I recently had the honour of presenting on antisemitism in fantasy and fairy tales to a group of my fellow editors. While I'm not able to share that presentation, I've adapted it into blog format and am excited to share it with all of you.

Antisemitism is deeply ingrained in our fantasy and fairy tales, and only when we learn the tropes can we combat the harm they do. Join me in an exploration of antisemitism in fantasy and fairy tales.

https://www.rookwoodediting.com/2023/04/antisemitism-in-fantasy-and-fairy-tales/

Sex scenes appear in all sorts of books, but they are not always done well. In today's blog post, we'll look at how body parts are discussed and referred to in sex scenes and what it means when metaphors replace actual bodies.

#Editing #Writing #Romance #Sex #WritingCommunity

https://www.rookwoodediting.com/2023/03/no-swords-no-flowers-anatomy-and-sex-scenes/

"he intoned, offering his opinion" —> "said"

I beg you. I will fall to my knees. Please just use "said."

#AmEditing #EditingProTip

"Deep-seeded" —> "deep-seated"

This one always catches me out. I think that both versions make a lot of sense, but the correct phrase is "seated", not "seeded."

#EditingProTip #AmEditing #SpellCheckCantSaveYou

"vocal chords" —> "vocal cords"

One could make chords with vocal cords, but they are not chords themselves!

#EditingProTip #SpellCheckCantSaveYou #AmEditing

Oops, your book is 200k words and the ideal limit is 120!

I love @kjcharles's fantastic and practical advice on how to actually bring your manuscript down in size.

She writes, "In an ideal world, every aspect of your novel serves multiple functions. It keeps a story tight and makes it feel woven together and satisfying."

Is a character's only function to make people laugh? What is X scene adding to the story? Could it be cut?

#Writing #Editing @bookstodon

https://kjcharleswriter.com/2023/02/09/what-do-you-do-when-your-book-is-too-long-would-you-stand-up-and-walk-out-on-me/