Claire Cherry Edits

Author Spotlight: Brian Terence on sci-fi, short fiction, networking, and sharpening his craft. Join us for an chat with speculative fiction author Brian Terence, where he shares insights into writing classic sci-fi, the appeal of short fiction, and the value of manuscript assessments. Discov…

I'm working with @brianterence.co.uk again this month. Always great fun. 😃 For almost two years, Brian's sent me short stories for evaluation.

Here I chat to Brian about writing sci-fi, building connections in the industry & developing his craft as an indie author.

cherryedits.com/2026/02/02/a...

Hey, Bluesky. How have you been? Just popping in to see if there's any activity from #CIEP2025, which I'm sadly missing. Hope my edibuddies are having a great time. Enjoy!

Let's Talk Editing: What Every Indie Author Should Know Join us for a relaxed and informal chat all about editing for indie authors. Whether you've been doing it all yourself and are now thinking about bringing in expert help, or you're new and looking to ...

Would you like to join the 20 others who have signed up for this event?

bit.ly/LetsTalkEdit...

Sunday 8th June
4 pm UK time
Join us

Let's Talk Editing: What Every Indie Author Should Know Join us for a relaxed and informal chat all about editing for indie authors. Whether you've been doing it all yourself and are now thinking about bringing in expert help, or you're new and looking to ...

bit.ly/LetsTalkEdit... Join us. Sunday 8th June, 4pm UK time. Free Zoom event to celebrate Indie Author Week UK 2025. ✨

Let's Talk Editing: What Every Indie Author Should Know Join us for a relaxed and informal chat all about editing for indie authors. Whether you've been doing it all yourself and are now thinking about bringing in expert help, or you're new and looking to ...

Eek. Link problem. We need the https thingy... Try here: bit.ly/LetsTalkEdit...

Let's Talk Editing Zoom Event Sun 8th June 4pm UK time.

@vickybrewster.bsky.social and I are doing a thing. 🥳

🔃 Tell your friends.

The details: ⬇⬇

🎉 An event to celebrate Indie Author Week UK 2025.

📅 Sunday 8th June 2025
🕓 4–5 p.m. UK time (BST)
📍 Zoom
🎟 Free to attend
💬 Includes a non-recorded Q+A

Register here: bit.ly/LetsTalkEditing

"Hang on."

That's a phrase that should pop into an editor's head at regular intervals. It's a sign of active reading and paying attention.

Share if you agree.

Indie authors: why not tell your story at an after-dinner speech? After delivering my first after-dinner speech to a local Rotary Club, I discovered the power of sharing our indie publishing journeys. Learn how indie authors can inspire communities by stepping up…

cherryedits.com/2025/02/12/i...

View of my bookcase and coffee

I'm speaking to the Rotary Club tonight about our cottage (bungalow!) industry.

And a lovely bungalow it is too -- the place we call home; the place we do our work.

Jon and I have a thriving publishing business here. He writes; I edit. We have a good thing going on.

Wish me luck with my speech!

Catch of the day. 🎣

😬 nerves taught ➡ nerves taut

#AmEditing

I love it!

If more manuscript assessment enquiries land in my inbox, this will be my reaction 😃

Completing manuscript assessments feels like the perfect culmination of a lifetime spent reading, studying and teaching literature, editing, and coaching. 👩‍🏫

I do love to do them!

#writingcommunity

"Genres ... allow audiences to predict and plan"
Ways of Reading (Montgomery, Martin, et al., 2012)

For more, see:

cherryedits.com/2025/01/22/g...

Is it discreet or discrete? Let’s clear up some confusables. Destain or distain? Discrete or discreet? Mantle or mantel? Emblazon or emblaze? Watch the video to find out: Which confusables have tripped you up in the past? Let me know.

cherryedits.com/2025/01/21/i...

#writingcommunity

Hitting the research sweet spot: Bernard Cornwell’s advice on avoiding info-dumping. Learn how to balance research and storytelling in your fiction. Discover tips to avoid info-dumping and keep your readers engaged, no matter your genre.

cherryedits.com/2025/01/20/h...

Check out my blog for more.

#writingcommunity

🎥 Attention indie fiction writers✍️

The word 'just' impacts the tone of your narration. It adds attitude, and it's important that attitude comes from the right place.

Still on FB and want to see the full version of this vid?

Let me know and I'll get the group link to you.

#writingcommunity

#writingcommunity Want in? Look me up. 😃

"Never in a month of Sundays," they say.

They mean December, right?

🙃

You know writing coaching is working when the client keeps going with their WIP. When they're using new/sharpened tools in their writing toolbox to solve storytelling problems that would have thrown them off track in the past. 😃

I’m more than happy to prise myself away from the Quality Street to help authors with their short fiction during this Betwixtmas period.

🎊 New Year: A couple of days off, then I’ll be properly back at my desk on Mon 6th Jan.

❓ How about you? What are the next couple of weeks looking like?

📝 Back to it: From 27th to 31st, I’ll be doing a few bits and bobs, including a couple of novella edits and a novella manuscript assessment.

🔎 Novella work suits the in-betweeny days. Just a few hours needed here and there.

📅 Next: A sample edit for an author considering booking me for a July 2025 slot. (June is still available, by the way.) After that, I’ll prep for my coaching day on Friday.

🎁 Out of office: Sat 21st to Thurs 26th.

🧵
TL;DR: Editorial tasks between now and New Year -- just a few bits and pieces. All doable between mince pies. 🎄🥧

⚡ Final quality assurance checks to complete on The Knight and The Rebel (for Jon), my last big edit of the year.

Gosh! A cautionary tale.

Can I use song lyrics in my novel? “Wondering if you can use song lyrics in your novel? This video explains what writers need to know about copyright and permissions. Originally shared in my FB writing craft group as part of #…

cherryedits.com/2024/12/16/c...

"Can I use song lyrics in my novel?"
If you're considering this, watch the vid I posted on my blog.
I made this video for my FB group. I share stuff like this most weeks as part of my TipThursday feature.
Like the sound of the group? Get in touch.

#writingcommunity

Until you and your sister Jane return, I will hear nothing but nonsense from your three very silly sisters. (Bird looking like Mr Bennet and three smaller birds looking like the youngest Bennet sisters.)

Oh, Mr Bennet.

Oh wow! That's awesome to hear. He is a compelling teacher, for sure.

John Truby at truby.com is an absolute legend. Attending one of his master classes helped launch my writing career. Fifteen novels and an optioned screenplay later I remain grateful for his wisdom.

Let’s talk need vs desire in storytelling. Here’s what John Truby says. Need and desire are two distinct yet crucial story elements, often misunderstood as a single step. In The Anatomy of Story, John Truby explains how need drives internal transformation while desire …

cherryedits.com/2024/12/13/l...

#writingcommunity