Alissa Dedic’s Post

Want an easy way to ruin an author's week? (I mean, the answer should always be no 😅.) Passing over an edit chock-full of reckless, unkind comments is your one-way ticket to do just that. Just take a look at some of these soul-destroying comments left behind by an editor: 'No one should write things like "madly in love".' 'This is not an authentic voice. He didn't speak at all like this! Delete.' Imagine the author's dismay at reading this! Okay, confession time... These were words by a fictional editor in a short story, not a real one, thankfully – editors like this do exist though! Yes, comments should be to the point, and yes, they should point out errors and suggest fixes. They should also be respectful and delivered with tact. It pays to remember there is a living, breathing person behind the screen. Someone who's done the not-so-easy feat of writing an entire novel. It's an honour to be trusted with handling something this precious. I always, without fail: → suggest changes, not barge myself through the story like a raging bull → let the author know when they've nailed something (knowing what's going well is just as important as knowing what's not) →give myself some space from the manuscript after finishing, come back with fresh eyes, and check my comments for clarity and tone The result? Here are some testimonial snippets: 🗣 I was left with a clear roadmap for future improvements as well as a few kind comments about areas that were stronger. As a professional journalist, I'm used to my writing being hacked to pieces. 🗣 His feedback is clear and precise, while also kind yet to the point. 🗣 Matt's feedback has been truly excellent. I'm blown away by his suggestions and ability to align my vision with the content of the query. These aren't fictional. Promise. 😂 Whatever you need help with, whether it's with the big picture or fine-tuning, you'll come away with the constructive, encouraging feedback you deserve. Need a hand? DM or email me ([email protected]). I'm taking bookings for proofreading and developmental editing from August. P. S. is it just me or is every editor in books portrayed as a grumpy, heartless arse? #WritingCommunity #AmEditing #ProofreadingServices #SelfPublishing #Editor #MooreAttuned

📖Spotlight on Editors: 5 Things You Need to Know📖 If I had a dollar for every time someone wanted me to “take a look” at their manuscript, I wouldn’t be writing this post. I’d be on a beach in Puerto Rico, finally finishing my own manuscript. These writers often want me to provide feedback and suggestions for FREE. Some are shocked when I tell them I'm a professional who charges for my services. Some say they’ll just use Grammarly or Autocrit for editing. Or even worse, that they don’t need an editor. ⭐I hate to break it to you, but you aren’t that great of a writer.⭐ I know it sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. Even professional writers who have sold millions of books will tell you that editing is essential to the writing process. Editors help shape your story and give you advice on how to become a better writer. Learn more about what a professional editor can do for you and your manuscript by clicking the link below👇👇🏿👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/e8i3vRgm

Editing is a process of vulnerability for all parties but the end goal is unanimous: the success of your story is what they want. Make sure you are always clear about your vision with your editor and remember that they are your partner here to elevate your words! We read Kayleigh’s blog post and we highly recommend it! #publishing #amwriting #authors #childrensbooks

Every content writer has their own pace and research time, but I've found that taking at least two days to complete an article can be highly beneficial. In the past, I wrote an article in one day and proofread it the same day but didn’t submit it. The next day, I revisited the article, made several genuine improvements, and added value-adding content. Why is taking a day gap for proofreading and editing so effective? 🪶 You approach it with a fresh mind. 🪶 You distance yourself from the topic for a while. 🪶 You create space for new ideas to enter. 🪶 You can read it as a reader, not as the writer, making a significant difference. In my opinion, taking a minimum of two days to complete an article allows for the necessary time between writing, reading, and evaluating. How much time do you generally take to write an article? 🤔

Writers could learn so much from comedians. They know how to: ↳ Hook you in a second ↳ Keep you hooked ↳ Make you react at the end It’s tricky work 😵 While we may not take center stage like comedians, Our craft shares similarities. As a writer, here are 6 lessons we can learn from comedians: 🔥 Grab attention in 5 seconds People have short attention spans, so make those first few seconds count. Hook the audience from the get-go. 🔥 Test new material Comedians often test out new jokes in smaller settings before taking them to the big stage.  Do the same with writing, whether it's A/B testing subject lines or getting feedback from colleagues. 🔥 Use the power of observation The best comedians are masters of observation.  They pick up on subtle cues from their audience. Do the same with your readers. 🔥 Read it aloud Reading your writing out loud can help you catch mistakes and refine your tone.  It might be uncomfortable, but it's worth it. 🔥 Get brutal with editing Comedians spend a lot of time refining their material. Likewise, care about what reads well rather than what looks good. Editing isn't just about proofreading—it's about questioning every word and sentence. 🔥 Refer back Comedians love to call back to their earlier jokes, Do something similar by referencing earlier points in your writing. This keeps the reader engaged. The last piece of advice? Practice—a lot. Entertaining an audience or readership takes years of practice, not just natural talent. That’s the key to mastery.

