It has been a real minute, and I am so sorry to have kept you waiting. I appreciate your patience as I gathered my thoughts and sorted things out, and I’m here to get back into the swing of things, to share with you, and hopefully help you on your journey as I share mine with you. This post is more a welcome back and an update than actual advice, but we will get back into that with the next one;)

If you’ve been onto Substack lately to check in, you may have noticed that the name of this publication has changed, as has my way of sharing in it. Things didn’t quite go the way I had originally planned. My passion got overrun with planning, trying to sound like an expert, to give advice that I thought people would WANT to hear, not what I wanted to say. So, I have made changes to fit my true vision for this newsletter, my true passion, and not just what I thought was wanted or needed.

I have some more plans coming when it comes to this publication, mostly a freebie I intend to give you all, but I need to go through it and make sure it is everything I want it to be before handing it out. I want you to have all that I think you’ll need to get started.

Anyway, where to start in my return!? Well, how about I share what’s happened with me in the time I’ve been gone. Then we’ll work our way to what is to come in the ‘spring’ forward we’re taking together.:)

When I decided to take a break from this newsletter and my positivity one, it was for several reasons. I stepped away from everything except my author newsletter because my readers need updates on new books and whatnot. But everything had grown too overwhelming for me, yet again. Don’t worry, I’ll explain, and if you’re a self-publishing author, you’ll likely understand this very well.

You see, as a self-published author, you come to realize that if you want to succeed in the sense of a trad published author, (i.e. make lots of money, have a huge following, get your books into stores and signings, etc.) you have to be willing to put in an insane amount of effort and work to build that following through social media, author friends, money, and more. As someone who does not have disposable income to be spending on ‘experts’ and other help, I try to do all of this myself, but being an author, an editor, the marketer, the social media guru, and so on is really hard, really exhausting.

I didn’t have time to do the marketing research, to learn the latest trends, to be active on all the socials, to be constantly engaging online, to run tests, to offer giveaways, to sign up for parties, hops, and whatnot. Just trying to schedule weekly posts to keep up engagement was exhausting me, and in my effort to follow the hustle culture/advice and to follow the latest trends on what worked, I lost myself. I lost my voice. I lost my authenticity.

I was simply trying to do what everyone else was doing, trying to get views, comments, shares, whatever I could to boost the algorithm. I was scheduling a month at a time, trying to do as much as I could in a day or week to TRY and get more time later to write my books, work on editing work for clients, and not have to worry about socials.

What did it achieve? Well, the short of it. Fucking nothing. Not going to lie. Lack of engagement with outside sources means that I get no engagement, I don’t get seen, because that’s how the algorithms work. They’re designed to boost those who boost themselves, who pay their way, who put in the insane amount of effort to get there. I don’t have the time or energy.

So, I walked away. I stepped back, I broke down, and I cried. A lot. This is not the first time I’ve gone through this cycle, and if you’ve been trying to manage your author career this way as I have, you likely know what I’m talking about, how this feels. It took a very, very long conversation with my PA and bestie over voice notes, messages, and video chat to sort things out, to decide who was going to do what from now on, how we were going to manage things. And even to this day, things are still adjusting as I’m realizing where I want to put my time and effort.

Our personal/professional arrangement is a little unique, but as for our work, she’s now handling my Facebook page, my Instagram, Threads, and she has her own Tiktok pages made for my books to use for marketing videos and posts. I will use my FB profile, the FB group I’ve had, and my Substack only. I do not want to waste time on the socials that I don’t like being on. I like my group, it has loyal readers that I love. Substack makes me feel so good, I love it’s lack of algorithm like Meta’s stuff, and I love my newsletters, these are my passion, so I’m staying here.

I’ve come to realize in this time off while doing some soul searching that I hate hustle culture and mentality, I do not want to live that way, and I am not meant to live that way. My Human Design chart showed me that I am the kind of person who tends to work best in cycles. I have times of high energy and low, but it’s best for me to follow my energy, to follow my passion, and not overdo it, or I will regret it. And I have. So, I will no longer be pushing that, no longer be working that way.

Now, does that change the advice and tips I offer you here? Possibly. And that brings me to what this newsletter will become moving forward. It started out as my way of trying to share the tips and tricks I’ve learned in the 5+ years I’ve been doing this on my own, and while I love helping others and sharing what good advice I can, I will not ever claim to be a pro or expert. I’m just another person like you trying to help those I can by making sure you don’t follow bad advice from get-rich-quick schemers.

So, rather than trying to plan everything down to the month, scheduling ahead by a month or more, I’m doing this on a month to month basis. I will write and schedule the newsletter the week of so I’m writing something I’m feeling, something my energy is poured into, something authentic. With this change, I am also not going out of my way to make a bunch of graphics to follow a specific look. I may or may not find images to use moving forward, but for now, my priority is the words I’m writing, not the images you see.

I’m also doing things a bit differently. I’m still sharing tips and advice where I can, but I’m going to do it in a more… casual way, I suppose is the best way to put it. We’re going to chat like friends here, not like I’m a pro giving you advice and telling you what to do. I’m not your boss, your coach, or some guru. I’m your friend trying to help you out so you don’t make the same mistakes I did or worse. I want you to succeed, and I want us to share in our love of writing, thus the new title for this publication.

So, while I will still have advice for you, it’s going to look a bit different. You’ll likely get stories from my own journey in it. Perhaps I’ll even share my own writing with you in snippets as examples or more. I want this to be more personable, less professional. We don’t need more ‘professionals’ in the world telling us how to hustle into success. We need more people simply being intentional and caring with their work to reach hearts and minds, not wallets. And that’s my new goal.

I want us to be heart-to-heart here, mind-to-mind, on the same page literally and figuratively. I hope you’ll stick around for it because I think this journey is going to be great. :)

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

The graphic pretty well says it all, but I'd like to explain more.

I need to make some changes.

Again.

It feels like I said this recently and it was nearly 2 years ago now, but there's been a lot of things going on, a lot of signs, for me to step back, regroup, find my voice, and make some big changes.

I'm coming to realize, as I have many times, that I'm not a market author. Meaning that I don't go through tons of research and read tons of things, take classes, and attempt to write and market my books in a way that is popular to trends and reader expectations.

I write books I would want to read, books I love, that make me happy, and that touch my soul. So I need to stop trying so hard to market like others and just find myself, my voice, how I want to bond with my readers and friends on here.

I'm struggling with it, to be honest, so my plan is to take the remainder of the 2025 year to figure out what I'd like to do, say, and share. I want to focus more on writing what I love and less on the stress of marketing and getting sales. I write because I love it, making money is just a bonus, and I've gotten so fixated on sales like a lot of authors that I've lost myself a bit.

I need some time to sort out how I want to move forward in all my things, including the newsletters I'm passionate about writing. I genuinely want to help inspire and help others heal and find positivity and light. And I am passionate about helping authors in what free ways are possible because it's expensive enough to get a book published, not including all the money that could potentially be spent of learning these things. I want to help people, and this is one way I can reach a wide range of people, I just need to find the way that works best for me so you feel that passion in my writing.

So I will be back to it in a few months, and I will still be here, occasionally scrolling, but I hope this break and restructure allows me to better bond with you all and have genuine discussions and not just likes and pass bys.

Wish me luck😅

See you soon😚🩵

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

Authors and even editors can use graphics for all sorts of reasons. For promotions, sales, information, and so much more. In a world of social media where images or videos garner the most attention, having graphics that stand out can be crucial in getting new readers to look at your work.

But this leads us to the question at hand. In a world bombarded with images, is it worth it to bother graphics?

Personally, I believe it is still worth it to utilize graphics for gaining sales and attention, absolutely. Doesn’t mean that it will be easy or make you viral, but it can help a lot. A lot of readers will choose to read or look at a book based on the cover or images associated with it, so having graphics that stand out help with that.

I don’t, however, think that you should waste time trying to perfect every little graphic you work on. With so many trends out there, the market and preferences of readers constantly changing, it’s impossible to keep up with social media changes to hit the jackpot. My preferred approach, one that might be much easier for you as well, is to simply make graphics that I like, that fit/match the books themes, and have all the necessary information on them for what they are.

