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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…
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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…
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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…
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Developmental Edit Preparation: Tips for Debut Authors
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Story Consultations: A Supportive First Step for Authors
Story Consultations: A Supportive First Step for Authors If you’ve been following along, you may have noticed that one of my services has a new name. My former manuscript evaluations are now Story Consultations, and I made this change to better reflect the kind of support I want to offer authors, especially new and debut…
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Common Fiction Writing Mistakes: Part 2 (POV, Cause & Effect, and More)
Every writer has blind spots. Some over-describe, some jump POV mid-scene, some repeat favorite words without even noticing – and none of this means you’re a “bad” writer, it just means you’re human. These are all common fiction writing mistakes, some grammar related, that are easy to fix. Inconsistent POV (Head-Hopping) Head-hopping happens when a…
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Common Fiction Writing Mistakes: Part 1 (Passive Voice & More)
If you’re worried there are “secret rules” you’re breaking in your manuscript, you’re not alone – most writers feel this way at some point! Let’s break down some common fiction writing mistakes so you know what to work on. Passive Sentence Structure Passive voice sneaks in when the subject receives the action, like “The ball…
