Writers often contact me with concerns about their writing projects – some only have a blueprint and others have almost finished writing their book. But most admit they are time poor and need someone who understands the writing process to help them finalise their project and develop a timetable with deadlines. Many writers are plagued with doubts — usually about […]
Proofreading is a quality control exercise with a fresh pair of eyes to spot mistakes in the writing that were overlooked in the copyediting process. So, the proofreader has a huge responsibility because errors are fewer and this requires increased concentration. In many ways, proofreading is the last line of defence to ensure the writing satisfies expected standards yet maintains […]
You’ve worked hard to pull your writing project into shape. You’ve drafted and redrafted it until you know it inside out. You want to submit your manuscript to a publisher or agent in the hope it will be the next bestseller. But before you do, consider the advantage of handing it over to a manuscript assessor for an objective critique. […]
There is a lot to be learned about the art of creating fictional characters from Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’. When I assess a narrative, I often comment that I don’t have a clear visual of a character. Or a character doesn’t have a distinctive voice. Or the voice doesn’t match the character. I recently went through my home library […]
It may seem strange to think of a sentence as having a pulse — even a personality. In fiction, a sentence may reflect what’s bubbling away beneath the surface, or may shock with something unexpected. You can create a rhythmic flow of sentences by writing a combination of short, medium and long sentences. In contrast, academic writing tends to be […]
A distraught author once came to me tail between her legs admitting she’d used AI to edit her novel. What came back at her was robotic content that a random person would write. Her creativity and style had been lost. I am noticing a turning point in writers’ and publishers’ attitudes to using an AI tool to edit or proofread. […]
A new year signals the challenge to try something different or make promises to yourself. Maybe you started a writing project last year but it’s languishing in the backblocks of your laptop. Quite often, ideas and motivation evaporate due to the demands and complexities that build throughout the year. A new year is a chance to reach out to that […]
Have you written a novel or a non-fiction book and it’s languishing in a file on your laptop? Is it time to give it the respect it deserves, especially considering the time you spent writing it? Maybe you’re holding off submitting it to publishers or literary agents, or maybe you’re considering self-publishing? Throughout November, I will discount my manuscript assessment […]
In my role as editor, I am still correcting the misuse of lie/lay; that/which; and who/whom. I understand that most readers won’t pick up the errors. However, if you’re aiming to impress a potential publisher, or you’re writing an academic paper, learning how to correctly use these words is important. So, I’ve resurrected three articles that I wrote 10+ years […]
Verbs are the engine of sentences but they are often not used to provide maximum impact. When editing or reviewing, I often ask writers of both fiction and non-fiction: ‘Do you think critically about your choice of every verb and the way it’s used in every sentence?’ The majority of answers are something like: ‘sometimes’ or ‘I don’t give them […]
I would like to thank my editor, Denise Taylor, for her invaluable feedback and support throughout the writing process. I have appreciated her comments and engagement with this project. Denise, with her impeccable work and incisive editorial remarks, significantly improved the manuscript as a whole.
Professor Olivera Simić, Griffith University Law School
Denise’s assessment was thorough, considered and she highlighted several important shortcomings in the plot and character development. ‘Red Can Origami’ became a much stronger manuscript for her input!
Madelaine Dickie
Denise was invaluable in getting my novel from a rough 3rd draft to publication ready. I especially liked her capacity to develop a collaborative working relationship so that all the work of editing, polishing, re-writing was held in the spirit of my writing journey.
Denise has well-honed writing skills, of course, but as well she has this unusual capacity to support and encourage. She really tuned in to my direction as a writer which was enormously helpful in moving my novel forward. Beyond the fine-tuning of my last draft, Denise then gave some timely coaching to help me negotiate the new realities of publishing. How great it was to have access to such a well-grounded and experienced mentor! Highly recommended.
Thupten Lekshe
Dear Denise, Many thanks for the way you have prepared and presented my memoir. I could not imagine at the start that it would turn out looking the way you have presented what now seems a very interesting life; in fact, I might live it again. Thank you and congratulations.
Percy Rogers