When I make teaser graphics, more often than not, I choose one themed image for all of them and put the title or cover on there with the quote. I choose a themed image to use with the cover and tropes or themes of the book. Some images are specific and some are not. And I’ve tried many different kinds of graphics to gain attention, and while some might work better than others, I also choose what works for my conscience. What I mean by that is simply that, as a romance author, a lot of other romancers use risqué photos for their teasers to catch attention. Sex sells, right? So those images tend to gain a lot of attention. However, I prefer not to sell my romances using the sex but using the relationships, the drama, and other elements, so using those types of images feels inappropriate to me, so I no longer do that.

Here are a few examples of my graphics to give you some ideas.

All in all, graphics are definitely worth it when it comes to finding a way to stand out on social media. Utilizing the covers and other images can catch readers’ eyes as they scroll easier and faster than a list of words. However, it’s up to you what kind of images you use and how you choose to use them. Do what works for your book, your personality, your themes, and what you want readers to focus on when it comes to your works. As you can see above, I’ve used graphics for teasers, promo, reviews, service listings, and more. This is merely a fraction of the graphics I have made and used. I also have games that I’ve made for parties and other functions, questions, images I use in my books, logos, and so much more. The possibilities are endless, so have fun with your graphics, and don’t be afraid to try something new.

What sorts of things might you be planning to use graphics for? Do you plan to make them yourself or outsource for them? Chat with me in the comments, chat, or email, I’d love to hear back from you.

Until next time,

Love♥,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

I've set this image as my lock screen on my phone. It feels that powerful to me.

Have you ever thought about how your words as an author can change a reader's life? Therefore, you can change the world one reader at a time.

As writer's, our words have so much power. Power to uplift. Power to inspire. Power to transport readers to new worlds. Power to teach. And so much more.

Whether you write fiction or non, what you put into your stories, how you use your words, matters so much. You can do amazing things for others just with simple words.

I know that, for me, as a reader, I used to learn and experience so much through characters in books. And now, as an author, I try to do the same for others by putting my characters through realistic issues, sharing advice, and working through emotions and thoughts in healthy ways.

I try to share what knowledge I accumulate with others who may need it because knowledge in this world should be free. We should all have someone in our corner to help us out, and I love being that friendly person for others.

All it takes is one person to learn or grow from your words to begin a process if changing the world one life at a time.

So if you were in need of some inspiration, if a reason to write or keep going, this is it. Right here. Your words are powerful and can change lives, and only you can tell the stories in your head that way, so let them flow. Let them change the world.

Until next time,

Love🩵,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

Editing can be a difficult process, one filled with struggle, cuts, additions, and all sorts of other changes. My goal is to help you find and make those changes with ease, comfort, and guidance.

I make suggestions for possible changes in wording or additions to help you see what info a reader might need here. And I will always explain why I might cut something so you understand the thought process.

But all my notes are just that: suggestions. You are in control of your book, and I am here to help you however I can.

I do my best to be a rounded editor. Meaning that I try to make sure I'm helping with any holes, line edits, proofreading, and even making notes to ensure consistency in writing and even character descriptions.

If you're an author in need of a friendly editor who's in your corner, contact me today to see how we can started. You can also find a link to a document with information and examples if my editing on my FB page or in my Linktree link.

I know this isn't something I normally send out in newsletters, but I thought I would share in case any authors I here are looking for an editor they can trust. Feel free to reach out anytime, or if you know someone looking, drop a recommendation. I'm happy to help all fiction authors with their works😊

Until next time,

Love🩵,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

As a budding author and/or editor, you are going to find that there are multitudes of voices shouting advice, offering courses, and claiming to be professionals. You'll see ads for them on socials and everywhere else thanks to all the technology listening and reading our info. And it will get overwhelming.

So, what do you do?

Well, as I've said many times, take the advice and note it somewhere, make a doc of ideas and advice that you can go through later to pick from to help you out and use what is right for you.

But when it comes to professionals and their courses… that's another matter. I have not paid for courses or professional help with any of my work as if yet, a large part of that being that I don't have the spare money to invest, but the other major part being that I have no idea who to listen to.

Now, one thing I have done is sign up for free newsletters from people like Kindlepreneur and Derek Doepker, and I follow socials like Jen DePaula who makes The Book Marketing Simplified Podcast. They tend to share snippets of advice that can be helpful, even if a little vague. I admit, a lot of their stuff suggests hiring them or buying their courses or material packets to get ahead, but they do share some basic useful info. Doing something like that can be a great way to feel out such professionals and how they work, allowing you to determine if you like their style and methods before spending a dime.

I also know a few authors who have paid for courses and gotten their opinions. Some friends will share what they can of what they've learned, but others will simply tell you if it was helpful and if they recommend or not.

But before you spend a single penny, take some time, do some digging, and make sure it is worth your money and time. Why? Because, as I've said before, not all programs work for everyone. There isn't a one-size-fits-all way that will help you and every other author or editor oht therr become a pro. Somethings work for some and not for others.

Example: utilizing TikTok has helped many authors I know find success, go viral, and build their readership. For me, it was no different than FB or IG. I saw no difference in sales, views were low, engagement nil. Doesn't work for everyone.

This career path, like many, is all about reading your audience, fitting the trends or ideals of your audience, and knowing how to speak to them and their needs. And it is not easy to do, especially if you aren't in tune with society and it's ever-changing views and demands.

I struggle to share content that really hits home with people. I've tried all the things I've been told to the best of my ability, but nothing has really clicked for me. But I keep trying.

And that's what I want you to do. Keep noting the advice, keep looking into your options, but don't jump into anything if you're unsure.

What sort of advice would you recommend on this topic? Drop me a comment and let's discuss!

Until next time,

Love🩵,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

So, you're new to authoring and/or editing. You don't know where to begin, what path is right, and everyone around you has their two cents to put in.

But whose two cents do you listen to? What do you try first? Who is right and who isn't?

First of all, different things work for different people. Remember that. Second, listen to yourself. You know what works for you better than anyone else.

So when you're sorting through all the advice given to you, all the articles online, and sifting through the “gurus” to find what path might be best, take some time to listen to yourself. Not just your brain, either. I mean really listen, body, mind, and soul.

When you think of trying this idea, does it make you sick or scared or even bored or disgusted? Maybe you get the feeling it would never work for you? Perhaps you should listen to that gut feeling and try a different path. Or maybe you feel like it's something you're capable of with a little help, like it just might work if you can understand it properly. Then maybe it needs a little more research and a helping hand but is completely worth trying.

We all have instincts that guide us through everything. And I know some will say, “But I have terrible instincts.” No, honey, you don't. It's just that you're doing things you don't understand or don't need to be doing. You're not listening to your instincts properly if you think they're terrible.

But I firmly believe that you know somewhere inside what is best for you, what will work for you. And if you pause and listen hard enough, you'll hear what is right and find your way.

Tall to other authors and service providers, see how they make you feel about things. If it feels right, maybe they're worth working with or listening to. If they feel off for you, then maybe you should walk away politely before you get hurt.

And this applies to your work as well. If your instincts tell you that something belongs in your story or doesn't, listen to it. If you feel that something is wrong when editing something but can't seem to see it, listen deep down. Sometimes I have to walk away and the answer comes to me, so I note it the next day or next time I open the author's document. Sometimes, you feel things long before you see them or hear them, so listen to those feelings, those instincts. They'll lead you right.

You'll find your way forward if you only listen. You've got this.

Until next time,

Love🩵,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

As authors, we are inspired by everything around us to write stories that mean something to us and to our readers. Something inside us tugs and insists we put words on paper and share it.

But why?

I can't speak for all authors, but for me, I write because, one, I enjoy telling stories, and I've always been good at it. Two, I have messages in my stories that I feel many would benefit from hearing for all sorts of reasons. And that second reason to write is likely why all authors write.

We all have things in our stories, whether it be situations and outcomes that teach us lessons, experiences we've been through and can offer advice in, or literal help and encouragement, that we feel someone out there would benefit from.

One if the biggest things I loved about reading when I was growing up were the lessons I learned and the experiences I got to enjoy through the characters. I never had to drink or do drugs or sleep around and do things that made me uncomfortable because I could read someone else's experience to find out how that might go. I learned about all the worst things, how it made them feel, and realized I never wanted to go through those things.

That sort of learning, I feel, is so important. People have always learned through stories passed down from elders and others, we learn from and through others, and today is no different. So I write stories to share things I've learned in my own life, to share my experiences with an addict mother, a tough father, insecurities, and more.

