Process Vs. Product I’ve been thinking a lot about process lately–particularly in how it relates to “success.” Writing is typically taught as a process: brainstorm, draft, edit, revise, submit. But even while emphasis is put on the process, the real emphasis is still generally on the final product. And that Read more
Hiring an Editor Is an Investment As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to better understand the value of investing in oneself. For example, a little over a year ago, I started working with a personal trainer at a gym. I don’t have far-reaching goals for the weightlifting and strength training Read more
Happy New Year! Like many, I’ve entered 2023 cautiously—with controlled optimism—with an eye on creating positive change in my life. The last two years have been very difficult for me, and I struggle daily with unrelenting anxiety. Sometimes working toward change is the only option for improvement, the only way Read more
Too Busy Like many, I am often “too busy.” And for the most part, it’s true. At any given time, I have multiple editing and writing projects in process for clients. Additionally, I have my own creative writing work, which, while separate from my client work, is still a high Read more
Happy New Year! Happy New Year! I hope this post finds you well. The fact that we’ve already come upon 2022 when so many of us are still trying to process 2020 feels surreal. It’s almost unfathomable to me that so much can change in just two years. I’m not Read more
Asking Questions For months I’ve had this statement written on the whiteboard in my office: “An editor asks questions.” I had initially written it down while brainstorming for a different blog post, but I ended up leaving it up as something simply to ponder. The statement took on new meaning Read more
Beginnings As an angsty tween (and then teen) many, many years ago, I wrote prolifically. Beginnings mostly. Beginnings of stories, beginnings of novels. I actually finished a couple of stories—one for my final project in eighth-grade English; another for a rare creative writing assignment in tenth grade. While my junior Read more
[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published as the author’s newsletter on July 11, 2020, and has been modified slightly from its original version.] I’m Scared to Send You My Letter “Your post today is so powerful. I’ve learned something from each of your posts so far.” “It’s great you Read more
Healing with Time It is said that time heals all wounds. I wonder, though, if maybe time gets too much credit. Is it really time that does the healing? And what about the wounds that don’t heal with time? The point of the adage, of course, is that things change Read more
Losing Graciously At any one time, I likely have 20 to 25 games of Scrabble going on my Scrabble Go app. As the saying goes, I win some and I lose some. Whether I win or lose, though, I always like to think I’m trying my best and that I’m Read more