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BubbleCow

bubblecow@mastodon.social

<p>Developmental book editor (Gary Smailes) with over twenty years experience of helping hundreds of self-publishing writers. </p><p>My first &#39;real job&#39; in publishing was working on the Horrible Histories series, but I started BubbleCow in 2007.</p><p>I am also a traditionally published author with twenty plus books in print. My agent is Andrew Lownie.</p>

Posts

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    AO3 going down is a bigger deal than I think people realize. The site has been offline since October 29. I have seen reports on Reddit that stories have been posted on other similar sites without the author’s permission. https://www.reddit.com/r/AO3/comments/1xm2tpp/situation_ao3life/ Also, AO3.life, has been accused of scraping fanfiction and attempting to monetize AI-generated audiobooks. Shitty and illegal behavior. Thousands of copyright takedown notices, forcing A03.file offline. #writ...

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    A book premise is all about logic, a book blurb is all about emotion. You are selling the emotion of your story, not the events that happen to the character. #writing

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    Before editing a weak scene, ask what job it was meant to do. Reveal character? Raise stakes? Shift the plot? Change the reader’s understanding? If you cannot name the job, the scene probably needs more than polish. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    Make a list of your chapters in one sentence each. If two chapters seem to do the same job, one may need cutting, combining, or changing. Repetition is often easier to spot in a chapter list than in the manuscript itself. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    Where does the reader first understand what is at stake? If the answer comes later than you expected, your opening may be clear in situation but weak in pressure. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    After each scene, write one note: “Because of this scene…” If you struggle to finish the sentence, the scene may not be creating enough consequence for the story. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    A book cover whispers a promise. The manuscript has to keep it. If the story feels like a different book from the one the cover invited us into, readers notice. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    The orange cover of A Clockwork Orange promises something sharp, strange and unsettling. The novel keeps that promise from the first sentence. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    Jaws promises one clean fear: something unseen beneath the surface. The best thrillers know exactly what fear they are selling before page one. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    The Handmaid&amp;#39;s Tale cover often promises control, silence and threat. The novel delivers by making every rule feel like a cage closing. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: spy tension often comes from restraint, not action. Secrets feel bigger when characters say less. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from The Bourne Identity: a strong thriller hook gives the hero a mystery to solve and a danger they can’t outrun. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: betrayal hits hardest when the protagonist’s beliefs collapse with the plot. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from The Flatshare: a niche romance hook works when the setup is unusual, but the emotion feels instantly familiar. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from Red, White &amp;amp; Royal Blue: a niche romance works when the external pressure makes every private feeling riskier. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    The monthly BubbleCow newsletter is out: Don&amp;#39;t write meh books https://bubblecow.com/newsletter/dont-write-meh-books/?utm_source=social&amp;amp;utm_medium=federated&amp;amp;utm_campaign=newsletter #writing

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    What writers can learn from The Shining: horror deepens when the setting pressures the character’s weakest point. The hotel doesn’t create Jack’s flaws; it exposes them. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from Dracula: suspense grows through limited viewpoints. The reader pieces together the threat before the characters fully understand it. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    What writers can learn from The Exorcist: horror works when disbelief delays action. The fear builds because characters try to explain the impossible too rationally. #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    The monthly BubbleCow newsletter is out: Get help self-editing or become a professional editor https://bubblecow.com/newsletter/get-help-self-editing-or-become-a-professional-editor/?utm_source=social&amp;amp;utm_medium=federated&amp;amp;utm_campaign=newsletter #writing

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    Horror tip: fear works best when the monster touches an existing wound. The question is not only “what is scary?” but “why is this character vulnerable?” #writingcommunity #amwriting #writing #writers

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    Afternoon edit is a revision to a fantasy book very much in the genre of the Dresden Files. I really enjoyed editing this book and this draft is so much better. The author is now really leaning into the supernatural elements. #amEditing #writing

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    Another day, another edit... The rest of this week will see me working on a self-help book. I do enjoy editing non-fiction, though most of my work is fiction. #amEditing #writing

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    (1/3) When writing an introduction to a non-fiction book, it should address the following... - Clearly frame the book for the reader. The introduction should explain what the book does and does not cover, so expectations are set from the outset. - Provide some background about the author and what qualifies them to write this book. This may include academic credentials, professional experience, or relevant personal insight. #writing #amEditing

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    (2/3) - Explain why the author chose to write this book and why now. This helps the reader understand the motivation behind the work and begins to build trust. - Offer a clear statement of the reader’s benefit. What will the reader be able to understand, apply, or achieve by the end of the book that they cannot do now? #writing #amEditing

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    (3/3) - Outline how the book is structured. Briefly describe how the material is organised, how the chapters build on one another, and how the overall journey unfolds. - Advise the reader on how to approach the book. Should it be read cover to cover, used as a reference guide, worked through with exercises, or dipped into as needed? Provide clear guidance on how to get the most value from it. #writing #amEditing

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    This is why we can&amp;#39;t have nice things... 2008 Dystopian Novel Was Just Voted the ‘Best Book Ever’ by Goodreads https://parade.com/news/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins-voted-best-book-ever-goodreads

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    I love this repo. Converts Markdown files in your GitHub to a book. I feel Git and Markdown are very unused tools for writers. https://github.com/rust-lang/mdBook #writing

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    Developmental edit complete. I really enjoyed this non-fiction self-help book. Now onto the report, normally takes me a couple of hours to wrangle my notes into something that makes sense. Editing my edit, so to speak. #amEditing #writing

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    Here&amp;#39;s this month&amp;#39;s newsletter called &amp;#39;How to Spot Red Flags When Hiring a Developmental Editor&amp;#39; https://newsletter.bubblecow.com/how-to-spot-red-flags-when-hiring-a-developmental-editor/ #amEditing #writing #writingcommunity