Here are some common mistakes I find in manuscripts. 1. Filter words These fall into the whole “show don’t tell” category of advice. They can stop the flow of the reader’s momentum. Filter words often include verbs that identify any of the senses: heard, felt, thought, saw, tasted, etc. Example: I heard the trill ofContinue reading “5 Common Writing Mistakes”
Author Archives: Jacqueline Pinchuk
Why do I need an Editor?
Have you just finished your first novel and you’re wondering what to do with it? Are you thinking of submitting to an agent or KDP (Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing)? There are several steps before your manuscript is ready for submission, and one of the most important is to find an editor. Although there are severalContinue reading “Why do I need an Editor?”
Different Types of Editing
Some edits blur into each other in practice, but there are technically four distinct types. This is where I specialize and often the first stop on your editing journey. I look at your manuscript as a whole. I analyze the thematic elements, character arcs, pacing, plot holes. Does your book match genre and age groupContinue reading “Different Types of Editing”
To Love Ourselves
I watched a movie last night and cried my way through it. Have you seen Dumplin’ on Netflix? It’s about a girl in a bigger body trying to fit into a beauty pageant world. It explores the inadequacies we feel when our bodies are unacceptable to other people. And worse: when we perpetuate our ownContinue reading “To Love Ourselves”
Mama Fought Back
My daughter came out of the bath saying, “I hate that I’m fat.” I grew up in a house where that was the worst possible trait a person could possess. So all the triggers started firing. I have spent years working on my relationship with food and with my body. We rarely mention weight orContinue reading “Mama Fought Back”
Mom Knows Best: 11 Moms Share Their Best Apartment Advice
Mom knows best — so take her apartment advice! Whether you’re moving across the country for college or just across town into your own apartment, moving out on your own is a huge step towards adulthood. To help you prepare for living on your own, we asked Moms to share their best apartment advice. Here’sContinue reading “Mom Knows Best: 11 Moms Share Their Best Apartment Advice”
Day Care Guilt
I dropped my daughter off at day care this morning, and it killed me a little bit. The idea of another mother watching my child because I was unable to do so. The guilt clung to my shoulders and suffocated my heart. My other children ventured outside the house once they were old enough forContinue reading “Day Care Guilt”
I Am Brave
I love my one-year-old’s power walk. She cruises through the house, fearless, unstoppable. Because she knows nothing about what could possibly happen. She has no anticipatory anxiety. She simply enjoys discovering the parts of life she now has access to. What if we were like this? A little healthy fear to keep us safe isContinue reading “I Am Brave”
As Confident As My 3 Year Old
I’m not much for making my own mistakes. I prefer to learn from the mistakes of others. But I’ve gotten to the point in my writing career where application is far more important than theory. I’ve begrudgingly accepted I have to mess up to grow. And I came to a crossroads: pursue my passion orContinue reading “As Confident As My 3 Year Old”
Covid Kids Back at School
After a year and a half of being home, my kids are finally back in school, and somehow, I’m more stressed out. It has been a rough transition for us from all day everyday with me, to most days with a teacher, but I think we’re finally finding our rhythm. Which means I finally haveContinue reading “Covid Kids Back at School”
Jacqueline Pinchuk 