I see many other authors do the same, they put their own issues into their stories to work through, to teach others, to offer advice, and more.

So, why is this important? Well, when you're struggling to write, struggling to succeed, considering giving up for whatever reason, I want you to remember this. Remember why you began writing in the first place. I'm sure you didn't start writing because you wanted to be famous or make money, it's because you have a passion, something worth sharing. When you fall back on the true reason for why you began all this, you'll find it's easier to find your muse and get those words flowing once more. You write because you love it for any number of reasons, let that love for writing continue to guide you through the journey ahead of you. And I promise I will do the same.

If you're willing, share your reasons for writing with me in the comments or email me back. I'd love to hear what gets you excited about writing.

Until next time,

Love🩵,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

You've probably heard it before that having an email newsletter is the best thing you can do as an author to stay in touch with your fan base. You've probably heard it's a necessity to do a lot of things as an author. Have a website, send emails, post in socials, pay for ads, make a blog, make swag, and so on. I've heard it all and have even tried many of these. But sometimes, these things just are NOT in the budget, so how do you choose what to do?

Personally, I feel that having an email newsletter is top priority, for a few reasons, one if them being that, with a platform like Substack, you can have one completely free.

The biggest reason, though, to have an email list for newsletters is because you own that list, you hold the reins on the connections. You aren't subject to changing algorithms and policies like you are with social media, so you always hold the cards. It gives you security, control, and independence to post what you want, how you want, when you want.

The next big thing about emails is that its a more personal connection to your readers and is still engaging. Surveys have shown that email marketing is still the top channel, even ahead of social media ads. You can be as personal or professional as your audience likes, share all sorts of content, and even host polls and surveys and communicate directly with your readers in a private setting. You send to thousands of people at once, but you can engage one on one privately, which is something you don't get as easily with Instagram or Facebook. Plus, your posts only go to your biggest fans who have taken the time to subscribe and read, unlike socials who show your post to anyone, leaving you more open to rejection or being ignored.

Another benefit to this is that it takes exponentially less time than dealing with socials. Since there are no algorithms to cater to, you don't need to spend days or weeks planning and prepping content to post daily. You can send one newsletter a month or even less if you prefer. Some authors share more often, but it depends on your preference. Sending that one email a month is enough for most readers to get an update, maybe some book swaps or promos, and still feel connected with you. It's low maintenance and incredibly efficient.

Thinking of a newsletter like a source for promotion, email marketing can be cost-effective. Many providers have competitive pricing based on amount of subscribers or emails, so you can choose a platform and price that works for you or find a place like Substack that's free. You may have less stats to look at through a source like Substack, but using email can be more personalized, you can group your readers if you choose, and check stats to target more effectively. Unlike making social media ads, you don't have to try to use the right hashtags or keywords to fit algorithms and get put in front of the right people, you already are in front of the right people. You simply have to give them the right offer.

Like a reader magnet! One option to get people to sign up easily is to offer a reader magnet, or a free piece of downloadable content as a thank you for signing up. For my author newsletter, I offer a special novella that's part of my Laws of Love crime drama romance series for free. You can share this offer everywhere, including socials and ads, and once you have people signed up, you simply keep them with regular emails and offers. You can also put the sign up link to your list in the back of your previous books to draw current readers to you as well.

There are a lot of benefits to having an email newsletter, and for me, I think the biggest thing is the private way of communicating. I'm not great with socials, I struggle with algorithms and keywords and hashtags, so being able to share personal and professional content in a more private setting that allows me to be myself is so much nicer. And I get responses from my readers more through email than I do through socials, so it definitely feels as if I have a more personal connection, and I love that.

Have you started an email newsletter yet? What are your thoughts? Let me know.

Until next time,

Love🩵,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

I think this post says it all, honestly. I don't even need to keep typing to fill in this newsletter, but I'm going to anyway because I feel it needs to be put into more words.

When I started writing in 2019 and published in 2020, I learned a ton in 2021 after publishing my first 2 books. The biggest thing I learned was that there are no set rules for me to follow.

Now, I know some of you are shaking your heads and saying to yourselves that there are rules. Rules to fitting the genre, or rules for marketing, rules for perfecting the book, and so on. But hear me out.

Have you ever noticed how every so-called expert has a different system of steps or “rules” for you to follow for success? How about how each genre has it's own “rules” for structuring the story? Or the “rules” people claim you must follow for tropes and whatnot?

Notice what I do? That each time someone tells you there are rules, the ones they provide are often different from the ones someone else provides. What does that tell you!?

There is no one-size-fits-all set of rules to writing and publishing. There might be things that work better than others, there may be formulas for story structure that more people use than not, but, in my opinion, there are no hard and fast rules to being an author.

Every author I've worked with or been friends with and spoken to has a different way of doing things. Some write every day, some only on weekends when they don't work. Some sprint because it helps them focus, others write in their own time in a less competetive environment. Some market their romances with the steam, some focus more on the other side of the story. Some hire professional editors, some simply use beta teams. Some spend hundreds or thousands on outside help to get seen, others don't spend a dime and make do with what and who they can get to help for free. Some publish regularly, multiple books a year, some only publish once a year or less.

Do you get the point? Your way may be different than a seasoned author, it may even be different from an author who started the same time as you, but that doesn't make it wrong.

If you're writing books and putting them into the world, you're an author, no rules required. You wrote a story only you could tell, and you did it in a way that worked for you.

As authors, we have the creative freedom to do things in ways that work for us and our audiences. Yes, you can Google for days and find all sorts of blueprints or step-by-step guides to do certain things, but, let's be honest, they won't all be the same, nor will they all work for you.

Write your story and publish it in a way that works for you, no matter the time line, no matter what other people say. Not everything suggested to you is a must do.

What's most important in all of this is that you enjoy the process of being a writer. Following all the so-called rules might stress you out and hinder your creativity. Don't allow that. Be creative, use your time, and enjoy doing things in ways that work best for you. When you enjoy the process, every step of it, you'll find greater success. We all know how well things work when they're forced to. Just enjoy the process and let your creative juices flow.🩵

Do you agree or disagree? Drop me a comment, email, or join the chat to share your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you.

Until next time,

Love,

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

Linktree

I wanted to reach out with some news that is likely to affect my work moving forward for a bit.

If you follow my author newsletter, you heard about my pregnancy and have seen the delivery announcement, but if you don't follow me, this is news! I had a sweet baby girl on June 10th, and she's so sweet. Labor was difficult and painful, but at least her birth was quick, and recovery has been good since I had my husband for two weeks to help me through. He's gone back to work today, and I had hoped to as well, but this needy little one has other plans for me.

She's requiring a lot of my time and making it difficult to sleep, which means work is nearly impossible at the moment. I may not be able to get my newsletters out on time, I may go silent for a bit as we get into a routine, and I didn't want to leave you guys hanging.

I am hoping to schedule on time, but I don't want to make any promises I cannot keep.

So while we adjust to being a family of four and I attempt to get enough rest to properly think, stay positive, keep grinding, and I'll be back as soon as I can to continue encouraging you and offering advice I hope you find useful🩵

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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I've said it many times before, and I will continue to say it that this is a learning journey. Be a so-called expert or not, in this field, you will likely be learning new techniques, tactics, rules, and tricks all the time. As the language shifts, so, too, do the rules. As the market shifts, so, too, do the tactics and techniques. It's a constant struggle to keep up with the most current discoveries and information.

So, mistakes will be made. Let's be honest. As you learn and grow and find what works for you, you'll make all sorts of small mistakes that may or may not haunt you for the future, but most of them are completely fixable. You'll look back and be grateful for the stumbles because they taught you something, I have no doubt. At least, that's how I look at it. Every struggle is another hurdle in life that you will overcome and learn from, teaching you, allowing you to grow. So don’t think on your mistakes too harshly, no matter how big you feel they were. That will only hold you back. Take what you learned from that mistake, utilize your newfound knowledge, and keep moving forward in your work.

So, with that being said and hopefully encouraging you that you can and will overcome these stumbles, learn from them, and continue to grow, let's see what I've learned in the past several years.

The first mistake I made was one that now looks incredibly obvious to me. I wish I had truly thought it through before jumping in head first, but if I had, I'm not sure I'd be here. My first mistake in my journey was simply believing that because I was publishing to Amazon, a massive platform with a massive readership, I assumed I'd be an instant best seller. Ha! No. Hundreds of others publish their books the same time you do, you get buried beneath the thousands of other books being added and read daily, and algorithms can often hinder newbies from being discovered easily. I learned very quickly how wrong I was, how much more work I should have done, how much more I should have researched and promoted before release. But this how we learn sometimes, the hard way, and I didn’t let it stop me from writing more.

