Tag Archives: dos

Early Chapters by Gillian Holmes of The Editor | Get Published

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Meet Gillian Holmes – literary editor By Margaret Graham1

Frost is delighted to have an editor of Gillian’s calibre to help aspiring authors. It’s particularly apt, because the fundraising Independent Author Book Award, run by www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk is open for entries until 6th March 2016.

 

Last year’s winner, Jane Cable, is now represented by the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency as a direct result of the competition. Felicity Trew of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency is judging this year’s Award.

 

So over to Gillian:

 

Early Chapters

 

It’s tough being a writer, and we editors appreciate that. I have never written a book – if you don’t count the half-written romance with a Daniel-Craig-as-Bond-type hero, but the least said about that the better. So all writers who have the tenacity and commitment to complete a novel have already earned my full admiration.

 

However, on the other side of the coin, having worked as an acquiring editor, a reader for literary agents, and a reader for competitions, you can appreciate, I’ve probably read more than my fair share of opening chapters and synopses. And sometimes I stop within half a page. It sounds brutal, but when you have a lot of manuscripts to read, you simply don’t have the time or the inclination to read on to see if it improves.

 

So here are ten tips to help you catch the eye of the judges.

 

First the Don’ts:

 

  1. Please do not, and really I mean this, open with a dream. Ask any editor/agent/reader. There is nothing more irritating than to be pulled into some action, only to find it’s not real. Can I add here, do not ever use dreams as a way to move the plot forward. Please.
  2. Do not open your book with backstory… if we don’t know the characters, how can we be interested in their backstory?
  3. Do not start the book with a minor character. No matter how good the writing, as soon as the reader realises that the character they have been reading about disappears by chapter 2, they will give up.
  4. Do not open with your character doing mundane stuff – getting ready for work, having breakfast, unstacking the dishwasher, going out the door – because although you may think it’s a great contrast with the explosive action that comes later, the reader may never know that. They’ll have given up just as your character is locking their front door.
  5. Do not mince your words. Starting any book with exposition and/or long descriptions of the character or location can be mind-numbing for the reader. Dive in, all will reveal itself as the book unfolds. Speaking of long descriptions: watch out for flowery language and too many adjectives. Having to wade through paragraphs of wordy prose before you even get to the story is frustrating and time-wasting.

 

Now the Dos

 

  1. Give the reader a snappy opening line that immediately intrigues.
  2. The submitted chapters should be the very best they can be, so I would suggest you hire an editor/copy editor. It can be an expensive business, but do it for just these three chapters in the first instance. It makes a huge difference to the reader, and could give you some useful advice for the rest of the book.
  3. Keep the pace moving and don’t get bogged down in irrelevant detail.
  4. Introduce us to your characters – the reader needs to be invested in them from the start.
  5. If you’re sending a prologue as part of your first three chapters, make sure it’s relevant and interesting, not just a convenient way to give backstory.

Soon I will be giving you some hints on writing the synopsis.

 

 

gilliansholmes@hotmail.com

www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
http://www.carolinesheldon.co.uk

 

 

Spring Clean Your Beauty Bag

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There’s nothing like a good spring clean, but it’s not just your house that may need a good clear out; how long have you had that blue eye shadow in your make-up bag? What about that body lotion lurking in your bathroom? A lot of people keep skincare and makeup way past their use by date but old products are a breeding ground for bacteria which you are then transferring to your skin.

springcleanyour beautybag

Follow Skincare Expert & Facial Therapist Amanda Elias’ DO’s and DON’Ts to ensure a clean beauty cabinet this Spring.

