Melanie Bell

Author, Writer, Editor

Tag Archives: editing


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What to Do When Your Brain Just Won’t Write

According to coach and author Alexis Rockley, the lack of focus and creative blocks that many of us are experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic stem from the uncertainty arising from this situation. We don’t know what’s going to happen next, and our brains are overwhelmed. In this and other stressful situations, it can be hard for those of us who want to write to get any writing done.

Every writer has struggled with this at points – writer’s block, stress, and other manifestations of a mind that isn’t in any shape to create. It’s one thing if writing is our day job, and we have the external motivation of a deadline with a paycheck waiting at the end (and even then, getting the words out can sometimes be a challenge). It’s quite another when the only person counting on us to get something written is ourselves.

When your brain just won’t write, what can you do? Sometimes it’s best to recognize and care for our needs and come back to work another time rather than tiring ourselves out in the here and now. There are lots of things that can help recharge your batteries, get inspiration flowing, and move your writing career forward when your brain is stalling and the words just won’t come. Here are a few of them.

Self-Care

Rest: If you’re overwhelmed or tired, maybe you need more sleep or downtime. Listen to your body and offer yourself the rest you need.

Exercise: Like rest, we need movement in order to function. Again, listening to your body is helpful here. If you’re feeling twitchy in that office chair, maybe you need to get up and go for a jog.

Check your physical comfort: Are you hungry? Thirsty? Cold or hot? Is your furniture hurting your back? Sometimes a comfortable environment makes all the difference.

Do your to-do’s: Some writers procrastinate by doing busywork, but the opposite can also happen. If you have pressing items on your to-do list that you’re putting off, they may be hogging brain real estate that could otherwise be devoted to creativity. Look at those worrisome tasks you’re putting off and get them done. 

Idea Generation

Read (or engage with other arts): Reading keeps writers engaged with words and stories, and can be a wellspring of ideas. So can taking in other forms of art, whether that’s looking at paintings or binging Netflix shows. Feel free to re-engage with old favorites too. 

Research: Like your to-do list, this is some writers’ favored procrastination tool, but it’s also productive. Read and learn about topics that interest you or that are related to your writing project, or try something new and out of your comfort zone. You never know what will spark an idea.

World build: Act like a kid and make things up! Draw an imaginary map. Invent a lollipop land. Dream up a new animal. If you already have a created world as part of your writing, play around with adding things onto it.

Learn your craft: Take a writing class, attend an event, or listen to a podcast. Try something that will teach you new elements or angles on writing and expand your horizons. 

The Business of Writing

Pitch or submit: When the words aren’t coming, that can be a good time to submit and query the pieces you’ve already finished. You can try pitching ideas for new pieces as well, or pitching rejected ideas to other publications. 

Edit: Try rereading your drafts with an editorial eye. See what would benefit from being rewritten. Reading your work aloud can be helpful here, as can exchanging critiques with writer friends.

Build your social media or web presence: It helps to have a presence and network online. Reach out, make connections, and put yourself (and your work) out there. Find people who will want to read your work once you get back to writing it.

Build relationships: As with the above, it’s useful to connect with others in the writing world. Try attending events (virtual ones count, of course), joining a writers’ group, or going to a conference. Keep in touch with the people you meet and like. 

If you just can’t write right now, truly, it’s OK. A writer is someone who writes – but you don’t have to write all the time in order to qualify for the title. There are lots of things you can do that will contribute to your writing when the words won’t come. I promise that blank page will still be there, ready for you to get started.


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The Reluctant Author’s Guide to Revisions

So, you’ve finished the first draft you were writing. Congratulations! It takes a lot of effort and discipline to get this far. Take time to acknowledge the work you put in, celebrate its completion, and take a break in order to give yourself some distance from the work.

Maybe you’ve done this. Maybe that break has taken a little too long now, and you’re reluctant to get back to work on your project. Maybe you’re scared to begin editing it, or you aren’t sure how to start.

That was me not long ago after I’d finished the first draft of a manuscript. Even though I edit and write as my job, I got stuck this time around and wasn’t quite sure what to do next. It took time to get moving, but this is what I did, and these are some of the things that worked for me. Maybe they’ll work for you, too.

