Chris Baty's Blog, page 5

4 Alternatives to Popular Writing Advice

Some writing advice get passed off as something every writer has to do. The truth is, these tips might not work for everybody! NaNo participant Nicole Wilbur offers some alternatives to popular writing advice that may be a better fit for your writing needs.

While there are no definitive writing “rules”, there’s certainly writing advice so common it feels like it’s become canon. Most popular writing advice is generally good – but what if it doesn’t light up your brain? What if a particular tip doesn’t resonate with you?

 If this popular advice isn’t working - try these alternatives! 

Common advice: Make your character want something. 

Alternative: Ask what your character is most afraid of.

Your character usually wants something – the MC’s goal driving the story is a common plot, after all. That something needs to be concrete, meaning the audience will know definitively when they’ve achieved their goal. 

(Is “found independence” concrete? No. Signed the lease on their first apartment? Yes.)

But if you aren’t sure yet, or what they want doesn’t feel motivating enough to support your inciting incident, start with a different question: what is your character afraid of? 

Katniss wants to survive, with her family, yes. But she’s terrified of helplessly watching them die. 

Common advice: Identify your story’s theme and stick it on a post- it above your computer. 

Alternative: Use the character’s arc to create a main idea statement, and craft several related questions your story explores. 

English class really made ‘theme’ feel heavy-handed. In my grade nine English class, we listed the themes of To Kill a Mockingbird as: coming of age, racism, justice, and good vs. evil. 

While these are the topics explored in the book, I’ve never found this advice helpful in writing.  Instead, I like to use the controlling idea concept (as in Robert McKee’s Story) and exploratory questions (as in John Truby’s Anatomy of Genres).

A controlling idea is a statement about what the author views as the “proper” way to live, and it’s often cause-and-effect. The exploratory question is – well, a question you want to explore. 

In It’s a Wonderful Life, the controlling idea is something to the effect of “Life is meaningful because of our relationships” or “our lives feel meaningful when we value our family and community over money.” The question: How can a single person influence the future of an entire community?

Common advice: List out your character’s traits, perhaps with a character profile.

Alternative: Focus on 2-3 broad brushstrokes that define the character.

When I first started writing, I would list out everything I wanted my character to be: smart, daring, sneaky, kind, greedy, etc. I created a long list of traits. Then I started writing the book. When I went back to look at the traits, I realized the character wasn’t really exhibiting any of these.

Instead of a long list of traits to describe your character, try identifying three. Think of these like three brush strokes on a page, giving the scaffolding of your character. Ideally, the combination of traits should be unexpected: maybe the character is rule-following, people-pleasing, and ambitious. Maybe the character is brash, strategic, and dutiful. 

Then – and this is the fun part – consider how the traits come into conflict, and what their limits are. What happens when our ambitious rule-follower must break the law to get what she wants? Sure, a character might be kind, but what will make her bite someone’s head off?

Common advice: Create a killer plot twist.

Alternative: Create an information plot. 

Readers love an unexpected plot twist: whether a main character is killed or an ally turns out to be the bad guy, they’re thrilling. But plotting towards one singular twist can be difficult. 

Instead of using the term plot twist, I like thinking in terms of Brandon Sanderson’s “information” plot archetype. 

An information plot is basically a question the reader is actively trying to work out. It could be like Sarah Dessen’s Just Listen where we wonder “what happened between Annabel and her ex-best friend?”, “why is Annabel’s sister acting strangely?” and “who is Owen, really?” Those all have to do with backstory, but information plots can be about pretty much any hidden information. Another popular question is “who is the bad guy?” - or in other words, “who is after the characters?” The Charlie’s Angel franchise, for example, tends to keep viewers guessing at who the true antagonist is until the last few scenes.

Nicole Wilbur is an aspiring YA author, writing sapphic action-adventure stories that cure wanderlust. As a digital nomad, she has no house and no car, but has racked up a ridiculous number of frequent flier miles. She chronicles her writing and travelling journey on her YouTube channel and Chasing Chapters substack.

