Writer's Workshop

October News

Hi Reader,

Can you believe it's already October?

I love October! All the fall colors, the cooler weather...There's just a certain feeling about fall that I can't explain, but if you're a fall lover like I am, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about! 😉 What about you? What do you love most about this month?

Last month I spent some time critiquing and editing Christian free verse poems for a client. She's hoping to put together a poetry book for her family. I think that's such a sweet idea! I had so much fun working on her project with her!

Also, I proofread a devotional and a yearly planner for Barbor Publishing. They were both beautifully designed! I can't wait until they are published so I can share them with you.

I'm also excited to share that a book I proofread in April was published this month. I was honored to work with Mark Missigman on his book, A Journey of Redemption: Navigating Life After a DIU. Mark's story is one of raw honesty that broke my heart yet I kept cheering him on. If you or someone you love is having trouble navigating life after being jailed for a DUI, this book is a must-read.

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Find Mark's Book Here

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I also want to take a minute to pray for those affected by Hurricane Helene. Here in Virginia, we had tons of tornado warnings (with 2 touching down in counties quite close to us), flooding, downed trees and power lines, and power outages. Luckily we are okay, but I pray for those who weren't as lucky. If you or your loved ones were affected, please reply to this email and let me know. I'd love to pray for you and/or your family.

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This Month's Writing Tip

6 Important Grammar Tips for Fiction Writers

1. Use the right verb tense. (And be consistent!)
2. Be mindful of subject-verb agreement.
3. Avoid using passive voice. (Or should you?)
4. Use punctuation correctly.
5. Don't use too many adverbs.
6. Watch out for those homophones.

You can read about these tips more in-depth in this blog post.

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New Posts on the Blog

​How to Write a Query Letter That Gets Read​

​When and How to Follow Up with a Literary Agent After Sending Your Query Letter​

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More on the Blog

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Tool of the Month

*affiliate link

I don't know about you, but commas are not my friend. There are so many comma rules! How can a person keep up with them all? Grammarly can be a lifesaver (or more like a story-saver) when it comes to knowing when to add a comma and when to leave them out. And you can try it for free! It's such a great tool for writers.

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Try it now!

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This Month's Writing Prompt

As you’re browsing through a rack of sweaters, someone approaches you and whispers, “I need you to listen to me very carefully.”

Write a show-not-tell piece on this.

• How did this person's approach make you feel?
• What was the first thought that went through your mind?
• What did the person look like and smell like?
• What did their voice sound like?

Tip: Look up adjectives in a thesaurus to write powerful descriptive words.

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Author Interviews

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Last month I interviewed author Julie Sunne. Julie is the author of two books, Sometimes I Forget: 60 Reminders of Hope for Your Hard Days (B&H Publishing, 2024) and Everyday Praise: Walking in Greater Peace (self-published, 2016). She writes Christian nonfiction, and her latest book was inspired by concern for her daughter's future.

Her books can be found on Amazon and her website, juliesunne.com.

You can read her interview here.

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Would you like to be featured in my new series, "Questions With an Author"?

If so, respond to this email and let me know! I'll send you the questions, you answer them and send them back, and you'll be featured in one of my posts!

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Need help with your manuscript?

Did you know that literary agents reject 90% of manuscripts? One of those reasons is poor writing quality.

Grammar errors, typos, and inconsistencies make your book look unprofessional. Sadly, nobody likes to read a book full of errors because it's too distracting.

No matter which type of publishing you choose - traditional or self - hiring a professional proofreader will help ensure your work is polished and ready for bookshelves.

To learn more about what proofreading involves, check out my services page. When you're ready for a proofreader, I would love to chat!

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Learn More

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See you next month!

Michelle

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