With that, my next mistake was not seeking help or advice when I needed it. I had no idea how much work went into publishing a book - designing an eye-catching cover, writing catchy blurbs, editing the book, getting reviews, marketing, promo, and so much more. I had no idea how to write to my best ability, I had no idea how to properly edit or that free softwares like Grammarly and Pro Writing Aid existed to help me. I had no idea how to get sales or reviews. I used all the free stuff provided by Amazon, using one of their free image covers, using their Kindle Create formatting software. I did it all on my own with no knowledge or help. Bad idea because when my book did finally get attention due to the advice I used later, I learned how poorly written and edited it was, how lacking it was. I had spent months upon months rereading and rereading, adding and removing bits, thinking I was improving it like crazy. And I was still nowhere close to it being truly done.

All this to say that networking with other authors, well-established or not, will make a massive difference for you. They can recommend help in building teams, finding help, or even useful softwares and sites to help you on your way. Meeting other authors is what saved me, what helped me grow, because they were willing to give free advice and help to someone struggling so we could grow together.

I wished I'd built more of a network and slowed down more with my first books, but I rushed to get them out in the hopes of making money. I regretted that rush because I missed opportunities to build a beta team for editing help, an ARC team for reviews, suggestions on how to share my release to get more sales, and more. So, don't make my mistake, network early and note down all advice you can so you have plenty of options to use when your book is finally ready for that. Just keep in mind that not all advice works for everyone, some people are just better at certain things than others, so make notes, use what you are able to, and maybe you’ll learn the other stuff later on down the road.

Another mistake I’ve made and am still dealing with was jumping into new ventures without considering cons fully, without doing enough research. I listened to one or two people who gave me advice, who told me of something that would cost nothing, and I jumped in with high hopes and have grown disappointed. Audiobooks being one. Now, don't take that to say that audios are a downside, I'm simply admitting that I didn't do enough research to make a properly informed decision and am now struggling with my outcome. It was recommended to me to simply do the royalty share option in ACX, it costs me nothing, there are narrators willing, and then I can have audios on the biggest platforms for free to simply earn more income from my books. I get free codes to help promote, what could go wrong? We'll, I'm locked in a contract for at least 7 years, I can't distribute elsewhere, and because I chose this option, I'm working with some narrators who are… well… good but could be better, as in they have mistakes in the audios that were missed. Part of that is my fault, I didn’t listen to every recorded second to catch them, too, but here we are. Doesn’t look the most professional. One of them has also gotten a year+ behind in finishing my series, and it's killing me to keep waiting. Had I paid outright, that would not be an issue. But I couldn't afford to pay a dime, so I went with the option available since doing it myself was also a no go. (I’m not trying to bash my narrators either, I love their work, please don’t take this to mean I’m mad at them, there are just little things that I feel wouldn’t be an issue had I worked with someone more professional, you know? Some of my narrators do better than others, and I’m happy to have their help, truly, I’m just trying to show you guys some of the struggles I deal with because of this rushed decision.)

The other downside was that I started making audiobooks before my books became popular. I don't have a lot of sales as it is, so my audios really don't go anywhere. I'm not making much, my narrators are making little to nothing, and now I feel like a jerk because they're stuck with me. Had I waited until I'd built a better following, more sales, it might have worked out better. Or I could be recording my own, and I may do that soon, but, for now, I'm stuck dealing with what I put myself in. Just because audios are a growing business, more and more readers listen to books, doesn't necessarily mean you'll automatically make money. That was my biggest mistake, thinking that and jumping into it head first, only to end up disappointed because I wasn't quite ready for this. And I only have myself to blame, in all honesty.

I had a similar issue with formatting softwares. I made the mistake of getting the cheapest I could because it was what I could afford, but it was better than Kindle Create or Calibre, which I could not figure out despite being free. I bought Scrivener, which is great for writing in, a lot of authors love it. As a formatter, it's a bit of a pain. I eventually had to invest in a better formatter, so I did a lot more research and invested in Atticus, and I've been much happier. But I had to work my way through the difficult to use sources before getting the better one, and I wish I’d simply done more research and been willing to spend more money from the beginning to save myself the money, time, and hassle.

As an editor, the biggest mistake I felt I made was using a service like Fiverr to begin. I didn’t know where to start or how, so that’s what I chose to do. It’s a good way to begin getting out there, lots of people use services like Fiverr to find all sorts of help, but, for me, it was a negative experience. People would “hire” me without ever speaking to me, simply send payment and a manuscript, and Fiverr would start a timer. It didn’t matter what day of the week or time it was, I had to get to work ASAP to complete it. I got a very difficult project that I was unable to work with, they requested a refund, and I got penalized by Fiverr. That was my final straw with them. I got fortunate that I found an author who suggested PayPal pay me, and I never looked back. I made a FB page, advertised through IG and FB, and word of mouth spread, and I’ve built a clientele and reviews and grown more successful each year since making that change.

Now, I will not say that all these mistakes have ruined or hurt my career. They were stepping stones to getting where I am, to accomplishing more. I'm sharing these to hopefully help you realize how much you're getting into, that slowing down, even when you don't want to, may be necessary to make a more informed decision so you aren't struggling with inferior options until you can get better. Sometimes, being informed enough to jump straight to the best option is best in the long run. If you can save yourself the hassle, do it.

But I also want to say that if you're like me and doing what you can with what you have as you grow, using these stepping stones to eventually reach your goal, that's perfectly okay! We all have our own journeys and decisions to make. Maybe you want to do the audiobooks like I did to see how it goes. My original mindset was that it couldn't hurt, I invested little, so I'd simply make money, no real loss. That's true, in a sense, and I can always change them later, have them redone when the contract is up or something. Its not forever. But, you never know, it may work out better for you. The woman who recommended it to me makes more than I do off her audios, so it is possible to succeed with such an option. All depends on how you handle it, who you work with, and how well you’re able to get your books into the hands of readers.

What I want you to remember in all of this is that you will make choices and mistakes in your journey, but what matters is that you learn from these mistakes, you grow, and you'll do better as you crest each hurdle. It's all about your perseverance, so don't give up, keep growing, and you'll get the success you work hard for.

What mistakes have you noticed in your journey, big or small, that you think others might benefit from? Share with me in the comments!

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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Are you struggling to find easy solutions for editing your books or others? Want some ideas that could help you be more effective as an editor? I've got you covered!

If you didn't already know, I've been editing/proofreading for other authors since about 2021, shortly after beginning my own writing journey. I started out as a beta reader for other authors, learning how to edit, how to catch plot holes, and how to proofread for proper grammar. In that time, I also utilized Grammarly and Pro Writing Aid to help me learn some of the ways to handle commas and others easily confused issues, and Google became a font of information for me. I spoke with the authors I worked with, even chatted with editors who had professional training, and still learn new things to this day. Despite all of this learning and growth and building of my editing business and writing abilities, I will likely never claim to be an expert in my field because I don't know that anyone can be an expert at something that continuously changes with the language and times. We have to constantly learn and adapt.

However, I will absolutely claim to have knowledge that is helpful and will willingly share it to benefit others who struggle like I did in the beginning. This journey is never easy, it's a lot of learning, making mistakes, and getting better. But it doesn't need to feel impossible or lonely.

So, what are my simple 5 tips to help you make editing a little easier, whether it's for your book or someone else's? We'll, let's get to that.

Now, you may use all these or just one, it's literally whatever works best for you, but you deserve to have options, so that's what I want to provide.

1. Read aloud. - This may seem like a no-brainer, but for some people, it's not. Not everyone is comfortable or good at reading aloud to themselves, making this a difficult task. But if you can read aloud or use a software or have someone else read aloud as you follow, it will be a tremendous help. Why? Hearing the sentences said aloud is very beneficial for the nuances. Sometimes we read things in our head and think it's fine, but then you hear it spoken, and it's choppy, a tongue twister, or needs words flipped around for better flow. I've also found that, in my case, I read a bit slower out loud, I really get into the characters, and it allows me to feel and hear the story deeper while also giving me time to absorb and process what I read, allowing for more critical thinking. By slowing down, I also spot more small errors I would be more likely to gloss over when reading in my head because my brain would simply autocorrect that spelling for me, but my tongue doesn't. I do this for my own books as well as other authors because of all these benefits, so if you can achieve this, it's definitely worth a try.