  1. Get feedback: If this is your first book, or if it’s a different type of project from the ones you’ve written before (like this manuscript was for me), feedback from an objective outside source can be especially helpful to give you a sense of your book’s pros and cons. I recommend reaching out to people with expertise in the area you’ve written about and asking them to review your manuscript. Both written and oral feedback can be helpful, as is getting multiple opinions—one person will catch issues that another person misses. It can also be useful to find a reader or readers who aren’t as familiar with your subject. These people can point out areas that are confusing, where your writing will benefit from further clarification.
  2. Get focused: What’s your book about? Do you know your project’s topic and key messages, or have these changed while you were writing? Feedback can help you see what others perceive your book’s focus to be. Another way to get a sense of this is to reread your book and write a summary or blurb about it, highlighting the main points of what you read. If the book you’ve finished is different from the book you set out to start, your revisions will need to either build on the new focus or build a bridge back to the old one. If you’re writing on contract, your book might need some revisions to make sure that it still follows the focus you were asked to write about. Either way, there are ways to make a change of focus into an advantage.
  3. Take out unnecessary things: As you were reviewing your book’s focus, you or others may have found that parts of it distract from the main idea. If something seems off-topic and doesn’t add to the point you’re making, it may not belong there. Make sure you save your draft, and once you’ve done that, don’t be afraid to cut the unnecessary bits. These might be chapters, topics, or sentences.
  4. Boredom-proof your book: Are your readers bored at any point? When you reread your manuscript, are there places where you’re bored? Your intended audience is interested in your topic, but that doesn’t mean that you will automatically have their attention. A book still needs to be engaging and relevant. A boring section might be overly dry; if that’s the case, liven up the language and try adding examples. It might mean that an explanation is too long—if so, condense it. It might be confusing—if so, work on clarity. Ask yourself why this section reads as boring—and rewrite it until you’re interested in reading it again.
  5. Add more when needed: Just as rereading and getting feedback can show you where you need to cut things, it can also show you places where you need to expand. Identify these places and then identify what they’re missing. Do they need more explanation or more examples? Do some of your ideas need to be connected more closely? Do you need to do more research? Once you know what you’re missing, work on adding it in.
  6. Check spelling, grammar, and flow: Once you’re happy with the changes you’ve made to the content, take a look at the technical aspects of your manuscript. Use a spelling and grammar checker, along with your own eyes, to ferret out typos. Work on smoothing out your sentences. If you have an editor, they will help a lot with this too, but they’ll also be thankful if you take the time to reread your manuscript and edit out the errors and clunky bits you spot!
  7. Vary your writing routine: Sometimes a boring routine is a factor that gets in the way of writing. If that’s the case for you—if you’re dreading sitting at that same old desk where you wrote your first draft, for example—try something new. Put on music that creates an enjoyable space for writing, whether it’s energizing or calming. Write in a different place, whether that’s a café, a quiet retreat, or a room full of other writers working simultaneously. Write at a different time from the usual. Try printing out your pages, rereading them, and editing them longhand. Sometimes changing the way you write is all you need to get into that editing headspace to make your writing the best it can be!


Revising your book can be an anxiety-inducing prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. The tips above will help you complete a book that brings your ideas clearly into the world and puts your best foot forward.


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2019 in Review

It’s nice, at the end of the year, to look back on the last 12 months and celebrate accomplishments big and small. Time passes so quickly that it’s easy to wonder where the year went. Taking time to reflect on the last year helps to remember and appreciate that the time went to good use. Here are my highlights from 2019. What are yours?  

2019 publications round-up 

This was a big poetry year for me.

Hashtag Queer: LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology, Volume 3 published my sequence of “Tacit poems”. Qommunicate Publishing has been a great supporter of my work, including the more experimental pieces. 

Haiku Journal published my rain haiku in issue 63. (You can read individual issues of the journal online here, and there is a lovely print version as well.)

Lift Every Voice is a lovely new anthology that published my poem “You, the shadow you cast”.

