The Werd Nerd Blog

Book Review: "The Great and the Small," 2nd Edition by A. T. Balsara

Aug 133 min read

Book Review: "The Great and the Small," 2nd Edition by A. T. Balsara

Death soon sweeps through the main character’s harbor town, affecting both protagonists in unforeseen ways, the outcome uncertain.

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?

Book Review: "Of Crowns and Legends" by Chelsea Banning

Erika M. Weinert

Mar 13, 20233 min read

Book Review: "Of Crowns and Legends" by Chelsea Banning

With magic commonplace, Chelsea Banning's debut novel, Of Crowns and Legends, hits the mark for fans of fantasy and Arthurian legend alike.

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.

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.

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.

Garima Nabh

Jun 16, 20213 min read

How Music Helps Your Writing

Music is one of the oldest creations of man. Many writers prefer listening to music rather than writing in silence.

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 24, 20212 min read

Why You Need a Proofreader

Guest Post by Carly Catt | A proofreader double-checks your book to rid it of small distractions to readers.

Garima Nabh

May 19, 20213 min read

The Best Writing Software for Authors

Writing is rarely easy. Although Microsoft (MS) Word has been used for a long time, it is a general writing program not specific for...

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.

What is the Difference Between a Blurb and a Synopsis?

Garima Nabh

Apr 7, 20216 min read

What is the Difference Between a Blurb and a Synopsis?

Many writers think the words blurb and synopsis are interchangeable; however, they are used for different reasons.

Erika M. Weinert

Dec 24, 20202 min read

The Em Dash — How and When to Use It

Em dashes are often used during an abrupt break in thought. If you read books — pretty much any books — you’ve seen them before.

Erika M. Weinert

Dec 3, 20202 min read

Your Friend, The Oxford Comma

The serial (Oxford) comma may be a matter of style, but it's still your friend.

Sun-kissed mountains, ten-dollar bills, eleven-year-old daughter . . . What do these have in common?

Erika M. Weinert

Nov 2, 20202 min read

Sun-kissed mountains, ten-dollar bills, eleven-year-old daughter . . . What do these have in common?

A hyphen is needed between two words that function together as an adjective before the noun they describe.