Blog Entries
I’m Heather Belleguelle of Behest Fiction Editing. Welcome to my blog! I hope the posts I write will give you some handy tips, information, and ideas to help you on your writing journey.
As a British editor working with authors from both sides of the pond and having spent a year living in Canada myself, I’m very aware of the differences that exist between British and North American life and culture. My hope is that if you aren’t so familiar with all things British, I’ll be able to pass on some tips to help you ensure your British characters and settings are as authentic as possible and that I’ll also be able to introduce you to beautiful Britain.
If you have any questions or subjects you’d like me to consider covering, please drop an email to heather@behest-editing.com or send me a message via the contact form on this website.
- Get A Handle On
I was trying to update a financial spreadsheet yesterday but ended up losing those magical formulae that total it all up for you. Fortunately I’m married to Mr Tech, who was able to restore them for me. I really need to do some spreadsheet training to help me “get a handle” on how to set Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday - MeltdownWe went grocery shopping this morning and, as sometimes seems to happen in such places, there was a small child wailing. (And haven’t we all occasionally felt like wailing when shopping?) This little one was obviously having a “meltdown”, which is today’s Time Travel Tuesday focus. So, when did this word enter our language, and Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- ShowcaseMy mother-in-law recently moved house and found that downsizing had left her less room to scatter her favourite and precious ornaments around her new home. Instead she bought a glass cabinet to stand in the corner of her living room, and all her treasures are now on display there. Which brings us to today’s word: Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- Surprise, Surprise!I’m still on my Regency romance reading kick, and it’s continuing to provide me with ideas to research and write about for blog posts, the latest of which features today. “Surprise, surprise!” says one of the characters to another when he comes upon an unexpected situation. But would the lady really have used this phrase Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- Writer’s BlockSometimes my fingers can’t keep up with my brain as I compose a blog post, and at other times, I stare at a blank screen, wondering what I’m going to write about. Chances are that if you’re an author, you periodically experience the same thing: writer’s block. Doubtless, authors have struggled with this issue ever Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- UpcomingI don’t know about you, but I’m a planner and find flying by the seat of my pants rather stressful. As such I like to take time thinking about events that are taking place soon and tasks that need to be done, which leads me nicely to today’s word: upcoming. It feels to me that Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- AccessoryWith the arrival of June – and some warmer weather – the season of weddings, garden parties, and events like Royal Ascot has arrived. Time to get dressed up, maybe shop for some new outfits. And don’t forget that you’ll need today’s word to match or coordinate with your finery: an accessory or two. The Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- Spend a PennyRecently I was reading a fascinating blog post from author Deb Marlowe about The Great Exhibition of 1851. It was at the Exhibition that the world’s first pay-to-use toilets were introduced, with visitors parting with a penny to use the facilities. This little nugget of knowledge got me wondering if this was when the euphemistic Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- Dance FloorI’m currently indulging in a Regency Romance where the scene of the hero and heroine’s first meeting is at a ball, as is not unusual in a book of that genre. He invites her to dance, and they make their way to the area in the centre of the ballroom, which the author refers to Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- Mum’s the Word“You won’t tell anyone, will you?”“Of course not. Mum’s the word.” Have you, like me, ever wondered where this strange little expression comes from? For most of us Brits, “mum” is what we call our mothers, so is this idiom related to the fact that mothers are supposed to be good at keeping secrets? Some Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- HeistAs I edit a lot of crime fiction, today’s word is one that I come across regularly. The villains commit an armed robbery, make off with huge sums of money or valuable objects, maybe leave behind a dead body or two. It’s up to the sleuth or detectives to follow the clues and bring those Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday
- To Rain on a Person’s ParadeI don’t know about where you live, but in my part of the world, we haven’t had much rain lately and could certainly use some. With rain generally being a common occurrence in Britain, it’s not surprising that there are quite a few idioms in the English language featuring the word. Today’s is one of Continue reading...Category: Time Travel Tuesday