2. Take notes - now you might be asking what sort of notes you might need for editing, but I'll tell you. So much. When editing for myself, I utilize my series Bible (notes on characters and world descriptions and more) to keep my descriptions and story info accurate. But I also have a note doc with other things that I've learned and might need to double check. When I edit for clients, I take notes of characters and their descriptions, jobs, specific places, and author preferences so I don't mess it up when making new suggestions. I also note little things like use of the Oxford comma or not, whether or not they capitalize God, how they spell words like damn it (is it dammit, damnit, or damn it?), use of toward or towards, British or American spellings, and period usage for abbreviations, and more. Every author is different, so they have different preferences, and a lot of these things are preference. Oxford comma is an option, abbreviation periods are more common for American spellings, but some Brits us them. There are also things with noting when it comes to fantasy books, such as races, species, and other terms that are specific to the story, and noting those can help you keep track of spelling, capitalization, and proper sentence use. Trying to remember such things for multiple people can be difficult, so save notes. You'll thank yourself and so will your authors when it helps you both exponentially.

3. Edit in smaller chunks - I have found that if I try to edit a lot of chapters for a single work in a day, I begin to get too sucked into the story or I grow complacent or distracted and begin to slack in my editing duties. That's a personal problem, I know, but another thing I've noticed is that when I edit in smaller chunks, I give myself more time to think critically. It's happened to me many times when working for another that I edit 3 or 4 chapters for them, and something bothers me, but I can't quite put my finger on it in the moment. But something needs adjusted. It'll hit me the next day or while in bed what it was that was nagging me, and then I have time to go back and make a note or suggestion before moving on. If I weren't slowing down and doing bits but trying to do half or a whole book in a day, I'd not have had that opportunity. And sometimes breaking things down into small bits like that can allow you to be more analytical about that small scene or section to provide a better editing experience. You can slow down, ask more questions, and really dive into the developmental side of editing to help fluff things up or clarify confusing bits.

4. Ask questions - This might seem obvious, but, depending on how you edit, this might be a critical step. For me, I'm not an overly analytical or critical person. I'm pretty open to all stories, I connect to the emotions, so I'm not always pushing to make every scene suspenseful or gripping in some way. Thus, asking questions when things feel too perfect or maybe have been calm too long can help you come up with something to add. Is this emotional enough? Would this character really have this fear when it wasn't an issue in previous circumstances? Do I feel connected to the character here or could I bring more depth? Would this character speak this way if they’re from this country? What does this character look like? There's a lot of questions you can ask, and if you're editing for someone else, the questions might be different but no less important to helping your author properly define their story. If you have questions while reading, definitely see if you can answer them.

5. Do multiple read throughs - Now this is more for self-editing, but it can be helpful for working with others, too. I typically do 1 read through for clients, but I break it down to do 2-6 chapters a day depending on my work load, so I can slow down and do my best to be more critical of each section I work on. But when editing my own books, I don't always edit quite the same way. I read aloud and have notes, but the first read through is usually for story flow, so I'm more focused on how it all sounds and fits together. Second read through and on is more for proofreading and perfecting, marking teasers, and other final steps. Doing multiple read throughs allows me to focus on one aspect at a time rather than trying to do it all in one go like I do for clients. It's easier to be that critical for others, but I struggle to do that for myself, so I do things differently. You will have to do what works best for you. If breaking it down doesn’t help for your works, perhaps doing things this way will.

I hope these tips help you in your editing processes, whether for you or others. These are all things that I do to help me each and every time I sit down to work, not just things others have suggested, so I know they work. But, as I've said before, not all things work for everyone, so some of these may or may not work as well for you, but I hope you'll at least consider and take what is useful to you.

What sort of editing tips might you have heard or used that were helpful? Drop me a comment, I'd love to know♥

I have more suggestions for editing tips in my author guide if that's something you're interested in as well. You can check it out here.

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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Every author needs help at points in their journey and not just from an editor or PA. Having teams of readers at your back to help you through things can be immensely helpful and free. You’ll be surprised, or maybe you won’t, at how many people out there are eager to help self-published authors get their start.

Let’s start with editing teams. I only have one, my editing aliens, and they pretty much handle it all for me, they’re my catch all team. I have some in there that are pro editors and know what they’re talking about, and I have some people who are just average readers looking to help and giving me a reader perspective on things I wouldn’t have thought were issues. Some authors have multiple editing teams, usually Alpha and Beta. Your Alpha team is meant to be your hard constructive team, helping you make sure plot and storyline all work out, that everything flows well, that the story is cohesive. They’re not necessarily worried about the proofreading side, they worry about the story structure. The Beta team is meant to be your proofreaders and line editors, catching the commas and misspellings and other things. At least that’s how it is for some people. I also know of authors who have a single team of readers who help them edit, but they still send to an editor. I work with an author like that, she sends to her alphas, then to me, then it’s formatted and ready for release. I can’t afford the help of an editor, so I utilize my own skillset as best I can and then I send to my editing aliens, and they help catch a lot of the little things I missed, and sometimes big things. It helps a ton to have that reader perspective before you go to ARCs or release.

Which leads us to the next team in the release step, the ARC team. ARC is for Advanced Reader Copy, so your ARC team gets an advanced copy of the book, before release. Sometimes, they will find errors and send them to you to fix before release, but the main goal for ARCs is to review the book. They read it before release and then review it on release day. If your book is live on Goodreads before release, they can review there early, then copy and past to Amazon and BookBub and such when you release and claim the book there. By doing this, you get a larger number of reviews, specifically honest and positive reviews, on release day to help boost the books visibility on the sales platforms it’s reviewed on. ARCers may also post their reviews to their social medias, some will even help you share promotional material as well. But having a team to provide you with honest reviews that you don’t have to pay for is a big help.

You could also make a street team if you’d like, I have yet to do so because in most cases, street teams are a reward system. You task these readers with responsibility, they are to post your promotions in certain places, drop your book in comments for people who might like it, share to their stories or other socials, and so on. They prove they posted and shared, and you reward the most active member or all members with something from signed paperbacks to gift cards or whatever you choose to do. I don’t have the income to be rewarding such help, so I ask my editing and ARC team to help if they’re willing, but it is never a requirement. Some will help, and I’m grateful for whatever I can get.

You could also join a team of fellow authors for sprint writing times, video chats, editing circles, and so much more. I don’t do this either, I’m kind of a lone wolf, honestly, but I do have many author friends that I chat with regularly and even share my plot struggles with at times. My PA is my main sounding board, but when I have an issue with a particular type of scene and know a fellow author who’s great with them, I reach out and get a second opinion and help.

Teams are a great way of not only helping you achieve your goals and staying motivated and encouraged, but they’re also a great way of building your readership and sales. They can help you tremendously in your journey. Consider trying it out, and if you ever have any questions on how to get started with it, you can always reach out to me or check in my author guide book for more information!♥

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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One thing that I have never been good at is not stressing. Kid you not, it is something I am supremely good at! So, how do I manage to cope when things get stressful and difficult as an author and editor? Well, I have a few ways, and hopefully some of this will help you.

The first thing I do to mitigate stress is plan. I keep a calendar and planner on my desk to track everything from doctor appointments to what books I’m editing and how many chapters I’m doing a day. I literally plan it down that way. Even when I edit my own books, I edit them the same way I do for my clients, so many chapters a day, splitting the load, and I have a notes documents to help me as I go along. Having a plan is one thing that always helps me, I am definitely a structured person. Knowing what I need to accomplish and having a plan to achieve it in a timely manner helps me relieve stress because I no longer feel as if I have to get it all done at once. I have time and a way forward that’s manageable.

The second thing that I do is diffuse essential oils. I even keep 4 specific rollers on my desk in a tiny shopping cart that I can put on when I need them as well to give me a boost. I use DoTERRA, if you’re interested, I love them so much, and the Adaptiv system that they have has helped me tremendously with my stress and anxiety. Not only do I take an Adaptiv capsule each morning with my vitamins to start my day relaxed, but it usually lasts all day for me. However, I still diffuse a blend of Adaptiv, Past Tense, and Wild Orange at my desk while I work. Adaptiv is for stress and anxiety, Past Tense for tension, and the Wild Orange is my favorite because I love the smell but it’s also an uplifting smell that brings joy. Putting them together and having that run while I work keeps me calm so I don’t panic. I’ve noticed over time that in doing this, I tend to actually achieve more in a smaller amount of time because I’m not stressed. Some days, it actually feels as if time has slowed because of how much I get done just before lunch. It’s awesome!

