-
Psychological Thriller Character Development: Avoid Plot-Driven Puppets
How to Keep Psychological Thrillers Grounded in Emotion If your thriller characters only move to serve the plot, readers will feel the strings pulling them – and that disconnect can undercut all your suspense and tension. As an editor, I’m always asking: “Would this character, with this history, really make this choice?” It’s this emotional…
-
Fix Plot Holes in Fantasy Magic Systems (Editor Tips)
Complex magic systems are thrilling yet tricky – they demand clear rules, believable costs, and unwavering consistency to avoid plot holes that pull readers out. In this post, we’ll unpack what editors scrutinize to fix plot holes in fantasy magic systems, especially for first-time authors weaving intricate worlds. Hard vs. Soft Magic: Know Your Rules…
-
Fantasy Prologue: Why Skip Them + Strong Alternatives
Fantasy prologue hot take: your fantasy novel might not need that prologue. Controversial? Maybe! But it opens up an important conversation about how to enter your story in ways that hook readers without overwhelming them with lore or slowing the pace. Common Fantasy Prologue Pitfalls As an editor, I see many prologues used as “lore…
-
Developmental Edit Preparation: Tips for Debut Authors
-
Revise Your First Draft Calmly: Big-Picture Strategy
If you’re tweaking sentences but still feel like somethings “off,” it might be time for big-picture revision, not more line-level tinkering. Learn how to revise your first draft calmly. Before You Finish the First Draft While drafting, it can help to keep a low-pressure journal about your progress – what feels exciting, what feels sticky,…
-
Self-Editing Fantasy, Memoir & Thriller: Genre Specific Examples
Self-editing shifts by genre – a fantasy writer tracks worldbuilding for consistency, while a memoirist hones emotional clarity and boundaries, and a thriller author builds suspense without leaks. Here are examples for self-editing fantasy, memoir, & thriller to spot in your pages. Fantasy: Continuity & Info Dumps In a fantasy draft, a dragon’s scale color…
-
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: Basics from Browne & King
Before you hire an editor, a few simple self-editing passes can make your draft clearer, stronger, and easier to work with. One of my favorite resources for this stage is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King, a book full of practical techniques that help writers tighten prose, clarify scenes, and strengthen…
-
5 Signs You Need a Book Coach: Beat the Messy Middle & Finish Your Draft
You don’t need to be more disciplined – you might just need a book coach. Learn 5 signs you need a book coach: from spinning your wheels in the messy middle, to feeling too close to your own words to see the big picture. Coaching isn’t about judgement; it’s about structured support, clear next steps,…
-
Signs You’re Done (Really Done): When To Stop Revising Your Manuscript
Are you still revising, or just rearranging sentences because you’re afraid to let go? How do you know when to stop revising? This blog offers a checklist you can use to decide whether your manuscript needs another self-pass or a new set of eyes. If you’re seeing more tweaking synonyms than true changes, you may…
-
What Every Scene Needs: 7 Essentials for Page-Turning Fiction
When a scene feels “off,” it’s almost always because one ingredient is missing: a clear desire, meaningful stakes, or a real turning point. In this post, I walk through what every scene needs to keep readers turning pages. Is there a scene in your draft that you secretly skip when you reread? That’s often the…
