Ch. 11 | Kill Your Darlings: How to Edit Your Book

---

---

Show Notes

Once you've outlined and given yourself permission to write a really crappy first draft from beginning to end, then the editing process begins!

Whether you're self-publishing or seeking a traditional publisher, the competition is fierce so your manuscript has to be edited to the highest level before you pursue either avenue.

In this chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast, I'll walk you through my self-editing process, define what it means to kill your darlings, discuss beta readers and critique partners, as well as developmental vs. mechanical content and copy edits.

Remember: the key to a great book, is great editing!

LINKS MENTIONED: 

• The Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition)
• The Writers’ Union of Canada: https://www.writersunion.ca/

WORD WEAVER LINKS:

• Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast
• Shownotes: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

Word Weaver Podcast Soundtrack

• Late July by Shakey Graves
• Way With Words by Bahamas

 

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, FEEL FREE TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW IN ITUNES AS IT HELPS MORE PEOPLE FIND THE WORD WEAVER PODCAST

 

Ch. 10 | Award-Winning Indie Author Shannon Mullen on The Self-Publishing Process

---

---

Show Notes

Fresh from winning an IPPY award for her debut novel, See What Flowers, at the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards in New York City, Shannon Mullen spoke with me for this week's chapter of The Word Weaver Podcast.

Shannon Mullen's work has been published in The Globe and Mail, Thought Catalog, and her debut contemporary novel about love and mental illness is available online at Amazon.
 
In today's chapter, Shannon shares useful insights about her self-publishing journey with Amazon's CreateSpace publishing platform, including how she picked her book cover design using 99designs, what it felt like to win an award for her first novel, the financial challenges of being a self-published author, the writing routine that allowed her to complete a full manuscript, and her future writing goals.

If you've ever thought about self-publishing a book through Amazon's CreateSpace platform, this is the Word Weaver chapter for you! 

SHANNON MULLEN LINKS: 

• Website/Blog: shannonmullen.me/
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/93435.Shannon_Mullen
• Instagram: @mullenshannon
• Her debut novel, See What Flowers, on Amazon

WORD WEAVER LINKS:

• Instagram: @wordweaverpodcast
• Shownotes: louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

Word Weaver Podcast Soundtrack

• Late July by Shakey Graves
• Way With Words by Bahamas

 

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, FEEL FREE TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW IN ITUNES AS IT HELPS MORE PEOPLE FIND THE WORD WEAVER PODCAST

 

Ch. 9 | How to Write a Strong Opening Chapter (Top 5 Tips)

---

---

Soundtrack

• Late July by Shakey Graves
• Way With Words by Bahamas

Show Notes

In this chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast, I share my top five tips for how to write a strong opening chapter. The first sentence, paragraph, and pages set the tone for the rest of your book. The opening chapter is the first thing that literary agents, publishers, and readers will see once they pick up your book. You have to hook them early and leave them wanting more so they can't put it down. 

Along with my top tips, this chapter explains the difference between a preface, prologue, and foreward.  We will also dissect the opening sentences of the first two Harry Potter books. 

For those keen listeners, I exclusively share the opening sentences for the Preface and First Chapter of my forthcoming non-fiction book.

Word Weaver Instagram: http://instagram.com/wordweaverpodcast

Word Weaver Show Notes: http://louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

 

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, FEEL FREE TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW IN ITUNES AS IT HELPS MORE PEOPLE FIND THE WORD WEAVER PODCAST

 

Ch. 8 | Wellness for Writers with Eryl McCaffrey

---

---

Soundtrack

• Late July by Shakey Graves
• Way With Words by Bahamas

Show Notes

Eryl McCaffrey is a certified yoga + meditation instructor, mental health advocate, public speaker, and writer.

A former TV news anchor with a background in journalism and broadcasting, Eryl took a left-turn in her career to focus on her true calling: helping others navigate the muddy waters of mental health and providing strategies for self-care.  

"Holistic health is about taking care of your mental health the same way that you do your physical health." 

Eryl brings her lived and learned experiences with anxiety and depression to schools, companies, and communities with her talks on mental health and mindfulness workshops where she provides tangible tools for dealing with life's stressors. 

In today's chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast, we talk about how to create mindful habits, the grounding effects of nature, the importance of taking breaks to move energy through your body, and setting boundaries to guard your writing time.

Be sure to stay tuned until the end as Eryl walks us through a wellness for writers guided meditation and breathing exercise. I almost fell asleep in the interview...in a good way! It gave me shivers and will definitely be one that I return to when I'm in need of a calming voice to soothe my writer's block, insomnia, or feelings of overwhelm. 

When she isn't bringing her Wellness with Eryl workshops to schools and corporations, you can find her teaching yoga at Good Space and SickKids Hospital in Toronto. 

She writes about mental health and wellness on her blog, Two Feet and a Heartbeat, as well as on Wellness with Eryl. Her article on Exploring Abundance with the Law of Attraction was published by Elephant Journal. 

YOU CAN FIND ERYL ONLINE HERE:

• Instagram: @wellnesswitheryl *Her #MeditationMonday videos are posted on her feed weekly*
• Website: erylmccaffrey.com
• Guided Meditation Videos

WORD WEAVER LINKS:

• Word Weaver Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/wordweaverpodcast
• Show Notes: http://www.louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, FEEL FREE TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW IN ITUNES AS IT HELPS MORE PEOPLE FIND THE WORD WEAVER PODCAST 

 

Ch. 7 | How to Outline a Book (Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?)

---

---

Soundtrack

• Late July by Shakey Graves
• Way With Words by Bahamas

Show Notes

There are many ways to write a book which means that there are many ways to outline one. It took me a lot of practice to find the right method that worked for me!

In this chapter of the Word Weaver Podcast, first start by understanding your unique writing style. Are you a plotter, a pantser, or a combination of both?

I will walk you through the various methods that authors and writers have used to outline fiction and non-fiction books, including the popular snowflake method, skeletal method, visual maps, contextual preparation, and free writing. 

I will also tell you exactly how I outlined my own book and created a unique practice (using mainly cue cards, my bedroom wall, and Excel!) which allowed me to complete a 90,000 word (360 page) full book manuscript. 

By breaking chapters down into manageable components, using your outline as a road map, you will be able to finish that book that is burning inside of you.

 
Word Weaver Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/wordweaverpodcast
Show Notes: http://www.louiseclairejohnson.com/podcast

 

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR, FEEL FREE TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE A REVIEW IN ITUNES AS IT HELPS MORE PEOPLE FIND THE WORD WEAVER PODCAST!