Another trick I use if these two don’t work well enough is to simply walk away. Now, this doesn’t work with my editing projects, I have to get those done on deadline, so the plan always works out. But this is more for writing and plotting. When working on my own books, as some of you may experience, the muse just doesn’t want to talk, neither do the characters. You’re left sitting there pulling your hair, wishing words would magically appear in your brain. When this happens to me, I walk away. I have to. If I sit and try to force words out, I end up deleting everything I wrote because it doesn’t feel right. It’s forced. No one wants to read something that was forced through stress. So, I walk away for awhile. How long? As long as it takes. Sometimes, the muse strikes elsewhere so my focus shifts to a different project until I can come back. Other times, it’s all silent and I simply have to walk away from it all until things start sparking again. For those who try to write so many books a year or are on deadlines, this may not be an easy option for you, but even walking away for 1 day could be all you need to clear your mind and come back rejuvenated and capable of writing again. If you’re going to take the time away, make sure you’re doing something else, something you enjoy, something relaxing, and truly putting your mind on other things. Do NOT sit around and try to think on your books while relaxing, that doesn’t count as walking away, you’re carrying it with you. You have to truly walk away mentally to get the clarity, if this is something that works for you.

When things get overwhelming for me on the scheduling front, I vent to my PA, get help from her or anyone else I might be able to, or simply cut some things for this month until I can manage again. Sometimes, changes are necessary so that we can do what works best for us. We aren’t machines, we can’t just run all the time and do all the things, so it can get crazy. I schedule a month at a time, and when I have releases, those months get crazy to schedule. Between my group, socials, multiple newsletters, and then the promo materials for my new book, I’m posting every day, multiple times a day, and I often only have a couple days at most to schedule it all before the month starts. It can drive me crazy. Plus, I do all my own writing, editing, graphics, marketing, posting, it’s all on me, so you can imagine that I have to try to stay way ahead of schedule to keep all this up. This is why planning is so critical for me.

Despite all these tactics and many others out there, stress will happen because we put significance to the things we do, and because it matters to us, we care how and when it gets done. Stress is damn near inevitable, if you ask me. But you absolutely can manage it, you can mitigate it, and you can accomplish so much despite it.

The best tactic you can use is positivity. Sometimes, when it hits me hard, I grab a cup of cold sweet tea, sip it, savor the flavor, and just breathe in my oils for a moment. And then I take the time to close my eyes or focus on a blank space and tell myself that I can do this. I am capable, I will not let the stress get the best of me, I have a plan and I will execute it. It’s okay to fear failure and worry about getting things done, it’s okay to feel stressed, we feel what we feel sometimes, but I don’t have to let my emotions rule me. I know inside that I can do it, and I know you can to. So if you need to, take moments like this to remind yourself of your abilities, that you are capable, you’re not alone in this journey, and you will accomplish all you set out to do because you are force to be reckoned with. You just need to recenter.

You’ve got this. ♥

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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Looking to get into editing and helping other authors perfect their manuscripts? Well, I’ve done exactly that and worked my way to building a decent clientele, and have learned a ton in the years that I’ve been doing this, so I’m hoping to have some good insight to offer you. Starting an editing business isn’t easy, it takes time, and you’ll have to be patient with yourself and your authors. Everyone does things differently, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and everyone has different needs as far as editing and working together. You’ll have to be adaptable, willing to adjust your style if need be to others so that you’re both comfortable in the arrangement you make.

Let’s start with discussing your skills. Now, obviously, there’s no banter here, but I’m going to do my best to explain the main 3 types of editors and how you may fit into those categories, or maybe you’re more like me. Now, depending on how you go about this process of business building, you’ll either have experience or not. I did not, I started out beta reading and learning how to do basic proofreading through that. As I built a beta team for my own books, I paid attention to the edits made by my team and began to learn a little deeper. I discussed things with other authors and editors to learn from them, and I even did some reading of my own online when I need clarification. Let me be clear, I did my own research, I did not take a course, earn any sorts of certifications or anything. I simply figured this out on my own and do the best I can, and I learn new things all the time, with each new author, from other sources all around me. I’m not perfect, but no one is.

You’re welcome to take online courses and gain certifications, there is nothing against that. I know others who have done that. You can even get certifications for free online, I’ve looked into, I just haven’t done it. So that’s a good start in understanding your skill level. If you have experience as a beta reader or other helper, if you’ve done a little research into things that you aren’t certain about, or if you’ve gotten a certification. All of that will ensure you have the necessary knowledge to make a go of this.

Now, the three main types of editors would be developmental, line, and copy editors.

Developmental editors focus on the big picture elements of the story, story structure, character development, plot, pacing, and overall themes. Their job is to make sure that the story is cohesive, that the books message is clear, so if you have an eye for such details, this may be the thing for you. These editors aren’t really focused on grammar and punctuation and other little things, they only care about the story elements, so authors who hire these editors often need a proofreader or line editor to follow them.

Line editors focus on the flow, clarity, and style of the writing, including sentence structure, word choice, and overall narrative voice. They are going to be looking more closely at your wording, the flow of your sentences, determining if this is easy to read or not, easy to understand or not, and making adjustments from there. You’ll need an eye for detail for this one as well as a good comprehension of what works best for readability. You don’t want something to be too complicated or too dumbed down to turn the readers off, you want something that’s easy to digest and flows well to keep readers engaged.

Copy editors focus on accuracy, consistency, and clarity in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and style. They typically will follow a specific style guide and make sure the writing style is consistent throughout the story. Again, an eye for detail is key here, you’ll need to make sure that they follow correct spelling based on location and character(i.e. British vs American), that the punctuation is consistent, that any preferences in word choice or comma usage is consistent.

You can choose to be one of these if you prefer to focus on a specialty, and each editor likely has their own price ranges based on ability. Or you can be like me and just be all of them wrapped in one package using a basic price for overall editing to the best of your ability. I set my pricing based on what a lot of other freelance editors I saw were doing, and I honed my skills as the years went on.

I made a FB page that I use for both my authoring and editing stuff, which allowed me to have a place for reviews to be made. I started out on Fiverr, which I don’t recommend doing, but when I got my first steady client, I switched to using PayPal instead, and we handled everything through WhatsApp and Google Docs. I’ve done things this way ever since and have quickly built a clientele that’s kept me busy over the years. The reviews on FB help me gain more authors, I share the reviews and even help review many of the books that I edit, when I remember to, and the word of mouth that I get from the authors who love me helps tremendously.

Being a rounded editor, it can be really helpful for those who don’t have a lot of money to spend but need the editing help. You can provide them with a bit of everything to make sure their story is good, it flows well, and you catch as many errors as possible. No one is perfect, and with preferences on commas and such, there will always be “errors” between editors, so don’t fret if you miss things now and then, we all do. What matters is that you do your best to care for your clients and provide them with a service that they are happy with. If you’re polite and give feedback in a way that isn’t insulting, offer suggestions for changes rather than simply telling them a change needs made, and help them make the improvements, they’ll never want to go anywhere else.

A lot of authors don’t just want an editor to fix the book for them and leave the rest, they want someone to help them improve their writing, to make them feel good about their story, and perfect it before release. That’s my ultimate goal in helping my authors, I try to be rounded so I can help them improve in all areas and feel confident about the book they’re producing. And because I do that, because I go the extra mile to make suggestions, do phone calls, or chat through issues and changes, they love coming to me because they know they aren’t in this alone. Editing isn’t easy, and no one should be made to feel bad for making changes, so if you can make it an easy and painless process for them that uplifts and helps, you’ll go far as an editor.♥

I hope this was helpful for you in deciding what sort of editor you want to be and how you can get started. If you have more questions or would like more information on learning to edit, you can check out my author guide here or drop me a comment or message, and I’ll get back to you or write another post with more details!

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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So, you want to be a self-published author, but you have no idea how to get started, where to go, who to turn to, or whether or not this is even worth it because the amount of decisions is insane. I feel you, but don’t worry, there are small things to get your feet wet as you learn what you can.

