Anne Morgan Edits

writing tips, editing insights, & Behind the scenes in an editor's life

Hello Reader!

Happy March everyone! Just think, it'll be Spring on the 20th (here in the Northern Hemisphere at least). Being Wiccan, I always do something to celebrate the turning of the seasons- and for me it generally involves baking a (hopefully) tasty dessert.

Last week I had my final video chat with my teenage fantasy writer. It has been so awesome watching her grow as a writer, developing side by side with her plot and characters. And she told me she's already well into writing her second book! She may do a few revisions but she's about ready for beta readers, so if anyone is a big fan of NA dark fantasy and would like to beta read Lily's book, let me know. She'd love your feedback!

I was also excited to pick up a new writing coaching client last week through a slightly surprising path. He read a book I co-wrote back in 2019 and contacted me with a question, then said "I see you're an editor now, can you help me with my writing?" Did you know I co-wrote a book? Back when I worked at a museum in CA, a donor came to me with a manuscript and asked me to help him get it ready for publishing- as well as help getting it published. When it was finished, Harry asked me to accept co-authorship of the book. I didn't think I deserved it, but in retrospect, I think he was making sure he got out of doing all the public speaking and promotions! So until I get all my butlers in a row, Geoglyphs of the Desert Southwest kind of accidentally became what my friend Jessica Andersen would call my Brand Book. Check out her interview in this month's Editing Insights Club to find out more!

Editing Tips:

Did you know that there are a huge number of factors that come into play when deciding the "ideal" number of pages a book should be? Tools like beat sheets may help you self-edit your manuscript into the traditional publisher's page count. Want to know more? This Woodbridge Publishers blog post does a pretty good job of identifying some of the factors that get taken into consideration.

Editing Insights Club

Welcome to the Editing Insights Club! Here I'll introduce you to editors and other professionals from all over the freelance publishing world. You'll see we're all here to be part of the community that supports writers on their journey to success.

Meet: Jessica Andersen

Brand Book Strategist

https://jessicalandersen.lpages.co/shop/

What type of content do you edit or proofread?

My clients are writing Brand Books—my term for marketing/business books. Their goals with this evergreen content are to position themselves as experts, build brand awareness, attract paid keynotes, and invite readers to become clients. I work with them at all stages of creating the content, from strategizing the core message and themes to outlining to writing and editing, all the way to proofreading.

What's your favorite thing about your work?

I love celebrating their wins when they launch their book, like when they attract 5 new clients in just two weeks, or when they sell hundreds of copies despite not having a built-in audience, or when they reach bestseller status in their genre. But the best feeling is when my clients see such incredible success with their first Brand Book that they decide to write another one!

What is one tip you like to share with writers searching for (or working with) an editor?

Make sure you always work with service providers who align with your core values. For example, among the editors you’re considering, do any of them promise “perfection”? Dig into that. Do any of them publicly state their stance on AI-generated content or AI editing tools? If not, ask them. Having a candid conversation upfront before you hire an editor will save everyone from a wrong-fit working relationship.

What are some of your favorite things outside of editing?

Lord of the Rings because I’m a huge nerd. Riding lessons even though I’m a newbie who’s pretty awkward on a horse. My whippet, Blue, who is my #stetpet. Watching cooking competitions and trying new recipes. Also, croissants.

What's a book you're reading for fun right now?

Love On Top which is the new novel from my friend, Honorine Locenay. I also like to keep my finger on the pulse of trends in Brand Books—recently I read The Creative Act by Rick Rubin which I highly recommend, and now I’m diving into Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel S. F. Heller.

You can also find Jessica on her LinkedIn page!

2025 Women in Publishing Summit

March 5-8 is the virtual Women in Publishing Summit and you're invited!

Whether you're just starting your writing journey or looking to grow your author business, this 4 day virtual event is for you. Think expert-led sessions, networking opportunities and practical tools to level you your craft.

Plus: You'll get access to bonus sessions throughout the year and incredible discounts and freebies on tools!

Let's make 2025 your year of writing success. Will I see you there?

Mystery March Discount!

We all know the Ides of March (RIP Julius🗡️). Let's celebrate our fascination with all things mystery book-related all March long! 🔍

I'll be running a 10% discount all March for mystery writers reaching out to me- and my newsletter peeps get an extra discount! Send me an email with "Newsletter DISC" in the subject line and you'll get 15% off any service I offer: developmental editing, writing coaching, or marketing coaching!

Can Beat Sheets help you with writer's block?

A beat sheet is one of the popular templates for writing a book- and there are lots of them out there! Jessica Brody's Save the Cat! Writes a Novel has a very popular one, but there lots of others to choose from. Many even recommend percentages of page numbers for each scene- which can be helpful if you decide to go the traditional publishing route. Traditional publishers have page count expectations and something like a beat sheet with percentages for scenes might be a way you can help yourself keep your manuscript within the publisher's expected page count.

If you're a plotter and enjoy (or need) to map everything out ahead of starting your book, a beat sheet is a helpful tool to try. It may make it easier for you to write scenes out of order if you're stuck in one spot. You know (at least roughly) where it fits in the scheme of the book. Maybe you started the book with a really clear image of the scene where your main character is at her lowest point and finding her inner strength. You don't know how she got there, but you know that scene already. Go ahead and write it ahead of the others! Maybe it will spark the earlier scenes that get her to that low place.

If you're a pantser (or "chaos writer" as the wonderful Cass Morris describes it, which I think is a much cooler and more acurate term) start telling yourself the story and see what happens. If you find yourself getting stuck, a beat sheet might be an experiment to try. Map out the story you have so far and then try a couple of paths to see if you can jump start your chaos writer creativity again.

You've heard me say it before when it comes to writing advice: these are all guidelines, not rules. Take what works for you and your story and leave the rest of the advice behind.

Reading Update

I was looking forward to Amy Kuivalainen's new magical romance and between the spice level and the world building, she did not disappoint! I thought J. D. Robb's newest mystery was better than her last one, a bit more thriller and more fun to read. And I completely fell in love with Jane Austen's Bookshelf Rebecca Romney's non-fiction book on the women writers before Jane Austen- and Romney's discovery of their lives and books.