Don’t Forget the Rule Book (Pt One - Authors)

By Danielle Ackley-McPhail

©2011

You can fool yourself all you want, but if there is one thing in life that never changes it’s that there is always a rulebook, both for you and your characters. Now, I’m not saying all of you will follow it-you should, but I’m not that naïve.

Let me explain to you why ( Read more... )

Ease Up On The Strangle Hold

By Danielle Ackley-McPhail

© 2011

Sure, things are tight, and most of us need to be frugal…but not with our words!

In my experience as an editor and critiquer I have encountered a wide spectrum writing styles, from the ultra-economic to richly florid. I can’t tell you one is more valid than the other, after all, there are ( Read more... )

You Got Your Anachronism in My Period Piece!

by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
(c) 2011

Words are funny things. You think you know what they mean…and then bam! A colloquialism sneaks up and bites you…well, you get the idea.

Language is like a secret code. The same word can mean ten different things to ten different people. And you want to know what makes it ( Read more... )