Skip to content
Jackal Editing
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Services

Videos

Writing Rules Explained: Give Your Story Structure

Writing Rules Explained: Give Your Story Structure | Tips for writers from a freelance editor about why you should give your story structure.

Video transcript Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, there should come a time when you revise your novel, and one of the first steps of revising your novel should involve giving it structure. I know writers seethe when they […]

Tweet
Pin102
Share
102 Shares
Read more

Writing Rules Explained: Don’t Use Passive Voice

Writing Rules Explained: Don’t Use Passive Voice | Tips for writers from a freelance editor about using passive voice, and when it’s actually okay to use it. A must watch for writers who aren’t sure about passive voice.

I have a plug-in on my website that constantly tells me to rewrite my content because I use passive voice too much. If I were to import my content into an online text analyser, I’d get the same result. “Don’t […]

Tweet
Pin146
Share4
150 Shares
Read more

Writing Rules Explained: Said is Dead / Only Use Said

Writing Rules Explained: Said is Dead/ Only Use Said | Tips from a freelance book editor about whether or not said is dead. A must watch for writers who aren’t sure how to tag their dialogue.

“Said is dead,” says one camp. “Only use said,” says another. So which rule should we follow? The erroneous death of said Some writers think said is dead because it’s overused, but if using a word a lot means we […]

Tweet
Pin28
Share3
31 Shares
Read more

Writing Rules Explained: Make Every Word Count

Writing Rules Explained: Make Every Word Count | Tips on why every word in your story should count, and how to make them count.

Video transcript ‘Make every word count’ means that every word you use in your story should contribute to the story in some way. I’m not just talking about individual words here, but also sentences, paragraphs, scenes, chapters and subplots. Everything […]

Tweet
Pin35
Share1
36 Shares
Read more

Writing Rules Explained: Should We Follow Writing Rules?

Writing Rules Explained: Should we Follow Writing Rules? | The truth about writing rules. Why they exist, and why you should know what they are (they’re not what you think ;) ). A must watch for writers who refuse to learn writing rules.

(Video transcript) Not a fortnight goes by that I don’t read the comments section of an article about writing and find a comment spurning writing rules and advice of any kind and it grinds my gears. “Rules stifle creativity!” they proclaim. […]

Tweet
Pin51
Share2
53 Shares
Read more

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Show Don’t Tell

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Show, Don’t Tell | Tips for writing vivid scenes by showing, rather than telling. A must watch for writers who haven’t quite grasped the Show, Don’t Tell technique.

(Video Transcript) What does “show don’t tell” mean? “Show Don’t Tell”. Classic writing rule. We’ve all heard it. But do we really understand it as well as we think we do? Show Don’t Tell means using evocative language—language that creates […]

Tweet
Pin179
Share2
181 Shares
Read more

How To Write Vivid Scenes: Avoid Unnecessary Adverbs

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Avoid Unnecessary Adverbs | Tips for recognising when adverbs are unnecessary, and the damage they do to your writing.

(Video transcript) I’m sure most writers have heard the advice that they should cut out adverbs from their writing and there are a few reasons why they should take this advice on board but I’m going to focus on the […]

Tweet
Pin20
Share2
22 Shares
Read more

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Don’t Stop the Narrative for Description

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Don’t Stop the Narrative for Description | Tips for writing vivid prose when describing your settings and characters. A must read for writers who struggle with vivid prose.

Video transcript If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ve probably heard me say you shouldn’t stop the narrative for description. But what does that mean? What does “don’t stop the narrative for description” mean? Stopping the narrative […]

Tweet
Pin271
Share3
274 Shares
Read more

#FirstChapterFriday What Makes the First Chapter of a Book Stand Out?

#FirstChapterFriday What Makes the First Chapter of a Book Stand Out? | Every Friday, I read the first chapter of a book I’ve never read before to learn how to write a first chapter that will make readers want to read chapter two.

(Video transcript) There are millions of books in the world so why should anyone read your book over another one? Even if you win someone over with your cover, blurb and title, you’re not in yet. Avid readers have dozens […]

Tweet
Pin56
Share
56 Shares
Read more

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Remove Filter Words

How to Write Vivid Scenes: Remove Filter Words | Tips from a freelance editor about removing filter words to make your prose more engaging. A must watch for writers who want to spice up their prose.

(Video transcript) Filter words are words that put distance between the reader and the story. They’re words that call attention to the fact that the story is filtered through the point-of-view character’s point of view. And they can cause a […]

Tweet
Pin47
Share5
52 Shares
Read more

Posts navigation

Older posts

Looking for Something?

the latest

  • What are Stakes and Why Do Stories Need Them?
    Story Stakes: Using Consequences to Drive Your Story March 11, 2020
  • 5 World Building Aspects You Might be Forgetting | Good world building makes a fictional world feel real and lived in. You don't need to tell the reader everything. You just need to make them feel like you've thought of everything. Read the full post at jackalediting.com
    5 World Building Aspects You Might be Forgetting February 12, 2020
  • 3 Most Important Things to Know About Your Characters | One of the keys to writing a great story is great character development. And for that, this is what you need to know. Read the full post at jackalediting.com
    The 3 Most Important Things to Know About Your Characters January 8, 2020
  • 3 Storytelling Lessons from STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE | Analysing other stories can help you develop your own storytelling skills. What storytelling lessons can we learn from STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE?
    3 Storytelling Lessons from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace April 3, 2018
  • Using All Five Senses in Your Story: Why You Should Do It, and How | Tips for writers about using all five senses when describing events and settings in their stories. A must read for writers who aren’t sure what it means to tap into their characters’ senses.
    Using All Five Senses in Your Story: Why You Should Do It, and How May 15, 2017

posts by topic

  • Character Development
  • Description
  • Dialogue
  • Editing
  • First Chapter Friday
  • General Writing Tips
  • NaNoWriMo
  • Plotting
  • Point of View
  • Story Structure
  • Storytelling Lessons
  • Style
  • Subplots
  • Videos
  • World Building
  • Writer's Block
  • Writing
  • Writing Process
  • Writing Rules Explained

keep in touch

Sign up to get your free workbook!

Services icons by Freepik, Smashicons and geotatah from Flaticon.

Powered by WordPress | Theme: Astrid by aThemes.