Write Ambitions Podcast

As an editor, I see all kinds of writing. But there are some errors that appear in manuscripts more often than others. This podcast episode reviews nine of those common errors and ways writers can avoid making them.

You’ve written your manuscript, so now it’s time to look for an editor. Where do you even begin? What type of editor do you need? In this podcast episode, I’ll talk about 10 things you consider when looking for a book editor.

Writer’s block. It happens to the best of us. But writing is a muscle, and the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes. In this podcast episode, I’ll discuss four ways you can build your writing muscles so that you can break through those writer’s blocks.

If you’ve got a great idea for a nonfiction book but need a little push to get it out of your head and onto the page, a book coach can help. In this podcast episode, I’ll talk about the important role book coaches play in making sure your manuscript comes to fruition, and how to determine if a book coach is the push you need.

A lot of people have a story to tell. Maybe it’s a business book about effective marketing techniques, or an incredible story about overcoming obstacles to achieve success or happiness. One of the things these story ideas have in common is the belief that they can help others. If you’ve got a story to tell, this podcast episode will break down the questions you need to answer to get started on your writing journey.

Writing dialogue can be tricky, because it serves several functions in a novel. This podcast episode explores the ways dialogue can help move a story along, and discusses how to write dialogue so your readers can follow the conversation and understand the meaning being conveyed, including through the use of dialogue tags and action beats.

There are numerous ways you can make your writing more concise for your readers. Concise writing cuts through the clutter and helps your readers understand what you’re trying to say. In this podcast episode, I’ll discuss several ways to make your writing more concise and keep your readers engaged.

What’s a style sheet, and why should you create one when writing? In this podcast episode, learn why style sheets are an important part of the writing process, and what you should include on a style sheet to make sure your manuscript is consistent.

What is bias in writing? If writing can be construed as promoting stereotypes, excluding certain groups of people, or being culturally insensitive, it’s biased. In this podcast, learn how to identify bias in writing along with ways to eliminate bias in your writing.

You’re probably familiar with the word parallel and what it means when you’re trying to park in front of your favorite restaurant, or even in that dreaded four-letter word “math.” But what does parallel mean in writing? This podcast explains what parallelism is and why it’s so critical in writing.

What’s a dangling modifier? How can you tell if your modifier is dangling? In this episode, learn how to identify modifying phrases (participial, gerund, and infinitive—oh my!) and how to make sure your modifiers don’t dangle!

Some of us abide by the “rule” of never ending a sentence with a preposition. Well, it’s not really a rule, and sometimes it makes more sense to end a sentence that way. In this podcast, learn more about prepositions and when using a preposition to end a sentence works and when it doesn’t.

You may have been taught never to begin a sentence with the words and, but, so, or a handful of other conjunctions. Why is this so wrong? In this podcast episode, learn about different types of conjunctions and their purpose in sentences. And then learn how this grammar myth should be debunked.

You’ve likely heard the grammar rule that states you shouldn’t split your infinitives. Well, what exactly is an infinitive and how do you know when you’re splitting it? This episode discusses this grammar rule, defines infinitives, and answers the question of whether it’s okay to split them.

If you sometimes struggle to make your writing pop off the page, there are some simple tricks you can use to help make your story more engaging. First, use active voice as much as possible. There are some instances where passive voice makes more sense, so just make sure you determine whether what you’re writing deserves an active or passive voice. Second, use descriptive verbs that can more accurately convey the action. Third, avoid repetitive words. Readers can become numb when they read the same word over and over. The dictionary and the thesaurus are your friends when writing! Don’t be afraid to use these tools, but make sure the words you’re using in your story are appropriate for your audience.

A well-defined character helps create a compelling story. When you understand your characters’ motivations and aspirations, you can write your story in a way that gives meaning to their actions. Whether you’re writing a character- or plot-driven story, you need to develop believable characters for your readers so they get a clear picture of them and can determine how to feel about them and their behaviors throughout your story. This episode explores questions to consider when developing your characters to make sure you understand them so you can appropriately convey them to your readers.

At several points during the year, and especially around the holidays, many people like to send greetings to family, friends, and colleagues. And instead of an email, people choose to send a card or a note the old-fashioned way: through the U.S. mail. Many of those people, however, struggle when it comes to signing their name. In this episode, Jenny with Write Ambitions talks about how to make your last name plural no matter what letter of the alphabet your last name ends with. HINT: It doesn’t involve an apostrophe! If it’s still too complicated, there’s an easy trick to use to get around it.

What is involved with editing? Are there different types of editing? And is editing different than proofreading? In this introductory episode, Jenny with Write Ambitions discusses the different types of editing – developmental, line, and copy – and what each of those entails. She also talks about the similarities among editing types, and how they differ from proofreading.