My personal essay “Learning to Paint” was also published by Heart and Humanity in February.

I have three more publications forthcoming as well. Among them, Qommunicate’s Geek Out! II anthology will be publishing my poem/script hybrid geeking out about performance and semiotics, and House of Zolo’s first journal of speculative literature will include one of my poems when it’s released in January.

New job

I had a wonderful time working at RUSI, but moved on at the end of the year to the role of Development Editor at ICE Publishing. I’m excited to be working on books and taking a bigger-picture position.  

Enneagram corporate training

Last spring, I was invited to my old city, Edinburgh, to do an Enneagram-based corporate training for Turnitin. This company makes a program I used in my old university teaching job! The leadership team purchased copies of my book, The Modern Enneagram, for all the attendees. They were a delightful, engaged group, and it was fun to spend time in Edinburgh again (despite the rainy weather). It was my first time leading a corporate training where I traveled out of town.

Work-life balance

With a new job and new financial opportunities, I’ve been able to say no to work that hasn’t been a good fit. I’ve moved into a new flat that’s nicer than my previous one. I’ve taken some time to travel and am appreciating the value that’s placed on holidays in the UK. I’m grateful to see improvements in work-life balance after a 2018 that involved a lot of “hustling”.

What was your 2019 like? What big and small things do you appreciate about the past year?


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New Year, New You? Think Baby Steps.

It’s that time again: time for New Year’s resolutions. January rolls around and you make plans for the year ahead. You envision your best self and create resolutions hoping to make that person real. Sometimes your goals pan out. If you’re anything like me, though, all too often the following year arrives and the idealized self remains a distant dream, with resolutions left behind somewhere along the way. Many of my editing and coaching clients share my experience – a fairly common one – of having big dreams but struggling with practical goal-setting.

For a couple years, I made resolutions to do things I was already in the habit of doing, as I was confident that these goals would be fulfilled. Indeed they were, but while these easily achievable resolutions showed that I could continue on a positive course of action, they also added nothing new to my life. Later, I tried setting short intentions, choosing an overarching word or phrase, such as “making money,” to guide my year, and I set goals that were concrete but out of my comfort zone. These measures helped. But as 2019 brings in a new crop of enthusiastic articles about changing your life with the shifting of the calendar year, I think a change in philosophy is called for as well. Below are some measures that have helped in my own goal-setting and in my work with clients.

Think big if you want – as a starting point.

Lots of us find it fun to imagine the best version of ourselves. How can we know who we might become if we don’t allow ourselves to dream? Go ahead and make that vision board if you enjoy doing so, or that wild list of things you want to do in the future. Map out all the books you want to write or the countries you want to travel to. Your dreams will serve as fuel for your daily life. As the next steps suggest, though, be mindful that you can’t do everything at once.

Then bring the dream down to earth.

This is where practical goal-setting measures come in. The big dreams we have about our lives may not be realizable all at once, but if we think things through and plan carefully, we can create realistic outcomes that we wish for. Getting in shape, for instance, becomes easier if we don’t just purchase that gym membership but set a schedule, join an exercise class, and/or commit with a friend to exercise together. Writing a novel becomes easier if you set yourself a daily word count and working time. In 2017, Kacie Berghoef and I blogged about setting SMART goals. Try out this method of practical goal-setting by making your resolutions specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

Hold yourself accountable.

I mentioned setting a schedule and finding a gym buddy. Once you’ve created a goal for yourself that moves in your desired direction and works with the life you have now – something small, not too time-consuming, trackable, and concrete – put measures in place to hold yourself accountable to it. Pencil (or type) commitments into your calendar. Set up a mutual support system with someone else where you check in periodically with each other about your goals. Many of my editing clients have found it useful to set deadlines and have check-ins. In some cases, working with me as an editor/writing coach and having that external cheerleading provided motivation for them to finish their projects. Make sure that you are committed, that your progress is being observed, and if possible, that someone besides you is invested in your achieving the goal.

You don’t have to do everything now.