Photo by George Milton

🚨 Flash Prize Giveaway! 🚨

nanowrimo:

It’s Double-Up Donation Weekend! 🥳ALT

It’s Double-Up Donation Weekend this November 4 and 5! It’s NaNoWriMo’s biggest fundraiser of the year, when we celebrate our creative community with super fun prize giveaways, double the donor thank-you goodies, and, as always, lots of writerly joy.

This year, we have set a USD $150,000 fundraising goal and a 150 million word count goal for Donation Weekend, all in support of NaNoWriMo’s nonprofit mission to encourage creativity and build worlds both on and off the page.

What’s the double-up, you ask? $25 donors get the $50 goodies, and $50 donors get the $100 goodies. Plus, fun hourly prizes! Digital freebies! Author webcasts! And so much more.

Donate to NaNoWriMo!

Learn more about Donation Weekend here and see the full list of prizes below!

Keep reading

ALT🚨 Flash Prize Giveaway! 🚨

We’re offering an exclusive flash giveaway today for our Double-Up Donation Weekend: a Create Your Own Writing Retreat Travel Getaway!

The winner will receive a USD $500 coupon to book an AirBnB Stay anywhere in the world. Use it for a personal writing retreat or a trip of your most vacation-y desires. 

To participate, you can make a donation of USD $10 or more anytime Sunday, November 5 (12:00 AM–11:59 PM Pacific time), and you will be automatically entered into our giveaway for the AirBnB coupon prize. 

Since a few of our prizes this weekend are for U.S. residents only, we’re excited to offer our International Wrimos double the entries for their donations for today’s Airbnb giveaway! US-based Wrimos will earn one entry per donation.

Can’t donate at this time? We got you! No donation necessary to enter or win. To enter without donating, just fill out this form.

It’s Double-Up Donation Weekend! 🥳

ALT

It’s Double-Up Donation Weekend this November 4 and 5! It’s NaNoWriMo’s biggest fundraiser of the year, when we celebrate our creative community with super fun prize giveaways, double the donor thank-you goodies, and, as always, lots of writerly joy.

This year, we have set a USD $150,000 fundraising goal and a 150 million word count goal for Donation Weekend, all in support of NaNoWriMo’s nonprofit mission to encourage creativity and build worlds both on and off the page.

What’s the double-up, you ask? $25 donors get the $50 goodies, and $50 donors get the $100 goodies. Plus, fun hourly prizes! Digital freebies! Author webcasts! And so much more.

Donate to NaNoWriMo!

Learn more about Donation Weekend here and see the full list of prizes below!

ALTALTALTALTALTALTALTALTALT

You can also enter the running for the prizes without donating by filling out this form!

Thanks so much for your support, writers, and wishing you productive writing days and high word counts this weekend!

30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 3

Day 3 is here and it feels like things are just heating up. Today’s feature is Code 51 by Jill Chapman, a Young Adult novel full of mystery. This novel cover was designed by the amazing returning artist, Cookie Redding!

(For those of you who don’t know, 30C30D stands for 30 Covers, 30 Days in which 17 Wrimos and 5 YWP Participants get the chance to win a professionally designed cover! The rest of the days are being filled by community features. We’ll be posting a cover a day throughout November, so make sure to check them out!)

Code 51

Jacqueline Kolby wants to get through her senior year in high school to get on with better things. She doesn’t want attention in or out of class from anyone. Jac, as her friends call her, ignores headlines and surely doesn’t want to be one. However, when an arsonist seems to target her family, staying in the background isn’t possible anymore. Jac’s dad gets burned in a barn fire after several of their corn fields are razed. Now she’s had enough. The police and fire marshal don’t have any suspects. Her mom is busy caring for her dad while her grandpa mourns the recent loss of her grandma. Jac and her two friends set out to solve the mystery before anyone else gets injured. Who would want to hurt her family? Why now?

About the Author

Jill resides in Southern Indiana with her husband of forty-five years. They enjoy their country lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren. Her life centers around her family and her yellow lab, Indy. She is an avid movie watcher and loves Mexican food and watercolor painting. 

She has published a middle-grade mystery series titled The Bomb Squad. Code 51 will be her first venture into young adult mystery/suspense books.

Jill’s interest in books began in childhood when reading provided a wonderful outlet for her wild imagination. She loves to tell stories about her life experiences with humor mixed in to convey the sense of adventure she feels daily. Jill says her life is like a good plate of nachos, a tiny kick of spice, and a whole lotta cheese.  

