Writing Goals That Are SMART

How to Set Writing Goals That Are SMART

It’s THAT time of the year again—the time where we set writing goals for the year ahead. Setting goals is an important part of a writer’s life. Without goals that keep us moving forward, it’s too easy to procrastinate and put off starting that book or finally finishing it. With …

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What to do After Finishing the First Draft of your Novel

What to Do After Finishing the First Draft of Your Novel

I know once you finish your novel and type “the end,” you are probably either sick of the story and just want it off your desk or you are eager to get it into the hands of your editor and, eventually, your readers. But after finishing your first draft, that’s …

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How to structure paragraphs

How to Structure Paragraphs in Your Novel

Today, I’d like to talk about something few writers ever seem to think about: paragraphs. Most authors start new paragraphs completely by instinct instead of making conscious choices, and that usually wastes a lot of potential and can even lead to confusing readers. Often, authors don’t seem to know where …

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how to find an editor

How to find an editor for your book

In previous blog posts, I talked about why you need an editor and what an editor might cost. But where do you find a good editor? How can you avoid hiring an incompetent editor who will do more harm than good? Here are a few general tips on how to …

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How much does editing cost?

One of the questions I get asked most often is: What does editing cost? My answer is always: it depends. How much an editor will charge you for editing your manuscript depends on several different factors. Factors that influence editing costs Type of editing: In a previous blog post, I …

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POV violations

3 quick tips to avoid POV violations in your book

Since we all have busy lives, I thought I’d give you three quick tips you can apply to your manuscript or add to your self-editing checklist right now. Each of these tips will help you avoid point of view (POV) violations that will jar readers out of your story and …

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telling writing

10 red flags for telling in your writing

We have all heard the advice to show, don’t tell in our writing. But how do you know you’re telling?   10 red flags that indicate telling 1) Conclusions If you give your readers conclusions, you are telling. To show, provide them with enough action, body language, and dialogue so they …

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overused body language writing

How to avoid overused body language in your writing

Human communication is mostly nonverbal, so it makes sense to use plenty of body language, gestures, and facial expressions in our writing. Showing your characters’ emotions through their body language is also a wonderful way to avoid telling (More about showing vs. telling here). Instead of saying she was nervous, …

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