Category: Prose & Editing

Scribes & Archers > Prose & Editing
5 Ways to Transition Between Scenes

5 Ways to Transition Between Scenes

Posted on by R.M. Archer

I recently got a question from a newsletter subscriber about how much is needed when transitioning between scenes–especially when there is a jump in time and/or space involved. For example, if your characters are traveling, how much do you actually need to show and how can you transition smoothly if you skip over the details? Today’s post is expanding on some potential answers to this question, to answer it for others who might be wondering.

There are a number of ways to Continue reading “5 Ways to Transition Between Scenes” →

How to Stick with a Project (Past the First Draft)

How to Stick with a Project (Past the First Draft)

Posted on by R.M. Archer

While I’ve previously written on the topic of sticking with a project–and the principles from that post do apply beyond the first draft into revisions, edits, etc.–it was recently brought to my attention that I don’t have a post addressing some of the obstacles that can arise specifically after the first draft is complete, so that is what I will be discussing today!

Obstacle #1: Feeling Inadequate

As you shift from the writing process into the process of identifying problems and rewriting to remedy those problems, it’s easy to feel unequal to the task at first–especially if this is your first time stepping into the rewriting stage. It can be daunting. I get it!

It’s important to remember that even Continue reading “How to Stick with a Project (Past the First Draft)” →

How to Choose a Good Editor

How to Choose a Good Editor

Posted on by R.M. Archer

If you’re an indie author, in particular, you likely know that a professional editor is part of the investment. But it can be hard to know which editor to choose. How do you know who is going to be a high-quality editor, and how do you know they’ll be the right fit for your book? This post will address both the traits of a good editor, as well as how to assess whether or not an editor has these qualities and whether or not s/he is a good fit for you specifically.

Traits of a good editor

Timeliness

Especially if you’re working with a particular schedule for a given project–whether you’ve announced a release date, plan to submit a project somewhere by a certain date, etc.–it is important to have an editor who can and will get your project scheduled and edited in a timely manner. Many editors will have an average turnaround time posted Continue reading “How to Choose a Good Editor” →

How I Became an Editor (and What I’ve Learned)

How I Became an Editor (and What I’ve Learned)

Posted on by R.M. Archer

As I open my freelance editing services for the year, I wanted to talk a bit about how that branch of my business got started, some of the things I’ve learned along the way, and my values as an editor.

Over the years, I’ve had people ask me about how I got started because they’re interested in starting freelance editing businesses of their own, so I thought it would be helpful to put all of that information together in one place and touch on some details I haven’t always brought up in those discussions.

I’ve also talked to authors who don’t have much experience in finding editors who are a good fit for their work (and I’ve been that author, myself), and I hope that this post gives insight into what to look for (and what to avoid).

So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Reading with an Editor’s Eye

I’ve been asked whether Continue reading “How I Became an Editor (and What I’ve Learned)” →

3 Literary Qualities (Largely) Lost to Time

3 Literary Qualities (Largely) Lost to Time

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Classic literature did it better.

Okay, not always, but there is a lot to be said for classic literature that can’t (often) be said for modern literature, and I think that modern authors–even modern Christian authors–have lost sight of a lot of the values that can be found in classic literature and the lives of classic authors. Today I want to look at some of the qualities of classic writing that I see more rarely in modern writing, and encourage us to consider whether Continue reading “3 Literary Qualities (Largely) Lost to Time” →