Hello Reader!
Can you believe it's May already? And one week until Mother's Day (at least in the U.S.). The weather is nice and rainy here and flowers are almost convinced Spring has arrivedβ which probably means its a good thing they aren't watching TV with all the ads for Summer showing up already!
Of course in my house, May means Stanly Cup playoffs. We each have our favorite teams to
cheer on, though as of this writing several of them have been eliminated in Round 1. Queen V. is happy that her favored Las Vegas Golden Knights have made Round 2.
I've completed my course with the Nonfiction Authors Association for a Book Marketing Professional Certification. At some point this means they'll send me a certificate (I'll take a picture fo you all!) and a digital label for my website. Which means I'll be figuring out new pricing for my Marketing Coaching services by the end of the summer. But I'll let you know about that in advance. I'm also considering adding a service in Manuscript Evaluation this summer. I'd love to hear from you if you think that's something you or people you know might be interested in and I should move forward with the idea.
Editing Insights Club
Welcome to the Editing Insights Club! Here I'll introduce you to editors and other professionals from all over the publishing world. You'll see we're all here as part of the community that supports writers in their journey to success.
Meet: Kamille Parkinson
Line & Copy Editor
βhttps://www.wordpainterprojects.com/β
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What type of content do you edit or proofread?
I'm a line and copy-editor and I have several niche areas in which I edit. Each one relates to an area of professional expertise or personal interest, including genres I like to read. In fiction I edit Romance, Cozy Mystery, most anything with horses, and art-related content. In non-fiction I edit equine content and subjects related to art & art history.
What's your favorite thing about your work?
I love helping authors make their prose the best it can be, so that they can engage and hold a reader's interest right from page one. As we know, a happy reader is a new fan! It's really satisfying for me to be able to adjust a text to make everything flow as the author intended, while maintaining the author's voice.
What is one tip you like to share with writers searching for (or working with) an editor?
Find an editor who works in your genre, and always ask for a sample edit to make sure you'll work well together. Many editors offer free sample edits, and it will give you a sense of their editing style, how they communicate, and if they "get" what you're trying to achieve with your manuscript. If you don't like what you get in a sample edit from one editor, the best thing to do is just politely say, "I don't think we'll be a good fit," and move on to someone else. Editing is a long-term relationship, and you don't want to feel stuck with an editor who isn't a good fit for you and your work. (If you do end up trying more than one editor, use the same portion of your ms. for the next sample edit so that you're comparing apples to apples.)
What are some of your favorite things outside of work?
How much space do I have? I have so many interests! But if I had to narrow it down to a few favorite things I'd say that spending time with my horse β riding, training and figuring out what works best for him, as well as just grooming and honging out with him β is right up there. I'm also a member of a local women's choir and I love singing and our "singing sisters" community. I also enjoy good food (my husband says I'm a foodie), as well as traveling. I enjoy the outdoors, too, so cross-country skiing, canoeing, camping, and swimming are all things I like to do. Really there are so many things β I could go on and on!
What's a book you're reading for fun right now?
Every year around this time I read Susanna Kearsley's book The Winter Sea (also published as Sophia's Secret). It's many-layered and deeply romantic, and as many times as I've read it, I can't put it down. I'll but anything Susanna Kearsley writes, but this is definitely my favorite (though her The Shadowy Horses comes pretty close). Generally though, I usually have some kind of romance novel (I've always been a sucker for Regency romances) or a cozy mystery on the go. I like trying out new authors and themes in both those genres.
When I'm not editing or reading books, I'm writing! Currently I'm working on a romantasy novel (because I couldn't find exactly the type of book in this genre that I like to read, so I decided to write one), and I've also recently started writing the first book in a Canadian small town romance series. So I know what it is to be an author, too!
You can also find Kamille on her LinkedIn page!
Writing Tip: What is the one thing that your character knows that they don't want others to know? It can be somehing "real" or "perceived" but think about how it shapes your Main Character and their relations to everyone. Will it create a plot twist at the end? A crisis of faith? A character breakthrough? You'll want to plot things differently depending on which result you want.
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Building Memorable Characters
Have you ever read a book and found yourself thinking "that character was pretty one-dimensional"? Ever worry someone might say that about your characters? Here are some ideas to get you started on building memorable, three-dimensional characters!
- Make a Character Sheet: You've got to know your characters before you can write them. What are their likes and dislikes? How will they react in any situation? Try writing a profile for all your important characters. If you need help, Pinterest has tons of samples. Or you can try "interviewing" them (which can also be a fun extra when you're promoting your book!). Not everything you do here will make it into your book, but if it helps you feel like you're learning them better, go for it!
- Motivation: Once you know your characters and what they want (or think they want), you know what they'll do to achieve their goals. This is every character's center and at some level it'll be in consideration for every scene, so make sure you know it (even if your character doesn't!).
- Quirks: Here's where you can have some fun. What makes each character an individual? Unique? How do they stand out from everyone else? Why should your reader like them, not like them, or at least remember them?
- When Characters Write the Scenes: Sometimes authors talk about characters taking over and doing the writing themselves, which can be greatβ but what about when they don't write things the way you plotted them out? Don't panic! It could be that they've evolved eyond the story you initially thought you were writing. Now's the time to get a friend, a writing/critique partner, or a writing coach and talk out what you've got and the direction things are headed. It might not be going where you initially planned, but that might mean your story is going somewhere even betterβ don't be afraid to follow your instincts and keep going in the new direction!
Reading Update
βEβloisa James' newest historical romance Hardly a Gentleman reminded me why I enjoy her booksβ especially when my mind needs an escape. Bookworm Clara makes the impulsive decision to escape a disastrous Season in London by pretending to be a housekeeper in the Highlands. Laird Caelan knows Clara's no housekeeper, but falls for her rightaway and will do whatever it takes to get her to stay. It's grumpy/sunshine, books and flyfishing, humor and hijinks (and heat!) and there's a pet chicken.
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If you've ever wondered about how decisions are made when it comes to designing books, this is the book for you! Whether you're thinking of self-publishing your own book or are just curious about the work involved, Debbie Berne's The Design of Books is one every book lover should read. From fonts and photos to spaces and spines, this book is a treasure trove of information written (and illustrated!) so we can all understand what's going on behind the cover.
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