You may have noticed the use of “goal,” singular. The key in achieving goals is not to set too many all at once. Rather than climbing that mountain right away, commit to baby steps by starting the training process. If you tend to make long lists of resolutions, set yourself fewer goals than you think you can realistically accomplish: that way your efforts will be focused. If you have a big vision and aren’t sure where to start, pick one step in that direction that you can get started on right away and commit to regularly. The key is just to get started. The fruits of a beginner’s effort will bring you more satisfaction than a dream unrelated to your actions.  

If you get closer to where you want to be, that’s a win.

We don’t always fulfill our new year’s resolutions. As I looked back on my goals for 2018, there was one that stood out as uncompleted. I hadn’t made the progress that I’d hoped, and felt disappointed looking back – until a loved one pointed out that I’d improved. I could see then that even if I hadn’t been 100% successful, setting and working towards that goal had still been a success. Maybe it’s the same for you. Are you in slightly better physical shape, for instance? Did you start that novel, even if you didn’t finish it? At the end of each year, look on your progress and celebrate. After all, no one says that you have to complete a goal in a year – you can keep going for as long as you like!

Good luck with your goal setting, and happy 2019!


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Celebrating My Wins of 2018

Some of my publications in 2018

It’s hard to believe that 2018 is almost over. Hopefully the year has had bright spots for you as it has for me. Following the publication of The Modern Enneagram in 2017, this has been a fruitful year of career building in writing and editing. I’m celebrating these wins as we honor the year that’s coming to a close and move towards the next.

Freelance editing

When I moved to Edinburgh from San Francisco in May 2017, I left my long-held part-time job as a writing tutor/instructor at an art college and moved into full-time self-employment. Initially, I offered writing coaching and set up an Enneagram workshop as well as seeking out editing projects. Beginning in 2018, my money-making direction clarified itself. While continuing to copy edit nonfiction, I had opportunities for developmental editing on fiction projects and began working with a new publisher on manuscript evaluations. It’s been richly rewarding to dive into story structure, hone my constructively critical eye, and give input in a way that’s appreciated.     

Anthology (and other) publications

While in Edinburgh, I participated in two lovely local writers’ groups and continued submitting my work. In addition to having articles and short pieces published, my work was accepted for four anthologies! It’s been exciting to have them arrive in the mail throughout the year and to discover gems from writers I wasn’t previously familiar with.

Here’s a round-up of my publications this year:

–Hashtag Queer, Vol. 2 Anthology: Mira (short story)

–Queer Around the World Anthology: Four Walks in Montreal (creative nonfiction)

–Spoon Knife 3: Incursions Anthology: The New World (science fiction short story)

-Shut Up and Write Anthology: How a Volunteer Grandma Helped Me Find My Voice (personal essay)

-Page and Spine: Quicksilver (short story)

-Write Naked: What One Freelancer Did With a Month Off (guest post)

-School of Shine: Setting Intentions for the New Year; What I Left Behind; Land, Love, and My People (personal essays)

-ELearning Industry: 6 eLearning Trends to Watch for in 2018 (research article)

 

A few of my pieces were also chosen to be reprinted:

–The Quilliad: Beast (poem)

-IEA Nine Points: Thoughts on the 2018 IEA Conference and Community (originally a blog post)

-Go Conscious: How Each Enneagram Type Can Build Healthy Habits (originally a blog post coauthored with Kacie Berghoef)

 

Enneagram conference presentations

While words are the most natural source of steady work for me, I love the depth and impact of the Enneagram. In 2018 I traveled to Amsterdam to give the mini-workshop, “Writing Your Enneagram Journey,” that participants enjoyed at summer 2017’s IEA Global Conference. I was also approached by my friend Chloe Keric-Eli, a Montreal Enneagram teacher, to submit a joint proposal for 2018’s IEA. As immigrants between multiple countries and cultures, our shared experiences led to the idea of presenting on “Where Culture Meets Type.” Participants at both conferences dove fully into the exercises, bringing insights about their personal and cultural stories that were illuminating for many in the room.      

A day job (and a move!)

