The Werd Nerd Blog

Don't Be Fooled: The 4 Stages of the Book Editing Process

Jul 198 min read

Don't Be Fooled: The 4 Stages of the Book Editing Process

Are you a first-time author who struggles to understand the book editing process? Gain a clear understanding from a professional editor.

Benefits of Hiring an All-in-One Line and Copyeditor

Erika M. Weinert

Apr 7, 20233 min read

Benefits of Hiring an All-in-One Line and Copyeditor

Line editing and copyediting are equally important. Wouldn't it be great if you could hire just one editor for both and save money doing it?

Grammarly vs. ProWritingAid: A Comparative Analysis

Erika M. Weinert

Jan 21, 20223 min read

Grammarly vs. ProWritingAid: A Comparative Analysis

For writers of fiction—my clients and potential clients—I recommend ProWritingAid to create an engaging, marketable novel.

Is It Worth It? Editing Mentorship From a Mentee’s Perspective

Brittany Morgan

Jan 3, 20224 min read

Is It Worth It? Editing Mentorship From a Mentee’s Perspective

What comes to mind when you hear the word mentor? For me, the term always elicits the image of a wise, (typically) old man, imparting his...

Style sheets: What are they, and do I need one?

Erika M. Weinert

Dec 1, 20213 min read

Style sheets: What are they, and do I need one?

Style sheets are mini style guides, and yes, you need one. Most professional editors, like me, create style sheets for their clients.

Erika M. Weinert

Aug 4, 20215 min read

How The Werd Nerd Got Started

Editing is what lights my fire and puts a skip in my step.

How to Write for Your Audience—Not Yourself

Erika M. Weinert

Jul 28, 20215 min read

How to Write for Your Audience—Not Yourself

Writing for yourself instead of your audience results in writer-centric writing that does not offer real value to the reader.

The Importance—and Misconception—of Editing with Empathy

Erika M. Weinert

Jul 21, 20213 min read

The Importance—and Misconception—of Editing with Empathy

Here’s what I mean when I say empathy: The ability to place yourself in someone else’s shoes and feel what they feel.

Erika M. Weinert

Jul 14, 20215 min read

Dear Writers: A Case for Clarification

Lost amidst the levels of editing? Writer & Editor Lessie Kauzlarich outlines some suggestions for writers navigating the editing process.

Garima Nabh

Jul 7, 20213 min read

The Importance of Mentors for Writers

Just like a teacher or a sports coach, a writing mentor helps you polish your manuscript before you publish it.

What Are You Going to Do with that English Degree?

Erika M. Weinert

Jun 30, 20214 min read

What Are You Going to Do with that English Degree?

What do you say when someone asks what you’re going to do with your English degree? It's a pretty personal question. Here's my answer.

Part 1: First-Time Author Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Erika M. Weinert

Jun 23, 20214 min read

Part 1: First-Time Author Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

There are things I search for before the actual editing begins. Here are some valuable additions to include in your self-editing process.

Erika M. Weinert

Jun 8, 20213 min read

The Controversial Exclamation Point!!!

Exclamation points are one of the most controversial punctuation marks in the literary world.

10 Challenges Faced by Writers and How to Overcome Them

Garima Nabh

Jun 2, 20216 min read

10 Challenges Faced by Writers and How to Overcome Them

Like any other profession, being a writer is not an easy task, and it takes a long time before you can get your book published. But this...

Erika M. Weinert

May 12, 20214 min read

Working with a Book Editor

What's it like to work with an editor? From first contact to getting the edited manuscript back, here are some things you should know.

Erika M. Weinert

Oct 29, 20202 min read

Dangling & Misplaced Modifiers

Dangling and misplaced modifiers. What exactly are they, and how do I avoid using them in my writing?

Erika M. Weinert

Oct 8, 20202 min read

How Many Spaces After End Punctuation?

Have you ever wondered why you see two spaces after a period in some instances while only one space is used in others?

Erika M. Weinert

Oct 1, 20201 min read

Hello October!

Oh Fall, how I've missed you. October is my favorite month with its autumnal colors found everywhere from deciduous trees to seasonal...

Erika M. Weinert

Sep 21, 20202 min read

Killing Your Darlings (Don't Panic!)

What this means is that anything unrelated to your story's overall plot needs to be revisited with unsentimental objectivity.

Erika M. Weinert

Sep 7, 20201 min read

Trimming the Fat for Fiction Writers

Are you a writer who feels incredibly out of her depth? When a first-time writer gets close to completing her very first novel, the...