Penny Carroll

Writer & Editor

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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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  • Editing, How-to, Writing

    Tips for using expletives in fiction

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    Do you use expletives in your writing? Here are a few pointers to keep in mind next time you’re dropping those swear bombs.

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  • Editing, Writing

    When is the best time to work with beta readers?

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    Here are my top three tips for authors preparing to send their stories out to beta readers.

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  • How-to

    Everything you need to know about semicolons

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    If you’re confused about how to use semicolons correctly, I’ve got the advice you need (and it’s not nearly as tricky as you might expect).

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  • How-to, Writing

    How to write great chapter and scene openers

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    Chapter and scene openers matter just as much as the closing lines. Here’s some tips for crafting strong scenes from the very top.

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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 make your dialogue shine
  • Trust issues: Why trusting your reader is vital for strong storytelling
  • Tips for using expletives in fiction
  • When is the best time to work with beta readers?
  • Everything you need to know about semicolons
Categories
  • Author interviews
  • Editing
  • How-to
  • Proofreading
  • Writing

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Let’s talk, writers. Having trouble getting your c Let’s talk, writers. Having trouble getting your characters to sound like real people on the page? The secret is to aim for a glazed version of conversation that sounds authentic, but better. Swipe through for some of my top tips and head to the link in bio for more dialogue pointers. #writing #dialogue
It might not feel like it when you’re slogging awa It might not feel like it when you’re slogging away at your desk on your own, but all stories are a collaboration between the author and the reader. So, learning to trust your reader to see the layers you’ve built, hear the emotion in your dialogue or picture the world you’re creating is essential. Swipe to find out where a lock of trust often shows up in stories and what to do about it. And if you want more tips like these, sign up for my fortnightly newsletter via my bio! #writingadvice #writingtips #fiction
It was such a joy to interview @authorjademay for It was such a joy to interview @authorjademay for the launch of her new book Devoured by Eden on Thursday night. It was a full house at dream bookstore @romancing.the.novel and our convo covered everything from choosing cover models to coping with chronic illness and the craft of writing a fast-paced medical romance thriller. And in honour of the story’s 15-hour timeline, there was a giveaway every 15 minutes — fun!  I’ve been working with Jade for a couple of years now and seeing her flourish as both an author and advocate for people with chronic illness is so exciting — but not at all surprising. If you haven’t already read her books, I can’t recommend them enough. Think strong female characters, gripping storylines and of course, sizzling chemistry ❤️‍🔥  Big thanks to everyone who came to celebrate and the wonderful businesses who supported the event: @wildsecrets.official @romantasygames @swoonsips @theromancemafia @boundinfiction @littleglowcandleco 🩷💕💖
Boo! Are any of these story spooks haunting you? N Boo! Are any of these story spooks haunting you? Not on my watch... 🎃🔮🍵  Happy halloween from your friendly word witch! 🧙‍♀️ 
#halloween #amwriting #amediting

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