Penny Carroll

Writer & Editor

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  • Editing, How-to

    How to respond to structural edits

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    No matter how experienced you are, receiving feedback on a fiction manuscript can be a lot. Here are my tips on how to respond to structural edits.

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  • Author interviews

    Rose Monroe is raising the stakes with her Mafia romance series

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    Rose Monroe in a white shirt with the collar pulled up to hide her lower face. She has blonde hair and dark eyes.

    The former magazine writer and stylist brings her experience in the glamorous world of fashion and publishing to her high-stakes, high-heat romance series.

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  • How-to, Writing

    Breaking up is hard to do

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    What you need to know about writing a romance with no third-act breakup.

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  • Author interviews

    Diane Hester is reshaping the past with fiction

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    The Fortress of Us cover showing the interior of an old timber barn

    An unsettling childhood experience inspired the South Australian author’s latest suspense novel, which explores found family, neurodivergence and the lasting impact of trauma.

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  • Editing, How-to, Writing

    How to make your dialogue shine

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    Give your fictional conversations a glow-up with these tips.

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  • Editing, Writing

    Trust issues: Why trusting your reader is vital for strong storytelling

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    Two women sit on a couch with a pile of books and papers between them.

    A lack of trust can erode your story in subtle ways. Here’s how it tends to show up and how to show your reader you trust them to keep up.

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Hi there!
Hi there!

I'm Penny, a writer and editor. On this blog I share writing tips, editing advice and interviews with authors to get you inspired. Read more

 
Recent Posts
  • How to respond to structural edits
  • Rose Monroe is raising the stakes with her Mafia romance series
  • Breaking up is hard to do
  • Diane Hester is reshaping the past with fiction
  • How to make your dialogue shine
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  • Author interviews
  • Editing
  • How-to
  • Proofreading
  • Writing

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DIY Editing Cheat Sheet

Level up your work in progress with this self-editing guide. I’ll walk you through 12 easy steps to take today to instantly upgrade your manuscript, from formatting tweaks to easy dialogue wins. Download the ebook and you’ll also join my fortnightly newsletter, full of editing tips and inspiration.

let's get your fiction manuscript ready to submit or self-publish

PSA to all my writer friends… If you want your man PSA to all my writer friends… If you want your manuscript to look professional for editing or submission, these small formatting tweaks go a loooong way. They show you understand industry conventions, care about your editor/agent/publisher’s eyes, AND the chapter heading style makes it super easy to navigate your file, which is a win for everyone.  Bonus tip: Please don’t bother with special fonts or colours for things like letters or fictional newspaper articles etc. They’re hard to read and can corrupt easily. Leave it for your book designer!  Double bonus tip: Download my free DIY Editing Cheat Sheet for more quick and easy tweaks.
I talk a lot about what I will do in my edits, but I talk a lot about what I will do in my edits, but sometimes what I’m not doing says just as much! Here are a few of my editing don’ts, in case you’re wondering what really happens when you hand your words over… ✍️ #editing #writersofig
You guys, there are a concerning number of breaths You guys, there are a concerning number of breaths being held unconsciously in the fictional realm… 😬 Seriously though, if you find yourself resorting to the same old tired phrases and descriptions in your writing, here are some tips to help you freshen things up. And if you’re keen for more easy tricks to polish your manuscript, DM me and I’ll send you my free DIY Editing Cheat Sheet 🙃 #editing #writersofig
There’s no arguing with hair-up-messy-bun mode 👊 A There’s no arguing with hair-up-messy-bun mode 👊 Authors, if you’re looking for this kind of attention on your manuscript, drop me a DM. 
#editing #lockedin

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