Elizabeth MS Flynn is a professional editor and has been for almost fifty years, working with topics as diverse as academia, technology, finance, genre fiction, and comic books.

About the Workshop

Elizabeth is presenting, “She Nodded Her Head Up and Down In Agreement,” which begins June 3 and ends June 28th. The workshop is asynchronous and via groups.io.

What’s your workshop about?
This workshop is about those tips and tricks to make your story the length it needs to be and it shows you how to be on the lookout for phrases that slow your story and—worse!—clog up your word count. Included are the litany of Illiteracy, a list of words and phrases to avoid, exercises to determine if your work is in need of a trim, and a handout with examples of how to simplify a longer, more cumbersome phrase into a trimmer, cleaner one.

Who’s your workshop for?
This workshop is for those who want to polish their work into a sparkling gem.

What do you hope attendees will gain from your workshop?
I’m hoping attendees will be able to look at their work, no matter the genre or category, and be able to make it as sharp and the best it can be. (And I’m giving away a copy of my book on self-editing to one lucky attendee!)

About You

Please tell our readers a bit about yourself in two to three sentences.
I sold my first story and got my first job training to be an editor within the same three-month period, so I’ve been on both sides of the author/editor equation. These days, I’m more likely to help authors with their stories than write my own.

Do you have any truck novel(s)?
Of course. Who doesn’t?

What genres do you write?
Fantasy and futuristic and on occasion, contemporary romance.

Are you traditional, hybrid, or indie published? Why did you go this route?
I have been all of the above. I like the freedom of indie most of all, because that allows me to write whatever I choose.

What does success mean for you?
Success means freedom to choose.

Do you have any odd/strange/fascinating rejection stories to share?
I come from a biracial background, and once I tried to pitch a romance based on that. I was told that “nobody wants to read that— Orientals don’t read.” You mean those billions of Asians out there don’t read?! Huh.

What is your writing routine like?
I write early in the morning. I am one of those horrifying morning people.

Who first introduced you to the love of writing?
I come from a writing and reading kind of family, so it was always part of me.

What living or dead author would you have over for dinner and why?‘
Barbara Michaels/Elizabeth Peters, whose mysteries and paranormal stories entranced me when I was a kid.

What do you see ahead in your career?
I want to help more authors with their work, and I’d like to write more fantasies when I have the time.

What encouraging words do you have with struggling or first-time authors?
Keep working at it! It won’t get easier if you stop, right?

Team Edward or Team Jacob from Twilight and why?
Neither. Sorry!

How can readers find you online? (Include social media links if you like)
Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Threads

Interested in teaching a workshop? Contact FF & P for more details!

Do you write fantasy, sci-fi, or paranormal romances? Join FF & P! FF& P is a special interest chapter of the RWA for authors and professionals who write in these genres. New member dues are $20 and renewals are $15 per year. Perspective members must be in good standing and an active member with national RWA. Visit FF & P for more information.