It’s never too late to learn more about the craft of writing and editing. One of the most common pieces of writing advice is to read widely. Read within the genre you intend to write to learn the expectations, the tropes, and what’s been done before. Read outside your genre to keep yourself from becoming too comfortable, to see what other genres are doing, and to stay open to the possibilities of new experiences and wisdom. And finally, read books about writing craft to give yourself a solid foundation to work from.
Here are a few great writing craft resources I recommend checking out:
- Monkeys with Typewriters: How to Write Fiction and Unlock the Secret Power of Story by Scarlett Thomas
- Damn Fine Story by Chuck Wendig
- Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
- Make a Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
- Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer
- Self-Editing for Self-Publishers by Richard Bradburn
- Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wicked Good Prose by Constance Hale
- Understanding Show Don't Tell (And Really Getting It) by Janice Hardy
- Write to be Published by Nicola Morgan
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself into Print by Renni Brown and Dave King
- The Incomplete Guide series by Salt and Sage Publishers
- The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger
And of course, don’t forget to check out my blog. It has lots of information about writing craft and the editing process.
Here is a list of events I will be participating in! If there are any topics you’d like to hear me speak about, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
2024 Events
- Sep 21-22: two panels at Rainbow Space Magic
- May 4-5: a presentation and roundtable discussion at the Toronto Indie Author Conference. What Indie Authors Need to Know about Editing
- Mar 11: Editing Science Fiction and Fantasy with the Professional Editors Network
2023 Events
- Oct 2: a webinar with the EFA. Creating, Leading, and Benefitting from Writing Communities
- Oct 1: a panel at Rainbow Space Magic 4.0. Stepping Stones: Planning Books and Writing Series
- Sep 28: a panel at the ACES Virtual Conference. Both Sides of the Page: From Editor to Author and Back Again
- Sep 27: a panel at the ACES Virtual Conference. When Niching Down Isn't For You
- June 18: a workshop at the Editors Canada Conference. Develop Your Coaching Service: A Workshop
- May 28: a panel at Wiscon. Gaming Groups and Writing Groups
- March 1: an industry interview with the Saskatchewan Festival of Words
2022 Events
- September 26: a webinar with Editors Canada. Worldbuilding in Fiction Editing: Theory and Practice
2021 Events
- June 13: an online panel discussion at the Editors Canada conference. Beyond Editing: A Conversation About Coaching Writers
- June 12: an online panel discussion at the Editors Canada conference. Adventures in Editing Self-Published Authors: Do you Dare?
- January 13: an online panel discussion with the Professional Editors Network. Breaking into Developmental Editing