Cornerstone line.png
Musings of a freelance PA

Musings of a copywriter, editor, typesetter and freelance pa…

Common editing mistakes and how to avoid them
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Common editing mistakes and how to avoid them

Editing is a crucial and often underestimated part of the self-publishing process. A manuscript evolves between the first draft and the final version.

In this musing, I look at common editing mistakes and how to avoid them to ensure the quality and success of your book.

Read More
The role of an editor for an indie author
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

The role of an editor for an indie author

Self-publishing offers authors incredible freedom: complete creative control, flexible timelines, and direct access to readers. But with that freedom comes responsibility, especially when it comes to the quality of the finished book. This is where an editor plays a crucial role.

In this musing, I’m going to look at what editors do and why their support is so valuable on an author’s writing journey.

Read More
Tips on how to focus on the task at hand
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Tips on how to focus on the task at hand

Multitasking may be the name of the game, but in reality, true productivity comes from focused attention on one task at a time: working smarter, not faster. That means giving each task the attention it deserves, without letting your mind wander.

In this musing, I thought I would share a few practical strategies I’ve found effective for staying focused, on track and delivering high-quality work throughout the day.

Read More
Understanding typesetting costs: what you need to know
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Understanding typesetting costs: what you need to know

So you’re ready to get your manuscript typeset… but how much does it cost? You’ve searched the internet for a price to typeset your book and not found anything concrete, and now you’re just a little frustrated. Well, let me help!

Read More
Why does editing cost so much?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Why does editing cost so much?

Editing is a professional service, priced on the time and expertise required to make a manuscript, or any other copy, shine.

So, let’s look at why editing costs what it does and why investing in a good editor is a good choice for your project.

Read More
Self-publishing: what’s involved?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Self-publishing: what’s involved?

Self-publishing encompasses all the processes involved in publishing a written work, whether that is a book, eBook, or other written content, independent of a traditional publishing house.

There are pros and cons to the self-publishing approach, and while self-publishing has opened doors for authors to share their words with the world, some costs need to be considered once they have finished writing their book.

So what does it all cost? Well, “How long is a piece of string?” I’m not being difficult, but there’s a LOT to consider.

Want to know more?

Read More
Learn to Love AI
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Learn to Love AI

Here is a question, “Can AI be your new best friend?”

My answer is, “Yes, I think so.”

AI isn't going anywhere, so we must embrace it and use it to benefit us and our businesses. So, I did some training to help me understand what AI can do and how I should use it.

Want to know more?

Read More
How an Editor helps an Indie Author
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

How an Editor helps an Indie Author

As an indie author, you are responsible for writing, editing, marketing and distributing your book. As an author, I assume that the creative writing process is the bit you love, but editing is crucial to ensure your book reaches its full potential.

An editor will polish your manuscript and, hopefully, you will find them invaluable as they will do all of these wonderful things…

Read More
The Anatomy of a Paperback
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

The Anatomy of a Paperback

The make-up of a book is more complex than most people realise so this musing is quite lengthy. Understanding a book's structure should help any author format their book for their editor or publisher.

Read on for more information…

Read More
Punctuation: a guide
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Punctuation: a guide

Punctuation: the art of dividing sentences by marks.

Simple really.

If you think about it we use pauses and the pitch of our voice to help people understand what we are saying. Punctuation plays a similar role in our writing.

Read on…

Read More
Editing poetry: my top tips
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Editing poetry: my top tips

Editing poetry needs particular care and attention by the poet and the editor. So, I thought I would share some tips for editing poetry… whether you’re revising or editing your poems or someone else’s. Read on…

Read More
How does a small business owner take a holiday?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

How does a small business owner take a holiday?

How does a small business owner take a holiday?

This is a serious question to small business owners … when did you last take a holiday? I’m talking a real holiday not just a day off or a long weekend.

Read on for a few tips so that you can take that holiday …

Read More
Write great content fast …
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Write great content fast …

Write great content fast …

Do you put off writing because it just takes far too long? Do you wish you could write faster? Do you envy all those people you see churning out regular content? I bet you do!

Well … read on for my tip to save you time …

Read More
Time
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Time

Time … a little poem for you!

Read in full …

Read More
Is your desk impeding your productivity?
Lucinda Reed Lucinda Reed

Is your desk impeding your productivity?

Are you a desk-worker? I definitely spend most of my working time at my desk. So when I am at my desk I really want the time to be as productive as possible … after all, I don’t want to be there all day. So how do I make this happen?

Well, I’m going to share some tips on how you can really boost your productivity with items on and around your desk.

Read in full …

Read More