Purple Hearts

Often in the comments or in the writer’s forum I’m in, newer writers as about the meaning of words or acronyms. For example, when I started writing a more experienced writer told me “show don’t tell me what’s going on.” I thought she wanted me to send her the actual pages so she could look at them. Yeah. I’ve learned a lot.

Here are some of the things that caught me up when I started writing. I’d love to hear some stories from you as well!

ARC - “Advanced Readers Copies” are an early printing of your book typically sent to reviewers and booksellers.

CP - “Critique Partner” - Read my post HERE on setting up that relationship so it will be successful

Dialogue Tag - These show the reader who’s speaking. There are two types, speaker attribution tags (Bria said) and action/beat tags (Bria rolled her eyes)

Genre Fiction - Specific type of novel (Mystery, Romance, Fantasy, etc)

MS - “Manuscript”

Partial - Typically a synopsis and three chapters (although this can vary by requester)

Plagiarism - Because apparently this needs to be addressed lately. If you didn’t write it and you use it without credit, that’s plagiarism. Period.

POV - “Point of View” dictates who is telling the story and how. Writing On The Wall did a great break down blog on this HERE

Query - A one page letter asking an editor or agent if they would be interested in your project

RUE - “Resist the Urge to Explain” - if you’re seeing this, you’re reader is telling you they g

SASE - “Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope” - When sending a query, partial, submission to an editor or agent, always include a SASE and ensure that it has enough postage for the return mailing

Series / Line - Sometimes it’s just better to point the way. Kate Elliot has a great post on classifying series HERE

Show V Tell - If you’re hearing this a lot, you’re most likely trying to tell the reader how your character feels instead of showing the reaction. The very impressive Maria V Snyder has a clear discussion of it HERE

Single Title - A book that stands alone and is not part of a series

Sub-genre - A further division of a genre. For example, if you’re reading a romance set in a historical time period, it’s a Historical Romance. Set in the early American west, it’s a Western Romance, and so on

Synopsis - A brief overview of your story that highlights key plot elements, emotional development, conflict and outcome

WIP - “Work In Progress” - Whatever project you’re working on that isn’t complete

Hope that helps some of our newer readers. I’m sure everyone has a different ‘what they wish they had known’ story, feel free to add them in the comments.

Then, Go Write,
-bria