If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to get your proofreaders and editor on your case with a vengeance, it’s falling prey to homophone confusion. Homophones are words that sound alike when you’re speaking out loud but have different spellings and completely different definitions. It might seem, to some, like a small thing – but using […]
The phrase deus ex machina is one that you’ve likely encountered throughout your literary travels. Latin for god from the machine, it describes an unexpected and sudden event which saves a hopeless situation. Allegedly, the phrase’s roots go all the way back to ancient Greece, where many a play would see an actor lowered from […]
Ah, metaphors. They are, and likely always will be, a major pillar of most fiction and poetic prose. A type of figurative language used to liven up descriptive writing, metaphors are primarily a comparison tool. Along with similes, they make up most of our well known ‘figure of speech’ idioms. However, where a simile uses […]
At AutoCrit, we’re extremely proud – and consider ourselves blessed – to have such a huge range of authors that make us their first choice for self-editing. From romance, to sci-fi, high fantasy, young adult, horror, grimdark and beyond, the diverse styles we’re alerted to every day is a constant source of wonder. Amongst those […]
One thing is for certain: to be an excellent writer, you can never rest on your laurels. You need to be constantly working on your craft, practicing and improving every single day. But life isn’t a smooth cruise, is it? Finding time can be tough, and it can feel like getting those hours in the […]
Look at the cover for any book by a hugely successful author, and you’ll usually notice the author’s name is in larger type than the title of the book itself. Why is that? Because of branding. People are more likely to read a book by an author they like. Yes, the quality of your writing […]
It’s undeniable that romance is a hot topic (no pun intended). The genre shows no signs of slowing down, with romance novels continuing to dominate every other genre within the self-publishing and ebook sphere. At its heart, almost every romance novel is about the relationship between two people. There will be minor characters and extras […]
It’s time to give the AutoCrit treatment to another popular name in the industry, and this time, we’re diving into one of the world’s biggest-selling genres – romance! One of Amazon’s top five authors in the romantic fiction category, Nora Roberts has written over 200 novels, and enjoyed immense success and a passionate fan base […]
Referred to as “the UK’s most prolific genre cover artist” by DIYPhotography, illustrator and digital artist Dean Samed has never been one to shy away from a challenge. Responsible for art that has accompanied books by Stephen King, Clive Barker, H.P. Lovecraft, and Graham Masterton, Samed thoroughly appreciates the importance of cover art in the […]
Any novel could potentially contain a cast of hundreds. Most of the important action, however, will only involve the protagonist and a few other major characters. But just because minor characters aren’t taking up the limelight, it doesn’t mean you have license to make them bland and unmemorable. On the other side of that coin, […]