Freelancing as an editor as my primary occupation provided wonderful opportunities to gain new skills, but it also highlighted additional things I wanted to learn. I realized that the most effective way to learn many of these would be to find an in-house role. Further, I hadn’t moved all the way to the UK to sit in my flat during working hours rather than engaging fully with the culture. Working with my primarily North American client base just wasn’t quite the same. I applied to day jobs in the editing field and was offered one in London working for RUSI, London’s venerable defence and security think tank. I moved in July, leaving a beautiful work-from-home space and gaining colleagues, increased confidence in my work, and skills ranging from project management methods to document design. When I’m not at my day job, I continue to work as a freelance editor on select projects. I’ve gotten quicker with my work, and more assured in making editorial choices. I’m committed and growing. I look forward to seeing where this career path takes me.

A novel draft completed

I have manuscripts sitting in my Dropbox folders that never made it to the book deal stage, and know from experience that finishing the first draft of a novel is a different beast from finalizing it and from hitting a chord that resonates with the reading public. I am, however, proud of the draft I completed this year. It’s a fantasy adventure story – the kind of thing I read for fun; the kind of thing I wrote as a youngster and teenager, and even then neglected to submit anywhere in favor of more “serious” stuff. I’ve been learning in the last few years that being fascinating does not make a thing less real. I put a lot of feelings about immigration and identity into this novel about magic. I got to invent a world with cities in caves and clouds, and I loved spending time there. I got to write “the end.”  

What are your wins this year?


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5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Editor

You’ve invested time, effort, and skill in a writing project that matters to you. You’ve taken your idea from inspiration to a complete draft, with all the hours that it’s entailed. Congratulations! Not everyone has the tenacity and productive habits to finish a project. It’s truly something to be proud of. As happy as you are to have completed something, though, you know that it can be better. Maybe the structure, phrasing, and grammar would benefit from an external eye. With this in mind, you’re wondering if a professional edit would be a good investment.

Here are five things to consider before getting in touch with an editor.

1. Is your work as good as you can make it on your own?

First drafts are usually messy. This is where writers work out their ideas on the page; subsequent drafts are where they iron out the kinks. If you’ve only written one draft, it’s useful to take some time away from the page, and then come back to it with your own editorial eye. Look for any problems and try your hand at fixing them, a process which may, in some cases, take several drafts. Beta readers and critique groups are also valuable sources for feedback as you self-edit. If you take the time to edit your own work as best you can, you’ll know that it’s as strong as you can make it. If you then seek input from an editor, they’ll be providing insights that you couldn’t think of for yourself.

2. What type of editing are you looking for?

If you’ve taken the self-editing process as far as you can, an editor can be an excellent investment. Not all editing is identical, however. The key is to start the process with a good sense of what type of input you’re looking for. If you’re interested in having high-level input on your manuscript, dealing with topics such as structure and logic, look for a developmental edit. A manuscript assessment (usually an in-depth report rather than a full edit) is a good choice if you primarily want an opinion on whether your work is publishable at this point and what will get it to that stage. Line editing and copy editing focus on refining your manuscript’s language. If spelling and grammar are difficult for you, or if you want to prepare your manuscript for self-publishing, you might be interested in a proofread. Proofreading isn’t editing, per se, although it’s a similar service. It’s all about catching errors rather than changing content, so it’s a good investment to consider if you’re just looking for that final polish.

3. What’s your timeline?

Some editors have faster turnarounds than others, depending on their schedules. Make sure to negotiate timelines up front. You don’t want the editing to be a rush job on either end. Editors may also need you to be available for back-and-forth input. Make sure that you have the time to commit to the process.

4. What are the editor’s qualifications?

As you do your research on available editors, look into the experience they bring to the table. Some editorial services may come cheap, but how qualified are the editors? While a lack of qualifications doesn’t necessarily equate with a lack of ability – some excellent editors are just starting out – there is an element of risk involved. I’ve had clients approach me because they were disappointed with previous editorial or proofreading services, and they ended up paying two professionals where they could have hired one. Look for editorial experience, client lists, testimonials, and other signs that the people you’re researching have a track record of good work.

