1. Don't write too much of it! Dialogue can slow the pace of the action and plot, and so needs to be used with care. If you can show the characters doing something to illustrate how they feel rather than just having them say it, the effect is far more powerful. But do use dialogue when it actually is the best way to learn something. Sandra Gerth has written a very useful book about this  point - Show, Don't Tell. 2. Be careful with 'he said', 'she said'. You can sometimes wri

You have been working on your book/short stories/journal/memoirs for what seems like months and years, but now, at long last, it feels as if you are getting near the end. What should you do next? Step 1 You may have given your work to friends or family to read, but eventually you need to pass it to a professional editor who will read it with an trained eye. This first step is generally known as a STRUCTURAL EDIT. This involves looking at the 'big picture' of the book and con