Penny Carroll

Writer & Editor

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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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  • Editing, Proofreading, Writing

    Why every dream team needs an editor

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    Even if you aced English at high school or routinely correct your best friend’s bad spelling, enlisting the help of an editor is a smart idea. Here’s a few reasons I reckon it’s worth the investment…

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  • How-to, Writing

    How to boss the blank page

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    If you’ve ever stared at a fresh Word document, the cursor blinking expectantly while you searched desperately for an opening sentence that didn’t make you nauseous, you’ll understand the true terror of a blank page. Here’s the techniques I use to show writer’s block who’s boss…

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  • Editing, Proofreading

    10 rules for proofreading your own work

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    Ever wondered why it’s so hard to spot mistakes in your own work? No, you don’t need glasses – your brain is wired to skip over errors. If quality control is important to you but you don’t have the budget for professional help, deploy these strategies before you hit print. 1 Run a spellcheck… Forgive […]

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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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