5. Do you require additional services?

If you’re looking to self-publish after editing, you may want further professional help to make your manuscript into a book. Most editors aren’t graphic designers, cover artists, or publicists. However, they might know and be able to recommend people who offer these services. There are also companies that offer package services, with editing, design, and publishing assistance. As always, be sure to research, look for experience and quality, and seek a personal fit.

Getting a manuscript from draft stage to its final form takes lots of careful handling. You don’t have to do it alone. The internet is full of experienced editors whose skills can help your work shine!


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How to Switch Between Your Writing and Editing Hats

Writing and editing are complementary skills, two sides of the same coin. When you write, it’s helpful to develop your self-editing ability so that you can polish your prose (or poetry). Having done both writing and editing professionally, I’ve found that switching between the two isn’t always easy. In this blog post, I’ll take a look at the differences between writing and editing your own work. Here are some tricks I’ve discovered to hone both skill sets and move between them smoothly.

When you’re writing:

  1. Let your creative mind have free reign. Writing your first draft is the time to experiment, follow tangents, and get your ideas and impulses out on the page. Keep on going, perhaps scheduling yourself so you write regularly whether you feel like it or not. Just show up and get things down. When you’re not writing, let the project live in the back of your mind. You might find that ideas come to you at unexpected times, perhaps when you’re out and about or about to fall asleep – keeping a notepad or note app at hand can prove handy. Leaving room for inspiration is especially useful for those of us who write by discovery, figuring things out as we go along. (All of us do this at some point.) Have fun with it!
  2. Plan if it works for you. Some of us are plotters and outliners. This can be useful for generating ideas and giving ourselves a map so we have a sense of where our writing is going. With fiction, I used to get stuck in the middle of my projects, but have found that an outline guides me in having ideas for what to write next. Don’t be afraid to veer off script, though if a more interesting idea comes along than the one you’ve planned. Whether you’re more of a discovery writer, an outliner, or a blend of both, either technique is great to the extent that it helps you get your writing done. The key is…
  3. Don’t self-judge. It’s all too easy to let the editorial voice jump into the writing process. This is valuable at times, such as when it has a plot suggestion or catches an error in your sentence. At other times, the voice can get harsh and critical, becoming more of a judge than a guide. If this happens, remind the voice that you’re on your first draft, the one where you’re hashing everything out, and will address its concerns later. You can even save that critical feedback in a separate document to consult when you’re editing. (Save the things like “Fix plot hole with spaceship in chapter 3,” not the things like “You suck.”)


When you’re editing:

  1. Get to the point. Editing is worlds away from writing in mindset. This is where we look at our draft critically and make sure it’s got all the essentials. Take a good, hard look at structure and clarity. For each important element, ask yourself: Would your readers (or your reader self) like it? Would they get it? Does it need to be there? Make sure the beginning, middle, and end all flow together and make sense.
  2. Check spelling and grammar. This is what a lot of us picture when we think of editing because it’s a vital part of the job, even if it’s not the only important one. If this isn’t your strong suit, a computer program such as a spell checker or Grammarly can help you out. I’ve found that repeating words, homophones (similar-sounding words like “to,” “too,” and “two”), and words that sound or look similar can be as tricky, if not trickier, to catch than typos. You might also try reading your work aloud. Do this carefully so you can catch any “the the”s or “ladies” that are supposed to be “ladles.” The read-aloud technique has benefits beyond spelling, too. Some fiction writers swear by this as a way of hearing whether their characters’ voices ring true, and if you find yourself getting bored in the middle of reading, you’ll know this is a section you need to liven up or cut down.
  3. Polish those sentences. Along with addressing content, spelling, and grammar, sentence-level editing or line editing is a big part of what professional editors do. First-draft sentences are often choppy, overly long, or unclear. Once you’ve done structural work on your draft to a point you’re satisfied with, take a look at each sentence individually and in context of the larger piece. Does it flow? Does it sound nice? Can readers follow it easily? Does it help achieve the pace and tone you’re going for?


