At some stage in our careers, we've heard the advice, "Write the best book you can," but in today's competitive market, that isn't enough. As the publishing world contracts, jobs disappear, including editor and copyeditor positions. This is one reason why it's important to submit a well-polished manuscript. No submission is ever perfect, but the better edited it is at the start, the greater your chances of acquiring the representation or contract offer you seek. This workshop provides you with a checklist of what to look for in your manuscript to improve your chances at getting past the initial query. We'll discuss ways to tighten your writing, cause and effect, dangling modifiers, choosing the right word, general punctuation and grammar tips, and more.

A retired librarian, Cindy Vallar is the Associate Editor of Industry of Solander, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. She writes "The Red Pencil," a column that compares a selection from author's published historical novel with an early draft of that work. She is also a freelance editor, the Editor of Pirates and Privateers, and a content editor for Pyrates Way magazine. Aside from presenting workshops, Cindy writes historical novels and articles on maritime piracy, reviews books, and maintains her award-winning web site, Thistles & Pirates (http://www.cindyvallar.com), which she invites you to visit.