writers

Explaining POV to New Writers

Written by Lisa Hislop | Copy edited by Lisa Guglielmi

In this article, Lisa shares how to help new writers understand and choose suitable points of view. You can attend Lisa’s session, Helping Your Author Pick a POV That Pops, at the 2024 Editors Canada Conference.

When a writer asks me to explain narrative point-of-view (POV), they’re not looking for a definition. They’ve done their research and understand the main differences between first-person and third. Where they’re stuck is the glossary of associated terms: limits of perception, degree of objectivity, narrative distance, and narrative bias. They want to know how these aspects relate to each other and the POV they’ve chosen for their story. 

To give them a complete grounding, I invite them to translate the POV of a story, which I’ll illustrate here for you to use in guiding your writers.

Continue reading →

Announcement: Writers for Readers

On March 13, 2024, the Richmond Public Library will host Writers for Readers. The program is a half-day writers festival from 2–7 pm and will take place at the Brighouse Library. 

Writers for Readers will showcase authors living in Richmond and feature talks from three bestselling BC authors: Iona Whishaw (Lane Winslow mystery series), Eve Lazarus (Murder by Milkshake, Cold Case BC), and Nick Marino (East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE). Our featured speakers will give a one-hour talk about their writing, with a question-and-answer session at the end.

Continue reading →

Book Review: Bryson’s Dictionary for Writers and Editors

Written by Jessie Laven; copy edited by Rebecca A. Coates

Review of “Bryson’s Dictionary for Writers and Editors ” by Bill Bryson (Doubleday Canada, 2008; Anchor Canada, 2009).

Image of the cover for Bill Bryson's book "Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors," which features one tall green book and a shorter blue book.

Bill Bryson is well known for his books on travel, science, history, and the English language. And this particular book of his, Bryson’s Dictionary for Writers and Editors, is an eclectic mix, reflecting the varied experiences of Bryson’s long and distinguished writing career. It’s different from his usual writings, and perhaps more dry, but no less valuable or insightful.

Before turning to writing, Bryson worked as an editor for several newspapers, including the Independent and the Times.  During this time, his manuscript began as a collection of notes that were assembled piece by piece over the years as he encountered questions or uncertainties. The resulting book is a useful guide for new writers and editors, answering questions they likely wouldn’t think to ask. It is driven by a desire to enlighten the reader and help them avoid common pitfalls.

Continue reading →

Event Review: Social Media for Writers

4 Comments

by Frances Peck

Review of Social Media for Writers, a professional development day hosted by the Professional Writers of Association Vancouver Chapter (PWAC) on March 22, 2014.

Does the term social media make you giddy with anticipation or sick with anxiety? I’ll own up to being in the second camp. The idea of devoting an entire day to that zany online world was, for me, like contemplating a colonic irrigation: people say it’s good for you, but you’ve got to wonder if all the mess and exposure are really worth it.

Continue reading →