You are new to the writing field—still claims to write high-quality 2000 words daily?!   I must say, "You must be using QuillBot or SpinBot!" Writing 2000 words every single day and actually making them worth reading. I don't think it is possible for a newbie! I've been in this field for 5 years now. I still can't guarantee anybody to provide 2000 words with high-quality within 24 hours for whole month. I mean, to write a high-quality piece of 2000, you must have to: ●   Give 8-9 hours straight. ●   Research and preparation:   - Thorough background reading   - Fact-checking and verifying sources  - Focusing on coherent structure and flow ●   Revision and editing:  - Multiple rounds of self-editing    - Refining language and style  - Ensuring logical consistency ●   Proofreading: - Checking for grammatical errors    - Verifying formatting ●   Possible peer review or feedback   When I first heard about this concept, I was like, "Hold up, you want me to do what now?"  You need to be very professional and fast to write 2000 words daily!!! And what about companies locally here that provide? 1 pkr or 1.5 per word?? And you are doing this daunting tasks for them? You are just devaluing yourself! Many new writers ask me how I work and manage my life. I simply say; " Take time but provide value." - Focus on consistent, smaller daily goals. - Prioritize quality over quantity - Allow time for learning and improvement. - Understand that some days will be more   productive than others.   2000 words a day is no joke. It's about 8 pages of single-spaced text. If you keep this up for a year, you'll have written 730,000 words. That's like 7-10 full-length novels! Please don't do this !!! For an experienced writer; I can say he might provide this much work. I'm currently unable to provide this much work within 24 hours. Maybe I'm not that professional, but it's okay!!! I don't want to criticize anyone! But this is a realization post! I do our source; I've faced this issue many times. Writing at this pace every day could quickly lead to mental exhaustion and creative burnout. Producing 2000 words of quality content often requires research, planning, and editing, which takes significant time beyond just the writing itself. While someone might manage this output for a short period, sustaining it over weeks or months is unlikely for most writers. A more realistic approach for consistent, quality writing might be: - Setting lower, more achievable daily word counts. - Focusing on weekly or monthly goals instead of daily ones. - Alternating between writing and editing/ research days. I want to know your thoughts. Please tell me sincerely. Do you use rephrasing tools? #contentwriters #technicalwriting #copywriting

Do you find yourself lost in the sea of advice about hiring a copy-editor? You're not alone. In writers’ groups, the queries are evergreen: 🌟 Do I need a copy-editor before submitting to an agent or editor?  🌟 How do I find a good copy-editor?  🌟 How much does it cost? The replies? They’re often so varied and head-spinning that it’s no wonder writers are confused. And who can blame them for questioning an expense they’re not convinced is necessary? Based on my experience, every manuscript benefits from a copy-editor before publication. But the real question is, can you skip this step before submitting to agents and editors? From what I’ve seen, writers typically fall into three categories: 👉Group A: You know you need help. Maybe grammar and spelling aren’t your strong suits, or your beta readers have already pointed out issues. Many professional writers fall into this category. 👉Group B: You’re confident you don’t need help. You were an A+ student in English, you read extensively, and your mom says your manuscript is perfect. 👉Group C: You’re unsure. You’ve done your best but still wonder if it’s good enough. For self-publishers, the question isn’t whether to hire a professional copy-editor, but when. The answer? After drafting and revising, but before formatting for publication. P.S: In my decades of copy-editing, I’ve reviewed literally hundreds of book-length manuscripts, and I never met one that couldn’t be improved by copyediting. Never. — Hey, I'm Tasneem Fatehi, co-founder and chief editor at Finesse Editing Agency LLP. I work with #authors and #publishers to enhance their writing. Follow me for useful writing insights!

I PROMISE you won’t need a Creative Writing Course after reading this. Hello Budding Writer, I am Kajal, a Media Graduate working as a Writer for over 2 years now. I have worked with Agencies as well as with various categories of clients and delivered quality writing services. The reason I tell you that you won’t need a Creative Writing Course is, Writing requires 2 things. Substance and Craft. Probably, just like any other Art. What Creative Writing Courses are trying to sell these days is Craft. However, Craft can only be truly mastered when built upon a foundation of substance. To put it another way, ‘What to Write’ (Substance) is the first step. Even if we learn ‘How to Write’ (Craft), ‘What’ doesn’t have any substitute. And as far as learning the craft is concerned, the process is itself a great teacher. Especially with Digital Media blooming, the opportunities are becoming prevalent too, and that is why I feel this is the golden time to be a Writer. Let’s Observe, Read, Write and Live more. P.S. : This is more of an Experiencing Writer talking to to-be Writers. Opposing views are welcome, let’s bloom together.

One of the most valuable qualities a writer can develop is the capacity to collaborate effectively with a skilled editor—no easy feat for the ego. An editor’s role is to make your content more impactful. Embrace the opportunity to understand the “why” behind their critiques. Take the time to fully absorb their feedback, using it to grow with every draft. By leaning into this process, you’ll not only improve your writing but also strengthen your resilience and adaptability as a writer.

Wednesday writing tip: Busting a myth about editors. Myth: Editors Are Judgmental. I won’t blame you for thinking this because there definitely are people out there who think having incorrect grammar is cause for arrest. These are the “grammar police.” Not the same thing as editors. Editors are there to help—if writers knew everything about editing and were completely perfect in all their writing, we wouldn’t have jobs. (Let’s also acknowledge that the “grammar police” are normally wrong . . . just sayin’.) Writers are coming to editors for one reason: they need help. Every editor I know, myself included, knows this and treats each manuscript with respect because let’s face it—that document is your baby. It’s true that some people could be rude and disrespectful of your imperfect manuscript, but you don’t need them in your life. That’s not what a great editor is, and that’s elitist. You can’t expect everyone to have amazing grammar and writing skills—it’s just not realistic. That’s why the people who are great at grammar help those who aren’t great at it. A good way to make sure the editor you want to work with isn’t going to be judgmental of your work is to ask for a sample edit. If their comments and corrections are snarky or rude, find someone else who’s willing to help you in an understanding way.