Category Archives: Writing

How To Destroy Action and Suspense Scenes

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Christie Stratos |

You’re reading an action scene; things are really getting hot. Who will live? Will someone die? Is there a chase that’s moving like lightning? You’re reading a suspense scene; it’s really intense. Will the protagonist be discovered? Will the escapee … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing, Phrasing, Writing | Tagged action scenes, authors, books, editing, how to write action, how to write action scenes, how to write suspense, how to write suspenseful scenes, novels, pacing, proof positive, proofreading, rewriting scenes, slow scenes, suspense writing, writers, writing | Comments Off

Better Safe Than Sued: Lyric Legalities

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Christie Stratos |

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One of the most common issues we advise our clients about is the legality of using lyrics in their writing. Lyrics are extremely tempting to use in books because they set a tone, express a feeling, create atmosphere and convey … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal Issues, Research, Writing | Tagged ASCAP, authors, BMI, books, copyright law, fiction, legal issues, legalities, lyrics, lyrics in books, music, musical lyrics, novel, plagiarism, publishing, song lyrics, song words, US Copyright Office, writing | Comments Off

Dissecting The Fine Print: Premade Book Covers

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Christie Stratos |

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There’s no question that authors can save a lot of money by buying premade book covers for their books rather than hiring a designer to custom-make a cover. But there’s a lot of “fine print” – that annoying agreement that … Continue reading →

Posted in Research, Writing | Tagged author, book, book cover, book cover images, books, contract, cover art, cover design, fine print, novel, premade book cover, publishing, self-published book covers, stock images, writers, writing | Comments Off

Authentic Writing: Writers’ Resources For US Military References

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Christie Stratos |

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Writers, do you believe your readers won’t notice misinformation in your fiction? Think there are no fact checkers out there? You’d be wrong. Your writing is read by people with all types of backgrounds and experiences – both personal and … Continue reading →

Posted in Research, Writing | Tagged air force, army, authors, books, fiction, government, marines, memoir, Military, military books, military communications, military nonfiction, military novels, military phrasing, military ranks, military reference sources, military research, military sites index, military stories, military terminology, military writing, national guard, navy, nonfiction, novel, research, writers, writing | Comments Off

Do your words serve your story – or do they serve you?

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Christie |

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by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive editor Picture this: you’re craving apple pie – one of those “just gotta have it” days – so you go to your favorite café and order up a slice. Your mouth waters when the server … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged advice, author, authors, blog, complex, editing, editor, feedback, fiction, how to, metaphor, monday blogs, pretentious, proof positive, proofread, proofreading, simile, word choice, word choice to match story, words, writer, writers, writing, writing advice, writing style | Comments Off

5 Simple New Year’s Resolutions Every Writer Needs to Keep

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Christie |

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Not sure what goals to set for yourself as a writer in 2015? Proof Positive has some ideas for you that will help keep your writing career on track whether you’re a first-time author or a highly published author. Write … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged author, author goals, author reads, author year, authors, bestsellers, book, books, creativity, enable yourself, expand your knowledge, genre, get yourself to write, goals for writers, haiku, independent authors, independent writers, indie authors, indie writers, invest in your writing, lit theory, new year, new years, new years resolution, novel, novels, poetry, reader, reading, social media, writer, writer advice, writer goals, writer reads, writers, writing 2015, writing advice, writing field, writing goals, writing resolution, writing year | 1 Comment

Backward Writing – Withholding Critical Information

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Christie Stratos |

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by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor In psychology, when a person withholds affection from their partner, it’s considered a form of emotional abuse. In writing, withholding important information from the reader could almost be classified as story suicide. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged advice, backtrack, backward writing, books, distraction, edit, editing, example, fyi, guide, how to, perspective, proofread, proofreading, warning, withhold, writer, writers, writing | Comments Off

Superfluous Verbiage and Unnecessary Words

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Christie |

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by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor Did you trip over the title of this post? Did you have to read it twice? If so, that’s because both phrases, “superfluous verbiage” and “unnecessary words”, mean the same thing, but your mind was … Continue reading →

Posted in Phrasing, Writing | Tagged blog, duplication, editing, error, errors, extra, how to, language, mistake, mistakes, monday blogs, phrasing, proofread, proofreading, repeat, superfluous, unnecessary, verbiage, writer, writers, writing | Comments Off

Go That Extra Mile!

Posted on September 8, 2014 by Christie |

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by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor Your book is edited, polished, published, and out there for the world to enjoy. You’ve got it listed on Amazon, its beautiful cover (that you agonized over getting just right) beckoning readers with its … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged amazon, author, author page, authors, bio, blogs, book, books, copy, cover art, editing, effort, extra mile, first impressions, free, indie, information, inspiration, kobo, monday blogs, new york times, novel, novels, proofreading, publishing, rewviews, sales, smashwords, submit, summary, teaser, writer, writers, writing | Comments Off

Hired Guns: Paying Someone To Research Your Book

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Christie |

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Does it help or hinder your book to hire someone else to do the research? That’s the question of the day. Some editing businesses offer to do writers’ research for them – for a fee, of course. While it may … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged author, authors, book, books, credible, employee, fact, fact checker, fact checking, facts, false, fiction, freelance, hire, hiring, incorrect, information, knowledge, material, misinformation, mistake, nonfiction, research, researcher, true | 2 Comments

Category Archives: Writing

How To Destroy Action and Suspense Scenes

Better Safe Than Sued: Lyric Legalities

Dissecting The Fine Print: Premade Book Covers

Authentic Writing: Writers’ Resources For US Military References

Do your words serve your story – or do they serve you?

Backward Writing – Withholding Critical Information

Superfluous Verbiage and Unnecessary Words

Go That Extra Mile!

Hired Guns: Paying Someone To Research Your Book

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