Ah, the red herring. A wonderful device used to intentionally distract and mislead an audience. As a crime fiction writer you’ve worked hard to ensure your readers don’t see what’s coming. You’ve obstructed their view with shifting realities and unreliable narrators. But what if some of your distractions aren’t so deliberate?

Your readers become fully immersed in your story when they trust that you, the writer, are in control of the plot and leading them towards a resolution that is logical and satisfying. But that trust wavers when they find grammar mistakes, plot or character inconsistencies, or meandering sentences. Each unintentional distraction reminds them that they are reading a book rather than getting lost in the world you created.

Fortunately there are steps you can take to make sure your work is as error-free as possible and ready for publication.

My name is Christina and I edit books for crime fiction writers to help them on their way to becoming successfully published authors. Head over to my Services page to see how I can help make sure all of your red herrings are exactly where you intend them to be.