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Signs Your 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…
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Letting Go of Your Manuscript: The Emotional Journey of Handing Off Your Draft
Letting go of your manuscript can feel a little like sending a child to their first day of school – exciting, terrifying, and weirdly quiet afterward. In this blog I am talking honestly about the emotional side of releasing your work to beta readers, editors, or submissions. What part of that process feels hardest for…
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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…
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What Makes a Memoir
Welcome to the third installment of “What Makes a . . .” In What Makes a Memoir we will take a look at five elements that will have your readers lining up to learn and be inspired. What Makes a Memoir Work? What makes a memoir work? How does memoir differ from an autobiography? A…
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What Makes a Fantasy Novel
Welcome to Part 2 of the series “What Makes a . . .” What Makes a Fantasy Novel focuses on five elements that hook your readers and take them on an incredible journey in fantasy. Check back next month for the next installment, What Makes a Memoir. What Makes a Fantasy Novel Work? What draws…
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What Makes a Psychological Thriller
Welcome to Part 1 of “What Makes a . . .” a series of posts where I will be sharing the top principles of what makes a certain genre really thrive. This post is all about what makes a psychological thriller work. Discover the five elements that will keep your readers guessing and questioning reality…
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What it Means to “Find Your Voice” as a Writer
What It Means to “Find Your Voice” as a Writer “Find your voice.” Advice every writer hears, yet few can define. As an editor and book coach, I see authors struggle with this concept—often believing that voice is something they must invent from scratch. In reality, your writing voice isn’t created; it’s uncovered, shaped by…
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Self-Editing My Writing Prompt
Leaving My Bubble This February I decided to leave my introverted bubble and attend two different writer’s groups that meet locally. One of the groups does a monthly writing prompt and asks members to prepare their prompt to share before the meeting. I had quite a time editing my writing prompt. I don’t consider myself…
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What Is A Beta Read? Do I Need One?
What is a beta read? Do I need one? Where do I find a beta reader? These are questions I often hear from authors at conferences or in online writer’s groups and I am here to help. First let’s ask a few questions: If you answered yes to any of these questions you might be…
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Explaining the Editorial Process
Are you considering working together but would still like to know more about what to expect before you commit? I completely understand! I have a short timeline listed on my Services page, but I would love to provide a little more information here.
