The Singular They: A Prescriptivist’s Dream

by Karin Cather | Oct 20, 2020 | Editing, Style and Style Guides, Writing

When someone goes to the store, they should wear a mask so they don’t spread COVID-19. They? Yes, they. Because it’s the correct singular pronoun to use when you don’t know the gender of the person you’re talking about or when you could be...

Preventing Conflict: The Ins and Outs of an Editing Contract

by Karin Cather | Aug 23, 2020 | business of editing, Client Relations, Freelancing

Disclaimer First of all, nothing I’m about to tell you is legal advice. You should always consult an attorney because rules vary by jurisdiction. I’m speaking here as an editor about my own practice and about the kinds of pitfalls that arise when there isn’t a service...

How to Write a Fight Scene—Part 2: Hand-to-Hand Combat

by Karin Cather | Aug 13, 2020 | Writing

Your heroine pulled a screaming woman out of a serial killer’s panel van. She looked him full in the face before he decided to cut his losses and drive away, doors flapping behind. Our heroine has been interviewed by the homicide detective, who knows that this case is...

How to Write a Fight Scene – Part 1: Gunfights and Knife Fights

by Karin Cather | May 16, 2019 | Writing

Today we’re going to talk about how to write a fight scene, specifically gunfight and knife-fight scenes. Written well, fight scenes grip the reader; contribute to atmosphere and mood; and show the reader the strength and conscience of the protagonist, victim, or...

How to Pick an Editor and Avoid Bad Reviews

by Karin Cather | Apr 13, 2019 | Editing

You have worked hard on your manuscript and you have made more revisions than you can count. You may have had friends and family read it. You may even be a talented writer who has just written what will be a best seller. Given all of that, it’s hard for you to...

Act Your Age: Writing Child Characters

by Karin Cather | Sep 23, 2018 | Editing, Writing

Have you gotten some negative feedback about your characterization? Even the most minor character who is behaving, thinking, or speaking at a level that is inconsistent with their age, education, occupation, and level of experience will hurt your story and cost you...

What Does This Mean? Inside the Editorial Mind

by Karin Cather | Jun 17, 2018 | Client Relations, Editing

How many of you authors have already been edited? Were you surprised at how good your manuscript looked afterward? Does it remind you of what happens when you’ve finally unpacked after a move, and now the house is livable, sparkling, and the best that it can be?...

Food in Fiction

by Karin Cather | Feb 28, 2018 | Editing, Writing

How many of us have favorite books in which there is food that drives the plot or characterization or just makes the story more interesting? How many of us remember those foods fondly? Maybe those foods make the book even more memorable. Maybe we even associate the...

Plain Language is Not For Dummies

by Karin Cather | Feb 21, 2018 | Editing, Plain Language, Writing

What is plain language? It’s what you use to communicate effectively when there is a high price for ambiguity. It’s what you use when you have complicated information to convey to busy people who don’t have the time for gibberish. It’s language...

Space Napkins: Science Fiction and Realism

by Karin Cather | Feb 5, 2018 | science writing, Writing

Mr. Spock! Your prescription is ready! Science fiction fans often have to suspend disbelief, despite efforts by the writers to explain why their ships can travel across the galaxy as fast as we can travel across town, and why their crew can talk to alien humanoids...