Welcome to the May 2025 issue of Editing Tips!

CONGRATULATIONS to Megy Davis for winning my Birthday Bash Contest. I look forward to editing her newest YA novel, Danny.

Editing Tip

The more you read well-edited works, the more you’ll internalize what make “good writing.” You will discover what resonates with you and what elements you want to include in your own writing.

Tip for Fiction Writers

Author of The Anatomy of Genres, John Truby, lists 14 major genres: love, horror, action, myth, memoir, coming-of-age, science fiction, crime, comedy, western, gangster, fantasy, thriller, and detective.

Truby outlines the beats common in each story. As you are considering what to include in your novel, this book is worth investigating.

Tip for Nonfiction Writers

Incorporating all five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) makes nonfiction, as well as fiction, more engaging. Rather than naming these senses (telling), it’s best to “show” them.

For example, instead of saying, “The food was spicy,” it’s far more engaging to say, “My tongue burned and my eyes watered from the first bite.”

Tip for Memoir Writers

If you are still in the midst of your trauma or if you find memories of the trauma you experienced in the past evoke near-immobilizing emotions, pouring out your heart on paper or on the computer may help you process your emotions. However, it is believed by many that these words will not be suitable for sharing. It is only after you have processed the painful moments of your life that you can share them in a way that will benefit your readers.

Deep Point of View Basics

When deciding which details to include in your DPOV fiction or memoir, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is this a detail the POV character would comment on?

2. Is this a detail that will advance the story?

I like to use the example of a flower-flanked walkway. If your main character is walking up to their own home at the end of an ordinary day, they won’t likely think about the flowers along the path. However, if those same gardens were his wife’s pride and joy and he was unable to tend to them after her passing, eventually, he may very well comment on/think about how they have become a disgrace and his determination to tend to them in her honor.

Featured Recommendation

If you’re interested in travel memoir, you may want to check out Jo Frances Penn’s podcast, Books and Travel.

You may also want to check out her personal travel memoir, Pilgrimage. This and her fiction books are written under the name “J.F. Penn.”

Q2 Contest Details

Are you in the market for an editor?

For every 500-1000-word sample I receive by June 30, I will offer a sample edit and a recommendation of the level of editing I would suggest. If you decide to hire me, I will give you a 10 percent discount.