Hello Reader!
Happy August! I don't know about you but I'm in need of a break. July was a whirlwind. I did a developmental edit for a contemporary romance, which I enjoyed quite a lot since I enjoy romances and this was the author's first romance. I got to spend time with cousins in Canada and then more cousins at a wedding on Long Island. I don't get to see any of my cousins enough, so any time with them is a good time. Migraines and one of my rare seizures have been slowing down my own writing. Part 2 of my book is fighting with me so much more than Part 1 was. But I've gotten some feedback and should get more soon, so I'm hoping that will help motivate me. I'm trying be useful in my procrastination by starting to plan my next trip to England (maybe 2 trips). One will absolutely include seeing the Bayeaux Tapestry when it comes to the British Museum and I'm starting to explore doing research for my book at the British Library. I'd say don't follow my example but really my advice for writing is always: do what works for you. Apparently that's my advice for everything. That seems to be what I'm doing and I'm getting excited by these completely vague almost-plans.
Editing Insights Club
Welcome to the Editing Insights Club! Here I'll introduce you to editors and other professionals from all over the publishing world. You'll see we're all here as part of the community that supports writers in their journey to success.
Meet: Deborah Taylor
Copy editor & Proofreader
www.the-blue-pencil.com
What type of content do you edit or proofread?
As a copy editor and proofreader, I mainly work with fiction manuscripts. Recently, I have enjoyed working on crime thrillers, romance and a young adult fantasy novel.
What's your favorite thing about your work?
I love being part of a creative process. Being able to collaborate with an author and enable them to publish the best version of their novel is a privilege.
What is one tip you like to share with writers searching for (or working with) an editor?
I know it can be a bit controversial, but I recommend asking your potential editor to complete a test edit of a small part of your manuscript. Around 1,000-2,000 words should ensure that both the author and the editor can see if they are a good fit.
What are some of your favorite things outside of work?
When I'm not editing, you can find me reading! If I need a mental rest, I tend to practice yoga or shake things up in a Zumba class. There's nothing better than dancing around to some great music, even if it's only in my kitchen when I'm cooking dinner!
What's a book you're reading for fun right now?
I do like a bit of spice! Small town romance novels are brilliant for some escapeism. I've been reading a cowboy series by Lyla Sage (you can't get farther away from my reality here in rural Britain), Rewriting Grey by L.A. Ferro is not for the faint hearted and is my current read, but if I want my true comfort zone it has to be J.D. Robb's In Death series- I love the mix of crime and romance with a truely badass MFC Eve Dallas.
You can also find Deborah on her LinkedIn page!
Summer Sale!
To celebrate summer I'll be offering a 10% summer discount when you book now through the end of August for any of my services. But you're my special newsletter friends, which means you get extra! How does 15% off when you mention you're a newsletter subscriber sound? Book for any time in 2025!
Editing Tip: Worried about your story's pacing? Make sure you change up the length of your sentences. A change in rhythm keeps readers in the moment.
MEET THE AUTHOR
I want to help authors celebrate their accomplishments in my newsletter. Do you have a book getting published soon? Email me. I'd love to interview you about your experiences to share with fellow writers!
On August 15 self-published author Lancy McCall will be releasing Code Block, her second book in the Women in Caprock series. (I've had the pleasure of being Lancy's writing coach and seeing early drafts of Code Block.) For our complete interview, go to: https://bit.ly/46FlZFs
Lancy McCall & Code Block!
What particular challenges do you face in your writing? What is difficult for you? Do you have any tips for other writers who face similar challenges?
Dialogue and action come pretty easily for me, but I struggle with description and narrative. I’m a bit of a bullet-point, bottom-line kind of person in real life, so it makes sense that my writing reflects that. Each revision pass almost always adds thousands of words to the manuscript. I’m still learning how to “show” rather than “tell”—how to write a scene that reveals a character’s traits or emotions through their actions rather than just stating them outright. I also tend to lean too technical in my first drafts. Sometimes I include too much jargon or get overly detailed about the business functions being discussed. During revisions, I rework those sections to make sure they support the story without overwhelming the reader—or tempting them to roll their eyes or skip ahead.
How did you find your editors?
For Left Turn, I worked in solitude, figuring things out as I went. I made pass after pass, editing the heck out of that book until I reached the point where I’d done everything I could and it needed someone else’s eyes on it. I used the Reedsy marketplace to find both a developmental editor and a copyeditor. Each gave me helpful feedback, and everything—from payments to communication—was handled within the Reedsy platform. After publishing that first book, I met other authors and heard about their relationships with their editors. It made my experience feel very transactional and not much like a relationship at all. So I decided that for my next book, I wanted to work with someone I could build a deeper connection with. For Code Block, I reached out to other authors and editors I’d met at writing conferences and on social media, asking for recommendations. I compiled a list, checked out their websites, and paid attention to their editing processes. Eventually, I found a couple of editors through word of mouth who felt like the right fit.
Can you talk a little about your editing experience for new writers?
When I talk to new writers about editing, my biggest piece of advice is to remember that your goal is to make your book the best version of itself. And you can’t do that alone. You need other eyes on it to catch the things that you’re too close to see. With my first book, I braced myself for brutal feedback. It was my debut, after all. But the comments weren’t harsh; they were constructive. Everything my editor pointed out made sense. It was a lesson in “this is good, but it could be better if…” And honestly, there were so many positive notes that I was a little taken aback—in a good way. I know it’s intimidating to get that first edit back, but every mark or comment is meant to make your book stronger. I love getting feedback that helps me spot things I missed or suggests ways to bring a point forward so readers connect with it more easily. One other thing I want to emphasize: it’s important that you and your editor are aligned on your story. If your editor thinks they’re working on a swoony romance but you’re writing women’s fiction, they might steer the edits in a direction that doesn’t match your vision. In the end, it’s your story. You get to decide which edits to accept. But when you’re both clear up front on the story’s genre and purpose, the process is smoother, more effective, less costly, and—let’s face it—less emotional.
Can you describe your publishing experience with Code Block? Was it similar or different to Left Turn? Why did you decide this was the path for you?
Publishing Code Block has been easier because I feel more knowledgeable this time. It’s like returning to a vacation spot and knowing your way around a little better than the first time you visited. With Left Turn, I was learning everything as I went. I did tons of research before making each move. But with Code Block, I already knew the general order of tasks and when things needed to happen. (Thank goodness for my detailed notes!). For example, I knew to line up my editors and cover designer early, which helped compress the timeline. Another big difference was in my approach to the workflow. With Left Turn, I did everything sequentially—each step waited on the one before it, mostly because I was still figuring things out. With Code Block, I knew I could work on the blurb and social media content while the manuscript was with my editor. That made it easier to stay organized and avoid wasting time on things that could wait. I’m still figuring out the marketing piece. 😉
You can find out more about Lancy and pre-order her book on her website:https://lancymccall.com/
Reading Update
Nalini Singh's newest Psy/Changeling book Atonement Sky is a wonderful addition to the series. If you're looking for paranormal romance, shifter romance, second chance romance- look no further. And I always recommend Singh if you're looking for fantastic examples of world-building, either through a series or in a stand alone book.
Not a brand-new book, but a new read for me, Kathryn Harkup's A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie is a nonfiction look at a number of the poisons Christie used in her books and short stories. It's the science behind the poison, the history behind the poison, and how well Christie matched her story to reality (which was usually pretty well- she did work in pharmacies). I recommend this one for Agatha Christie fans but also for historical mystery writers looking for good research on what was known about these poisons from the 1800s to present day. There's also a sequel: V is for Venom.