As you can see, writing involves a lot of creating. Too much doubt can stop us in our tracks, feeding the inner critic and getting in the way of finishing the project. Editing is the opposite: it’s all about questioning. Instead of building something from scratch, we “renovate,” improving our writing by addition or subtraction. The great news is that I’ve found working with each skill set improves the other. When writing, we learn how things should sound, how to structure our work, and what gives a piece energy. When editing, we learn where to cut back or expand, how to speak to readers, and how to communicate clearly. Learn to wear both hats flexibly and your writing will shine!  


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What I Learned – and Wish I’d Learned – in Creative Writing Grad School

There are debates in the writing world about the value of studying creative writing, and whether it’s beneficial or detrimental for honing your writing skills. I spent two years in a graduate Creative Writing program. Having gone on to write and edit professionally, there are skills I’m glad to have learned in class and others I’ve learned out in the “real world.” While programs, classes, and teachers vary, here’s my breakdown of what I personally learned in school vs. the lessons that came later, some of which I wish had been covered in the curriculum.   

How to experiment vs. how to connect with readers

Graduate school did a fantastic job of opening my eyes to the different types of writing out there. By meeting practicing writers, I saw just how many genres and styles one could pursue, how many niches a writer could find for their own style and interests to shine. In classes, we were encouraged to try out different styles and voices. Writing exercises pushed our boundaries and deepened our abilities. We also analyzed a wide range of books in class. In this experimental climate, I could see that many different kinds of writing had value.

One thing that wasn’t at all stressed, though, was writing commercially. We were seen as artists, developing our abilities in an art form. Any considerations of marketing were left out, and so, in large part, were considerations of the readers – ironic in that I was hoping first and foremost for my words to connect with them. The elements that make writing “click” with people are often the same ones that make it sell, and I’ve been doing my best to learn them since graduating. Emotional resonance, concept appeal, and getting readers to turn pages are skills that transcend writing style and experimentation. I wish school had talked about them more.

How to write deeply vs. prolifically

“Write every day,” one of my professors told me, “even if it’s just a line in a notebook. If you’re writing a novel, it should be the first thing you think about when you wake up and the last thing you think about before you go to sleep.” I followed her advice, keeping notepads handy at all times. I learned how to be absorbed in a project and open to inspiration.  

While depth was part of my education, no one talked about how to write prolifically or how to keep producing. There was no education about word counts or incentive to keep going outside of the thesis and classes. I also didn’t learn about outlining methods, which would have been helpful for the fiction I was writing. My instructors, of course, were part-time rather than full-time writers. If we’d had guest speakers in to talk about the discipline of writing full time and offer tips, or activities to instill discipline and practice along the lines of NaNoWriMo, how much that could have helped us learn about being productive, working writers.  

How to critique and edit vs. how to market

The workshop format of our creative writing classes was useful in teaching us how to give and take critique. We went over classmates’ writing with a fine-toothed comb, learning to identify what they had done well and where they could improve. When receiving feedback, we discovered through experience how to incorporate consensus about what wasn’t working into revisions. We learned which critiques to take into account and which were off the mark for what we were hoping to achieve. I learned a good number of editing skills both through self-editing based on these critiques and through working with literary magazines on editing and acquisition.

By the end of my studies, professors said my work was “publishable,” but how exactly would I accomplish that? I left the program with very little idea. I recommend that anyone teaching creative writing talk their students at least a little through the business side of things, demystifying the submission process, query letters, agents, publication, and what the market is like.     

There’s a lot I learned from my time in grad school about pursuing writing as an art. Since then, I’ve discovered how much it’s also a business, and how much I still have to learn. While studying creative writing can be the right learning opportunity for some, it’s not for everyone, and a lot of the craft’s practical lessons aren’t necessarily covered in the course curriculum. I recommend that anyone who’s interested in a writing career self-educate about readership, productivity strategies, and marketing. This part might come after writing a draft, as it favors strategy over artistry, but it’s important to look into if you want your writing to reach people and make its mark on the world.