As an author who did literally no research before jumping head first into this endeavor, I can tell you that it’s not easy, it is overwhelming, and there are more options than you’ll ever think of for getting out into the world. I thought it was a simple process; you write the book, you publish the book, you tell people, and it flies off shelves. Well, no. That’s the most simplified version there is, and it doesn’t work as easily as you’d think! I literally thought that by publishing on Amazon, I’d be rich in no time simply because of the amount of people on that site, on Kindle, so it seemed foolproof. I failed to account for the amount of other authors publishing through Kindle just like me who probably thought the same thing, and I didn’t realize that my book would get buried by the thousands of others publishing alongside me. Which is exactly what happened. No one knew my book published, even though I posted on social media, but my reach is so small on there, it didn’t make much of a dent to post.

So, where does that leave you? Disappointed? Disheartened? I understand. You will likely not be an instant success, that is very hard to achieve, especially if you have no budget. The thing is, this is one of those careers that is very competitive and requires you to put in a bit to get back a bit. So if you aren’t willing to do a lot of work or put in some money for ads and help, then you aren’t likely to grow very quickly. If you’re okay with a slow growth on your own, then no worries, I’m right there with you, and we’ll get this figured out in time! Just because you aren’t instantly rich doesn’t mean you aren’t a success. Selling a single copy of your book makes you a success, so please don’t get beaten down by the difficulties. If you love to write, keep going.

Where would I recommend you start? Well, start by sharing your writing with like-minded people, readers, and build a community around your work. The easiest way to achieve that is obviously social media, and I know a lot of people think they can’t share about their writing if they don’t have a finished manuscript or cover but that’s not true. Readers are always interested in the journey to getting to that finished product, too, they want to know about your writing process, your struggles, what you love about this, where you write, how you plot, they’ll literally eat up anything and everything just to feel connected to the author of a book they love. So get them invested in you and your story as early as possible. You can build a following on a page or profile or make a private group to share things in. Start a newsletter or group where you can recommend other books, host giveaways, do sales, and share more personally with readers who are deeply invested. I’ve learned that my newsletter readers are my top readers, they are always willing to read and buy, and my FB group members are a close second to that. Followers on IG or FB or TikTok are transient, they may never buy but enjoy your graphics, so you can’t rely on follower numbers, they will not equate to sales. But in utilizing socials, you can join parties in private groups, host giveaways, share freebies, and other things to get people interested.

Social media is a good start, but it’s meant to help you meet people and funnel them to your permanent space. So definitely make sure that you’re using a reader magnet or some sort of enticement of exclusive content or possibilities to get them to join your newsletter or follow your private blog or even subscribe to your Patreon if that’s something you do. Having a newsletter or website is the best option because you then own the connections you make through those emails. Unlike social media, which can so easily wash away all progress, it’s a lot harder to simply lose your newsletter or website. Especially if you pay for it. And if readers are willing to subscribe to a newsletter or website, they are twice as likely to buy than anyone else, so make sure you nurture those connections, they’re worth it.

As you grow and your book heads for publishing, you can join Bookfunnel and use it’s promotions to help get the word out, whether you do sale promos or newsletter builder promos using a sample or reader magnet, they’re beneficial for getting in front of other author’s readers! And if you participate in group hops or parties like mentioned above, having Bookfunnel to securely send free ebooks is so helpful.

Now, you might have paid for editing, cover artist, formatting, but if you didn’t, then you’ve saved yourself some money. When you’re ready to publish, you may consider putting some money into Amazon or FB ads to get the word out, and some authors have amazing success with those, some don’t, but there are free classes you can find online to teach you how best to utilize them. The best thing you can do, though, is make sure you share that new release everywhere you can, especially in your newsletter to those top tier readers who are likely to buy or read.

It’s up to you whether or not you publish to Kindle Unlimited or wide, authors have success with both, but it differs for each author, genre, and so on, so feel free to experiment like I did. My ebooks did poorly wide, I get half my Amazon income from KU, so I only publish my paperbacks wide, and that does get me a few sales, so it’s working for me.

The best thing you can do when you start out, though, is make author friends in your genre. You’ll not only build friendships and connections, get advice and help, but you’ll also have authors to do newsletter swaps with, so you can share readers and begin building by using their connections, too. It’s beneficial for so many reasons. I wouldn’t have learned a lot of what I did had it not been for the friends I made and the advice they provided.

I could go on and on with possibilities for you on getting started in this journey, there are dozens of other options that I’ve yet to ever try that you may have heard of, too. But if you’d like to learn more from me, I do have an author guide published with all this and so much more for self-publishing with little or no budget. All things I have done, whether it worked for me or not, that have helped me learn and grow as an author starting out. You can check that out here, but I’ll continue to make more content like this as I continue my journey, and I’ll hopefully have so much more for you in the future!

Thank you for sticking with me and helping me grow with you.♥

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

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Social media platforms are as numerous as their users, let’s be honest, and it’s not an easy task learning to use them all. So, the question remains, as an author and/or editor, should you even waste your time in utilizing a social media?

The answer to that question honestly depends on a couple things. One being the social media you’re using. I’ve seen other marketing experts recommend using only social media platforms that you are comfortable with, ones that you understand and enjoy using. If you don’t enjoy the social media platform, you’ll not use it to your benefit.

That’s one opinion, and one that I can agree with for the most part. I tried to use TikTok and Twitter, I even made a MeWe account and a Clapper, and I hated them all. I’m not a video person, so Clapper and TikTok are not for me as a poster. As a watcher, sure, but not as a poster. It was way too much work to make videos on Canva to post that didn’t involve me getting in front of the camera. MeWe felt so empty being so new, and even though I was sharing content I posted to FB and IG, posts that often got response, they got nothing on MeWe, so I gave up and walked away. With Twitter, or X now, I struggle because there isn’t enough room to say what I need to! I’m not pithy and witty, and they don’t let me use enough words. I also just don’t really care for a lot of it’s use, mostly politics that I’ve seen, and that’s not for me.

So using a social media that you can easily navigate, that has an algorithm you understand well enough, and allows you to also enjoy scrolling it will be a benefit to you. It will make it easier for you to want to post and engage. I’ve noticed that with FB and IG for me, I’ve used them since I was a teen, so I understand how they work. I’ve also been smart about what I like and follow and react to, so my feed is filled with positivity posts, uplifting posts, and things that I like and are interested in, which makes it much more enjoyable for me to open.

Another point to consider is how many you should utilize. Lots of people have the mentality that you should spam everywhere so you have a chance of being seen by lots of people. If you’re everywhere, your readers are bound to be, too, right? Wrong. Here’s the thing, some socials are used by certain subsets of people. Twitter tends to be more for people who are into politics and more serious things. FB is more for middle-aged people who grew up with it that are just using it to share with their family and friends. IG is more for influencers, as far as I can tell, so lots of pretty images and videos of workouts and fads and other things. All this to say that you should take your time and Google the analytics of these social medias, figure out who you’re trying to target, and then use the site that fits your criteria best. For me, my target reader is very much like me, therefore, FB and IG are where they are. Maybe Goodreads, and I may find some on Substack, as it’s growing, but I’m not wasting my time targeting the teens on TikTok or Snapchat, it’ll do me no good. My books aren’t for them.

Now, the last big thing that I think you should consider is how you plan to utilize the social media you choose. Remember, social media is not a marketing platform, though the amount of ads you see might fool you. It’s meant to be a way to connect person-to-person. So be aware of that when you post. Try to post about yourself, your life, your writing, the books you read, and other things that you can share to connect with readers personally. Don’t just shout about your books and promote. Those promotional posts might get some likes or views, but they aren’t likely to get a lot of comments or shares unless you’re already a famous author. In my experience, the promo posts get nothing compared to others that are more personal. My best posts are often about me and my family because that’s what social media is for!

So, is it worth it to use socials to help further yourself as an author? To an extent. I put it that way because it’s not designed to be the best way or the only way to meet people. It’s the first step in the line. Just like when you go out, you meet people in the store or at a party, you exchange info, and then you hook them into your circle, right? Social media is the gathering, hook them and bring them into your circle, send them to your newsletter, your private FB group, your web page, blog, whatever else you have to make those connections more business-like as they follow your writing journey specifically.

