Hello everyone! Today, as part of our Black Friday Sale, I am delighted to welcome the lovely Elizabeth M. Hurst, a friend and fellow Swanwicker, to tell you about her special offer…

Thanks so much, Jen, for having me on your blog!

I’m delighted to share my latest release with your readers, and at a special discounted price for Black Friday weekend too!

People write books on the craft of writing for all sorts of reasons. After around eight years of freelance editing, I noticed a pattern among debut authors that approached me to work on their books – the manuscripts weren’t ready to be edited. When I gently divulged what was necessary to get the book to a satisfactory standard for publishing, they were amazed. They had not anticipated what was involved. (And, as a result, how much they would have to pay!) Which in turn meant they would go away feeling dejected, however hard I tried to be constructive.

It left me feeling just as bad as they did.

This got me thinking. What if I could give these authors advice about how to self-edit before they started thinking about professional editing. If they could follow a simple, methodical approach to fine-tuning their novel themselves, their fees would be lower because the likes of me wouldn’t need to spend so much time on editing. Thus, The Wordsmith’s Guide to Editing Your Own Novel was born.

Since then, the series has gone from strength to strength. Book four was my latest release: Planning the Perfect Plot.

This was my favourite of the series so far to write, for one important reason: it allowed me to share something I learned a few years ago that revolutionised my writing process.

I used to get bogged down when writing a novel. Planning used to be such a haphazard thing. I never felt I had the whole story in my head before I started. And so, after 20,000–30,000 words, I would run out of steam. Motivation used to dip. I would get bored, feel it was all too difficult, and eventually, give up.

Talking to other writers, I found this is far from unusual. So, I decided the perfect companion to The Wordsmith’s Guides would be to write what I have learned about plotting, and how it has changed my writing process for the better.

Briefly, it is this: Think about the WHY.

Why do you want to write this story? Why does it matter to you? Why do you want it to matter to your readers? Why should they care?

The answer to these questions forms your Truth. And there should be hints at this Truth throughout your story because it will be evident from everything your protagonist does, says and feels.

Nowadays, I never start to draft a novel until I have a clear outline from start to finish. I know the character’s motivations, and I know the main challenges that will take place. I know the antagonist, and why they want to hurt the protagonist. Because I write historical fiction, I will also have done a fair amount of research beforehand so I am familiar with the time and place, and therefore the external conflicts that will happen in the background, e.g. war, invasion, power struggles, births and deaths of important historical figures. I will also have written the first scene and the last, so that I have bookends, if you like, that help me approach the ending with less trepidation.

My current work in progress is the final instalment of my medieval Kingdom of Majorca trilogy. I started it only a couple of weeks ago, so there’s a long way to go. I am targeting 2027 to release all three books in fairly quick succession. Stay tuned for book covers around this time next year…

Happy writing!

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth was born and bred in the picturesque harbour town of Whitehaven in the northwest of England, where the long, wet winters moulded her into a voracious reader of fiction to escape the dismal weather.

In 2016, Elizabeth set up her freelance editing and proofreading business, EMH Editorial Services. In 2018, she quit the corporate world and concentrated her energy full-time towards her love of the written word.

Elizabeth has published timeslip novellas (the Lost Souls series) and a stand-alone novel, A Light Shines in Darkness, based on Blessed Angelina of Marsciano. She is also the author of The Wordsmith’s Guides, a series of nonfiction books on the craft of writing.

Elizabeth now lives with her husband in the warm and sunny south of France, where the wine is cheaper than the water, and the cats spend their days hunting lizards and dreaming of the birds that roost on the roof.

Amazon Book Links:

The Wordsmith’s Guides

Editing Your Own Novel: https://geni.us/EditingYourOwnNovel

Becoming a Freelance Editor & Proofreader: https://geni.us/FreelanceEditor

Creating Compelling Characters: https://geni.us/CharactersAmazon

Planning the Perfect Plot:  https://geni.us/PlottingAmazon

Fiction

Siren Spirit: https://geni.us/AFSki

A Friend in Need: https://geni.us/lFMTHh8

A Light Shines in Darkness: https://geni.us/Ndt3cUz

Reviews for The Wordsmith’s Guide to Editing Your Own Novel

“A comprehensive overview of self-editing and more. Elizabeth knows her stuff! I would certainly recommend this to new writers who’ve completed their first draft.”

“I found this incredibly useful and informative. It’s written in a really friendly and readable way and absolutely fits the brief. It’s clear that the author has actually walked the walk as well, and really knows what she’s talking about, which I find very inspiring. It’s helped me to really think about my writing in a more constructive way and I know I’ll be referring back to it continually.”

Reviews for The Wordsmith’s Guide to Creating Compelling Characters

“This latest book in Elizabeth M. Hurst’s Wordsmith Series gives you the tools you need to ensure your characters jump into the hearts of your readers and keeps them turning the pages of your book long after they should’ve put out the light.”

“More than just tips—this is a smorgasbord of character-building ideas!”

“I found this book immensely helpful in my own novel, particularly in shaping characters who feel alive and authentic. The exercises throughout the book are a standout feature, providing practical ways to apply the concepts rather than just absorbing theory.”

Reviews for The Wordsmith’s Guide to Planning the Perfect Plot

“I honestly can’t wait to try some of these approaches in my own work – I am thinking November will be a perfect time to try!”

“As an author focused on refining my craft, I love seeking new techniques and personal insights to enhance my process. Liz Hurst’s guide proved to be an exceptional gem — a comprehensive resource by a perceptive teacher in her field. In sharing her expertise and personal experiences about plotting, this book hit the sweet spot for me.”

“Another cracker in this series. Liz manages to make things very accessible whilst covering such a lot and with such detail. One thing I really love about this whole ‘Wordsmiths’ series is that Liz constructs the books in a way that makes it so easy to re-read and find what it is you’re looking for at the time you need it. It means they really are constant companions as opposed to books you read once and never revisit.”

Social Media Links:

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lizhurstauthor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-m-hurst/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lizhurstauthor.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14332807.Elizabeth_M_Hurst