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Nine Roadblocks to Editing Your Writing (and What to Do About Them)

Anyone who writes knows the challenges of editing. You’ve gotten your ideas down in that “shitty first draft.” Now you must look at your work with fresh eyes, fixing messy sentences and filling in plot holes. It’s useful to get help from others, whether they’re peers or professionals, but ultimately we have to edit our own work too. Some of us love polishing our writing, but for others, it’s an uphill slog. Our personalities stall our progress and throw roadblocks in our path. Here are nine that you might encounter during the editing process, along with tricks for dealing with them when they arise.

1. Perfectionism: If you’re a meticulous type of person, editing might come naturally to you. You enjoy reworking problem areas and finding the right word for the job. You might find, however, that your perfectionism sometimes leads to paralysis. The temptation to fix what you’ve written, again and again, makes it hard to know when your piece is done. Set yourself a “no more editing” deadline, or seek out encouraging others who will help you get your work out there and call it a day.

2. Focusing on Others: As much care as you put into your writing, you also devote a lot of attention to the people in your life. If this sounds like you, you might find editing to be a challenge. It seems selfish and daunting to block out time to improve your work. All of a sudden you need to help Grandma wash her car, or put in extra hours at the office. You get wrapped up in doing stuff for others while your draft sits there. Try getting others involved in the editing process, using their feedback as fuel.     

3. Goal Orientation: You have big ideas about what you want your writing to do. You envision an impact bigger than the day-to-day grind of editing, which can make it hard to sit down at your desk with your red pen (or its digital equivalent). Maybe you’ve written with a market in mind, or dream of shortcuts to take your project where you want it to go. But quality takes time and authenticity. As you edit, look beyond results to the truths you want to convey. What do you have to say, and what’s the realest way to say it?   

4. Introspection: The more introspective among us use emotions to fuel their writing, but those same feelings can get in the way of the editing process. You look over your draft and see only flaws. You wonder if your writing is any good, and if it’s worth putting in the time to edit. These thoughts are discouraging. Seek out reality checks about your work’s pros and cons, and work steadily, a little at a time, to polish it.  

5. Intellectualizing: If your writing has an intellectual foundation, you may find yourself focusing on the ideas as you sit down to edit. The resulting work may be well thought out, or it may get bogged down in analysis. Look beyond intellectual concepts at other vital aspects of your writing. It might be helpful to have a list of criteria about clarity, structure, reader interest, and other elements important to your genre.

6. Committee Mentality: Some of us have a hard time seeking the necessary feedback to improve our work, but if you tend toward the opposite, asking all your friends and mentors for their opinion, you’ll find yourself listening to a lot of competing voices. Resources about writing and editing can also be expert opinions that confuse with their disagreement. Filter others’ ideas through your own goals: are they right for your work or not?

7. Distractibility: It was so much fun to write your first draft that you want to start something new again! Why spend time on a boring editing process? Or maybe you should change what you wrote so it’s completely different, make it much more interesting… Without focus, it’s hard to polish your work to its potential. Keep in mind how exciting it will be to have your project finished, and inject novelty into the editing process. Instead of working on new writing, edit in a new location, or intersperse editing time with other activities.

8. Impatience: This writing has been so much work that you just want to be done with it. Isn’t it good enough already? You’ve said what you had to say. Sometimes a light touch is wisest, but there are generally areas to improve that you’ll find with a further read-through. That in no way diminishes the impact or power of your work. If you’re fed up with it for the time being, set it aside, but give yourself a deadline to come back to it.   

9. Inertia: You find it hard to summon the energy for editing. It’s hard work, it’s not pleasant, and it’s not part of your daily routine. You might intend to edit, but find that hours have passed and you’ve spent them puttering around the garage, or checking Facebook. An Internet-blocking program might help if digital inertia is an issue for you, and a new environment might give you fresh energy. If it’s novelty, build editing into your routine, so your inertia will work for your editing process rather than against it.    

There are many roadblocks you might run into while editing, some of which are related to your specific project, rather than the personality-based ones I described above. If you’re looking for coaching through the editing process, or help from an outside editor, I offer both services and often provide them together. Feel free to reach out to set up a Skype call, or offer your own ideas in the comments. Happy editing!