Penny Carroll

Writer & Editor

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    “I love to push limits in romance” – Natalie Murray on writing historical fiction, switching to contemporary romance, and how editing brings out her best

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    Natalie Murray is an Australian author to watch. If you’re a fan of historical romance, you might already know her Emmie and the Tudor King series, which follows a young woman’s time slip into Tudor England and entanglement with a (fictional) fiery ruler. It’s swoon-worthy, passionate, transportive reading. Now, Natalie has returned to the present […]

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  • Editing, Writing

    4 signs you’re ready for a line and copyedit

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    A simple explainer to help you work out if a line and copyedit is what your novel needs now. So, you’ve written a novel. Now what?  You might be thinking about starting the editing process, and perhaps you’re keen to work with a professional editor. That’s an excellent decision (wink!) but before you go ahead […]

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  • Editing, Writing

    5 gifts to give your WIP this festive season

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    Slow down, chill out and experiment with your writing practice.

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  • Author interviews

    “Don’t wait for the perfect conditions” – Clare Fletcher on building writing momentum

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    There’s an iconic scene in Clare Fletcher’s debut novel Five Bush Weddings involving a steamy kiss and a thud as a meat pie drops to the ground, all but forgotten in the heat of the moment.  This hot/sweet/funny scene characterises Clare’s book, a rural rom-com that shakes off stereotypes to reveal a glimpse of modern […]

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  • Editing, How-to, Writing

    No words ever wasted: Why writing to rewrite isn’t a waste of time

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    Worried that all that writing is going to eventually end up in the bin? Here’s why your words are never wasted, even if they don’t make the final cut.

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  • Author interviews, Editing, Writing

    “I like to make people laugh, but I also want to make them feel” – Karina May on writing rom-coms, travelling for inspiration and dirty first drafts

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    Debut author Karina May was born to write rom-coms. She’s the kind of funny that leaves you gasping for air, and her sharp observations have a way of injecting life into tired romance tropes. Karina’s first novel, Under the Influence, will be released on 1 September under the HarperCollins imprint Escape. It follows banker Louise Lane […]

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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
  • Jade May is empowering her readers
  • How to use dashes: a guide for authors
  • How to use hyphens correctly
  • Christina Gustavson has a sixth sense
  • 5 ways to improve your manuscript
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It’s been a long, er, while since whilst was in It’s been a long, er, while since whilst was in popular use, so feel free to leave it in the past. (Same goes for amongst and amidst, I’m sorry, don’t hate me.) On the other hand, using archaic words like whilst can be a fun way to make a character sound even more arrogant/annoying/pretentious if need be… And there can be a place for these forms in some historical or fantasy stories too. If you’re writing contemporary fiction or non-fiction though, give it a miss or you risk coming off a bit pompous 🧐😏 #language #editingtips #whilst
Billionaires, smart, sassy women and secrets are a Billionaires, smart, sassy women and secrets are at the heart of @authorjademay’s contemporary romance novels. They’re also full of 🌶️❤️‍🔥🥵🌶️ “I hope my novels offer readers an escape,” says Jade, who started writing romance as a way to reconnect with her femininity while grappling with chronic illness. With the first of Jade’s sizzling Eden series, Tempted by Eden, out this week, I asked her to share the story behind her novels, why romance is so much more than it seems, and what advice she can offer authors about writing extremely hot spice. Find the link to this fab interview in my bio! #authorinterview #writersofig
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the writers who wor Happy Valentine’s Day to all the writers who work so hard to string words together in ways that make our worlds brighter ✨📚✨Lots of love, your devoted editor 💝💖🩷 #valentinesday #authorsofig
Okay, friends, here it is: my top five tips about Okay, friends, here it is: my top five tips about dashes, and for those who can’t get enough, an extensive blog post with everything you need to know about en and em dashes, including how to type them, which to choose, how to use them, and is it okay to cherish them above all other forms of punctuation? 😱 (Of course) Link in bio! #editing #endashes #emdashes #amwriting

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