That’s what it’s all about. Social media is just step one, and if you use it right, you’ll be set. But don’t forget about all the other options you have for finding people to follow your journey. Newsletters and book swaps, Bookfunnel promos to sign up for, other authors sharing your work, and so on. This is simply one outlet, don’t put all your eggs in this basket and expect success. I did that in the beginning until I learned about all this other stuff. My success is not immense, but it’s better than it was all those years ago when I was floundering and lost.

Take it from me, social media is very beneficial, especially for making author friends and community around books in general, but it’s not the only way. You have tons of options for how else to move forward. Not using socials is also an option, not one that I utilize, though, because it is great to find new people through. However, for some of us, it isn’t easy to grow a newsletter or website without another means of talking about it. Social media is that outlet to talk about it and funnel people to it, so that’s how I would recommend using it.

*The above mentioned advice from the marketer was the Mixtus Media Marketing on IG or also known as the Book Marketing Simplified. They have a podcast, website, and multiple socials if you’d like to check them out.*

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

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I know some people tend to thrive under pressure or by flying by the seat of their pants - my husband - but there are times when scheduling is just something you need.

Whether you’re an author or editor, scheduling things out allows you to plan, prep, and even free up time later on for more things. It may seem crazy, but it’s true.

As an author, I schedule about a month at a time for my social media posts, my newsletters, and other things I may be able to. By scheduling posts ahead of time, by writing these newsletters ahead of time, it frees up the rest of my month to sit back and interact with those who respond. It gives me more time to write, edit, work on graphics, and other things. Whether you schedule one week or one month at a time, by taking that hour or week or whatever it takes you to schedule some things, it will get those off your plate. We only have so many hours in a single day, I know I don’t have time to spend it making posts randomly or trying to write a lengthy newsletter filled with my heartfelt information and advice. I can’t be doing it everyday on top of everything else. Taking one day a month, sometimes, two, to schedule and prep all this up, it frees up so much of my time to sit back and enjoy the rewards of that.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you what to schedule as an author because that literally depends on what sort of work load you have. You may be fortunate enough to have a PA or multiple PA’s to help you schedule and manage your work load. I do not. I have a PA who is my best friend, but she’s also got her own job and life, so I often do 90% of the work myself. That’s fine with me, we manage to share responsibilities where we can, but this is my full time work anymore, I have more time to deal with stuff.

For me, being so small an indie author, I mostly just schedule on the two social medias I use the most, Instagram and Facebook. I schedule in the Meta business suite, allowing me to also schedule for my group if I so choose, though I prefer to schedule group posts in the group itself. Formatting is better that way. I schedule my newsletters, and that’s about it. My social medias will post about these newsletters, sharing some of the tidbits, as well as any news I have to share about upcoming books. I’ve tried scheduling lots of questions and other types of engaging posts, but they don’t seem to work for me, at least they haven’t so far. Self-promo isn’t the most effective for some of us, but sometimes, it’s all we have, so I utilize it around releases.

Other than that, I schedule out my release, the cover reveal, ARCs, release date, if I do a pre-order, if I throw a party or FB group hop or choose to offer some sort of giveaway to get attention. Everything is meticulously plotted out in a monthly planner where I can see what sort of time I have to accomplish everything and how I want to post about it. It then takes me a few hours to schedule what I can for the month, and I can then share those scheduled posts to my Substack Notes if I choose, to my stories, or even post other random things throughout my weeks as I feel like. But if I were scheduling each week, I’d almost never post randomly because I’d feel like I’m already posting too much. That’s just my own opinion and struggle.

As an editor, scheduling your clients and the amount of work you can handle it critically important to running and efficient business. I don’t know many other editors, in all honesty, but the few I know are careful about planning their calendars to make sure they don’t hurt their clients. For me, I don’t tend to schedule the same way as others, especially not bigger editors, simply because my clientele base is much smaller. It’s pretty common for my authors to come to me when they’re ready and ask if I’m open. I can usually work on multiple projects at a time because I choose to edit a couple chapters a day for each rather than only working on one book at a time.

It does mean I also take lots of notes for each other in my own online document so I can keep track of certain changes and descriptions and more, but it also means that I can get a lot of work done in a short amount of time. But this also means that my scheduling can be chaos. It’s often that I have on the calendar only what I’m currently working on, and I add other projects as they come in. I don’t often book months in advance or anything like that because most of my clients don’t have their books planned that far in advance. So, my scheduling is a little unique in that sense, but it works for me.

The other big side to this scheduling is the fact that you can schedule to work on a schedule that works for you! Whether you have another job or not, this scheduling of work can often make it easier and less stressful for us, especially those of us with anxiety - me! I used to try to write when I could get my editing done or one hour a morning, but even that was stressful and didn’t often work. I would struggle to write in that amount of time or be too tired after editing to think enough to write. Now, I edit for 4 days a week, Mon-Thurs, and Friday is my day. I write, do graphics, schedule, whatever I need to do for my own authoring life, usually trying to write as many chapters as I can manage in a day. It’s helped me tremendously! I also end up taking the weekends off just like my husband to spend time with my family and unwind.

I see so many authors and editors who seem to be working every single day of the week, weekends, nights, whenever they can seem to squeeze in time for something, and they’re exhausted and struggling, and I hate it. Having a schedule will make it so much easier to plan your time. Treat your work or writing like you would self-care or a workout or even meetings. Allot that time, knock it out, and then move on to the next task so you aren’t constantly struggling to keep up with it all.

No matter what it is that you’re trying to do, author or editor-wise, I highly recommend finding things that you can schedule or plan in advance to allow yourself some time later on and give yourself an idea of how your weeks will look.

And, of course, if you have other recommendations on scheduling topics or ideas, I’m all ears! Anything to make this work a little easier, right? ;)

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

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I know there are a lot of people out there that feel they must research like crazy and know EVERYTHING there is to know about an adventure before they journey on it. Lots of authors do this, they spend hours and weeks and months researching marketing techniques, writing techniques, for editors, cover artists, and so much more. They want to know everything so they can do it all right the first time.

First, let me say that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to being a successful author or editor. Okay. Let’s just get that clear now. What works for one author does not for another. I know authors who have great success building a readership doing group parties on FB, but for me, not so much. It helped build my own group following, but I mostly just gave away a ton of free books for no return. No new reviews, no new sales, it didn’t seem to do anything for me other than build a following, and followers are not necessarily readers and buyers.

There are get rich quick schemes out there assuring you you’ll make thousands in a month, but they want you to invest a ton of money into ads or to annoy your family and friends into buying your books, and if you don’t have a large network, that backfires hard.

Second, the authoring and editing world is ever-changing. Marketing tactics change damn near monthly sometimes, people change social medias, contacts, interests. Editing changes with the changes in language, slang, and so much more. It’s a constantly changing market and expertise that can’t really be researched to perfection.

So, here’s where my point comes in, you will learn as you grow. You will change tactics, you will learn of new opportunities, new places to hang out, new ways of doing things. Your writing style will change, your editing knowledge will expand, your marketing approach will be altered, quite regularly.

I’m not saying don’t do research, it’s never bad to have knowledge, but I’m telling you, it will be a constant and never-ending learning cycle. Which is why, in my author guide book, I recommend that budding authors take what advice and knowledge they can, write it down, make note of it, and use what you think will work for you. You can try everything in the book, try every recommendation thrown your way, and still not succeed to the level you think you should or the level of others. Why? Because every author is different and every book is different, therefore, they need different approaches to readers.

So don’t overwhelm yourself or beat yourself down if things get hard, if things don’t work, if the research is too much. Some of the best ways to learn to be successful is from working with others, learning what worked for them, and doing what works for you. The internet is also full of misinformation and people trying to get rich off gullible people, and I don’t want you to be sucker to one of these get-rich-quick scammers. This is a process that takes constant work and learning, it’s not a take a class and you’re a pro sort of deal. Don’t let them fool you.

You’ll learn it one day at a time, one tactic, one option, one book at a time. And what works for one book may not work for another, and that’s okay. It’s a learning process, right? You will find your groove and figure out what works for you, I believe it. It’ll just take some time and patience.

What other topics would you like to discuss or get advice on? Drop a comment or email me, and I’ll add it to my plans!

If you’d like to follow me elsewhere or join my other newsletters, you can find all my socials, newsletters, and more right here!

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If you’d like to check out my author guide and its companion journal for notes and marketing planning, you can find them here.

Author Guide & Journal