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
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  • Author interviews
  • Editing
  • How-to
  • Proofreading
  • Writing

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If you’re a writer you’re probably pretty okay wit If you’re a writer you’re probably pretty okay with listening to the voices in your head. But if you’re not sure how to deepen your story or figure out your character’s motivations I’m going to suggest taking it a step further and having a conversation with your cast. You’ll play both interviewer and interviewee, writing your character’s responses in their voice, and yes it’s a bit weird. But if you’re open to it, I think it’s a great way to unlock deeper themes and layers in your story and characters. Keen? Head to my website for a freebie designed to help you get a bit woo-woo with your work ✨ And if you’ve tried it, let me know below! Did it work for you?
Given the recent spate of disappointing headlines Given the recent spate of disappointing headlines about AI-written books and plagiarised reviews and A-list actors with massive book clubs encouraging women to ‘learn AI’ 😑, it seems timely/necessary to let you know that I’m not using generative AI in my business.  Rest assured, authors, I won’t compromise your copyright or confidentiality while working on your manuscript. I’m all about human creativity!  For the full rundown, head to my website to read my AI and Digital Tools Policy.
Welcome to the editorial therapy room! 📚✏️✨ If yo Welcome to the editorial therapy room! 📚✏️✨  If you’re stuck with your story, lost your plot or your characters are driving you up the wall, I can help.  I’m introducing a new service called Storyboard Sessions, designed to help authors get unstuck, fast. Think of it as an Ask me Anything tailored to you and your writing roadblocks, designed to give you an injection of inspiration and enthusiasm.  Why now?  Honestly, publishing is a tough gig. It can feel like every time you turn around, someone’s changed the game.  I want to help more authors reach their dream of writing and publishing a book, but there’s only one of me and I can only edit so many manuscripts in the hours I have. Plus, given world events right now, I’m well aware that a full edit isn’t always financially feasible for authors.  These sessions are not a replacement for a full edit, but they might just be the support you need to break through your blocks and keep going on this marathon writing journey.  If you’re keen to find out more, head to the link in my bio or shoot me a DM with your questions!  Hope to storyboard with you soon 🤗
English is endlessly confusing, isn’t it? Swipe fo English is endlessly confusing, isn’t it? Swipe for a ‘rule’ that your teachers at school were totally wrong about 😏 And let me know in the comments any more writing rules you want explained👇#editingtips

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