Reading each chapter, making amendments, additions, deletions, corrections, and then feeding them through grammar checker, Prowritingaid.com. It removes unintended repetitions, weak verbs, and many other small errors you can miss when reading from the screen. It’s pretty intense. But I’m up to page 329 of 411. Twelve chapters to go; mostly in the denouement now, …
Tag: Writing
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #40
There’s help here for writers who like to make their work more interesting, varied, accurate and effective by using the most appropriate words. And there are insights into some peculiarities of English for those learning the language. A good thesaurus gives substitutes for the idea of a word, but not all are true synonyms: context …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
I’m currently reading each chapter and then feeding them through grammar checker, Prowritingaid.com. This removes unintended repetitions, weak verbs, and many of other small errors the eye misses when reading from the screen. It’s a fairly intense process. So far, I'm at page 165 of 412 in a Word doc that's double spaced. After that …
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #39
Some help here for writers who want to make their work more interesting, varied, accurate and effective by using the best words. Also insights into some peculiarities of English for language learners. A good thesaurus gives alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all of these are true synonyms: context is vital. One …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
The work continues. All characters have now been subjected to scrutiny for consistency in their various appearances through the book. Some selected words have been substituted, and certain terms have been introduced. One or two special features are now included to make the story more in keeping with the future in which it’s set. I’m …
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #38
Some help here for writers who want to make their work more interesting, varied, accurate, and effective by using the best words. Also insights into some peculiarities of English for language learners. A good thesaurus gives alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all of these are true synonyms: context is vital. One …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
The first rewrite is complete! Whoopee! But that’s by no means the end of the process. Having made the changes to the story elements, I’m now checking for consistency on all 36 named characters over the 54 chapters. So far, I’ve done two of the major players and two minor ones. It’s a check to …
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #37
Some help for writers who want to make their work more interesting, varied, accurate and effective by using the best words. Also providing language learners with insights into some peculiarities of the English language. A good thesaurus gives alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all of these are true synonyms: context is …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
It’s been a funny old week. A few unrelated events have disturbed the intended plain sailing of the rewrite. And, yesterday was my birthday. A fun day spent at the local hospital in the morning, where two lovely ladies in their uniforms probed various orifices and inserted implements of torture in an attempt to resolve …
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #36
Help for writers wishing to make their work more interesting, varied, accurate and effective by using the best words, and providing language learners with insights into some oddities of the English language. A good thesaurus gives alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all are true synonyms: context is vital. One way to …
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
Halfway through the major re-write, and a good many story elements yet to change. That’s the result of working as a pantster: plot develops as the story is created, and that impacts on parts already written. It’s particularly influential on the denouement on this occasion, since I had a ‘light bulb’ moment during an interrupted …
Forces of Nature, by Professor Brian Cox, Reviewed.
This surprising book exudes the author’s enduring sense of wonder and delight at the natural world. Such qualities, when demonstrated by a leading academic, who is also a well-loved and respected TV presenter, can motivate and inspire. I hope many non-scientists read this book. Not an ‘easy’ read, it demands attention and concentration. But it …
Continue reading Forces of Nature, by Professor Brian Cox, Reviewed.
Progress on the WIP: #SciFi in the Making.
Editing has started! So far, I’m halfway through chapter 3 with the major re-write. But, prior to that, I’d reduced the ‘story’ element of the editing notes from 20 to 12 items, and dealt with 15 of the other notes I’d made whilst writing/re-reading the first draft. I’ve also made progress on the drawing I’m …
Perils and Pleasures of Penmanship.
Writing is such an odd occupation, requiring peculiar minds combined with unusual personalities. All writers are weird; that’s a given. We know we’re strange, some of us peculiar to the point of near insanity, others merely eccentric. We’re definitely an odd bunch. But there’s a strange beauty, a wonderful schizophrenia about writing, especially when the …
Looking for the Best Word? Tip #34
Help for writers who want to make their work more accessible, interesting, varied, accurate and effective by using the best words. The series also provides language learners with insights into the oddities of the English language. A good thesaurus provides alternatives for the idea of a word, but not all are true synonyms: context is …