  • DO use a marker pen to note the date you’ve open the product. Most skincare products only have the months in which they should be discarded after use rather than an actual date. By noting the date you’ll know when to discard it if left unused.
  • DON’T keep make-up or skincare “for best” because there’s a good chance they’ll pass their expiry date before you use them. If you’ve splurged, reap the benefits by using your products regularly and while they’re at their optimum.
  • DO wash your hands or use the end of a spoon as a spatula before scooping product out of a jar to prevent the spread of bacteria.
  • DON’T use product which has separated, changed colour, changed in smell or has started to irritate your skin; take this as an indication to replace it.
  • DO follow the life expectancy of cosmetics;
  • Mascara – 3 months
  • Liquid foundation and concealer – 12-18 months.
  • Lipstick and Gloss – 2 years for lipstick and 1 year for gloss. A good sign that a lip product has gone off is that it can leave the lips irritated or tingly.
  • Nail Varnish – 2 years. If the product separates and doesn’t combine when you shake it, it’s time to replace it.
  • Eye and lip pencils – as these are sharpened you are constantly removing any bacteria so they should last for at least 2 years.
  • Powders such as Eyeshadow, Blusher and face powder generally last 2 years, if you notice the product is dryer than it used to be, replace.
  • DON’T ignore your make-up brushes; these should be cleaned once a week. I like to clean my foundation brush daily as bacteria can grow quickly. My tip is to clean my foundation brush and an extra brush every time I put my make-up on, which guarantees all the brushes I use are always clean and free from bacteria.

If you’ve bought make-up and skincare within the last 6 months that you don’t like or use, why not have a swapping party with your friends? There’s a good chance they’ve also got recently purchased, unused products in their make-up bag or beauty cabinet.

For any skincare or make-up products or accessories that are in great condition but aren’t being used, why not donate them to this worthy cause? http://www.giveandmakeup.com.

Highly experienced within the industry, Amanda Elias is the brains behind effective yet affordable skincare brand, Bravura London – a business founded following Amanda’s own skin problems and subsequent discovery of using AHA, BHA and Hydraulic Acid for troubled skins.

 

Love in the Club? Dancefloor Dos and Don’ts

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You’re all dressed up in your hottest clubwear ready to take the dancefloor by storm. However, before you get too carried away there are a few dos and don’ts you need to be aware of. There are a huge number of mistakes you can make as you prepare to hit it up and show the club what you’re made of. If you want to avoid potential embarrassment, you’ll need to follow the tips below.

Don’t take up too much space

One thing you’ll notice about club dancefloors is the fact they can become a little crowded. This leaves you with very little space to show off your moves. Now may not be the best time to break out your famous ‘robot’ dance. Ensure you respect the space limitations around you.

Do expect a little bump or two

After one or two drinks, you’re likely to be a little unsteady on your heels. You need to be aware that the other people around you are also in the same position. If somebody bumps into you, try to be polite rather than hostile. Of course, if they’re constantly bumping into you without even a hint of ‘I’m sorry’, there’s justified reason to be annoyed. Likewise, if you’re the one doing the bumping, make sure you apologise and then make a huge effort to control your unsteady pins.

clubbing

Don’t be self-righteous

You’re going to come across people who test your personal beliefs and lifestyle choices on the dancefloor. According to The Guardian you need to learn to suck it up. Sure the club may say no smoking and there may be one or two people ignoring that particular rule, but you’re not working for the nightclub. Nobody likes a self-righteous person trying to ruin their fun on the dancefloor. Learn to ignore it and just focus on enjoying yourself.

Don’t update your social networking page

The dancefloor is never a place for social networking. If you’re having such an amazing time, why are you on your phone? Put your phone away and do what the dancefloor is designed to be used for – dancing!

Don’t force yourself onto somebody who clearly isn’t interested

Yes you may look hot in your sexy little outfit, but that doesn’t mean everybody will want to dance with you. If someone is clearly not interested, don’t waste your time trying to change their mind.

Don’t attempt a dirty dancing lift

We’ve all seen the film, well most of us anyway. The famous lift scene in dirty dancing is inspiring and incredibly romantic. However, under no circumstances should it ever be attempted in a club. Unless you’ve had specific training with a partner, the dancefloor isn’t the place to be attempting this daring lift unless you fancy a broken ankle.

Do stick to what you know

Are you thinking of experimenting with a few new moves? Don’t! Stick to a routine you know and love and remember to also stick within the set space boundaries. Attempting something completely different could leave you completely shamefaced.