Renni Browne gave me some fabulous tips when I was editing THE CHRONICLES OF JOYA. One of the most invaluable was record it. When you’re writing away you don’t always write the exact thought in your mind as you’d intended. You read back over what you’ve written and it looks fine. Or you may spot a few errors and change them. But do you notice everything? Do you have the best piece of communication in front of you? More than likely not.

   Your eye reads what it expects to see. Your ear on the other hand is more difficult to trick. Your ear picks up what your eye misses. So, if you can afford it, invest in a dictaphone. Whatever you write, record it and play it back. Does it flow? Can its meaning be misinterpreted? Is it too waffly? Too sparse? If you’re writing dialogue, the ear is the perfect medium to find out if it’s fluid and natural rather than stilted and false.

   Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to a tape recorder of some kind, at least read what you’ve written aloud. If you write articles, stories or novels it’s invaluable. After all, it took someone else reading Salem’s Lot to notice Stephen King’s error shooting local peasants when he meant pheasants.

   And if you’re writing letters and emails you’ve more than likely received one that you’ve misinterpreted. It’s easily done with the written word. Chances are it wasn’t recorded. Make sure it doesn’t happen with what you write. Let your ear give it the cheer.

   Happy writing! Liane x