About the Designer

Cookie Redding is an artist, designer and lecturer with the School of
Visual Arts at the Pennsylvania State University and teaches courses
in the Digital Art and DMD Programs. Her work encompasses the art and design world, with a focus on multiple media forms of expression.

Redding’s influences are from a diverse array of disciplines spawning
from the classics and antiquities, to history and tech. Her
explorations integrate these elements into a study of symbols. The
imagery she deals with within her work is a study from the beauty of
words and by being within nature. Her explorations show how the
literary world meets the natural work with color and texture. Check her out on Instagram and Facebook!

Cover Design Process:

This year. we gave designers the optional prompt to explain their design process for the cover! Here’s Cookie’s:

My process typically starts with some sketching, brainstorming and
listmaking. Then I start to hone my composition concept while also
searching for imagery that would be ideal for the cover. I went
through around 8 iterations and then my concept adjusted a bit to
include the grid–that’s when everything fell into place! Thanks so
much for letting me be a part of 30 Covers 30 Days again–it’s the
highlight of my design year!

30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 2

And it’s day 2 of NaNoWriMo! Today, we have Stick Insect and Sea Monkeys by Kate Jackson, a fun Children’s Fiction novel. This novel cover was designed by the amazing returning artist, Holly Aguilar!

(For those of you who don’t know, 30C30D stands for 30 Covers, 30 Days in which 17 Wrimos and 5 YWP Participants get the chance to win a professionally designed cover! The rest of the days are being filled by community features. We’ll be posting a cover a day throughout November, so make sure to check them out!)

Stick Insect and Sea Monkeys

Bella is devastated she can’t own any pets but suddenly finds herself petmother to a gigantic stick insect and pack of sea monkeys. Pet ownership turns into a bigger adventure than she could ever have imagine as she and her pet family find themselves faced with a mystery that could change their world forever.

About the Author

Kate Jackson is a lifelong writer, but recently only of shopping and to do lists. She is interested to see how juggling work, parenting two energetic boys, and trying to write a novel will go. Stick Insects & Sea Monkeys is Kate’s first foray into fantasy writing for elementary school age kids, but nothing like having a captive audience at bedtime! When not writing, Kate is setting up a new house in Boston after recently relocating from London, and trying not to eat too much leftover Halloween candy.

About the Designer

Holly Aguilar is an award-winning designer and illustrator, so if anyone does judge your book by its cover, she’s got you…covered. By day, Holly is a Design Director at Balcom Agency, the largest marketing firm in Fort Worth, Texas. Learn more about her at her company’s website!

Pro Tips from a NaNo Coach: How to Write a Novel in 30 Days

NaNoWriMo can seem like a daunting task sometimes, for NaNo newbies and veterans alike. Fortunately, our NaNo Coaches are here to help guide you through November! Today, author Adiba Jaigirdar is here to share her advice on how to set yourself up for noveling success:

Welcome to the very first week of NaNoWriMo! I’ve done NaNoWriMo for (almost) every year since 2008. I’ve won some, I’ve lost some, but I’ve learned a lot along the way. In fact, I apply a lot of the tactics I learned in NaNoWriMo to all my writing. When I wrote my second book, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, I ended up with a first draft of 74,000 words written in 30 days. That wasn’t something I would have thought possible in 2008 when I was slogging through my very first 50,000-word novel. That’s why I’m here today to share with you a few tips and tricks I’ve picked up through my writing journey, in the hopes that they serve you and your novel this November: 

1. Accountability 

One of the most difficult parts of writing a novel is that it requires so much self-discipline. It’s not like a job you show up to where your boss is holding you accountable for how many words you’ve written. Only you are ultimately responsible for how much you get done—which is why it’s easy to get demotivated and give up. So, you need to figure out ways in which you can be accountable for your novel this month.

You’ll be glad to hear that you’ve already taken the first step in doing this: you’ve pledged to do NaNoWriMo. You’re here, ready to write. But you can go a step further: ask your friends and family to hold you accountable by checking in on your progress during the month. If you have friends who are doing NaNoWriMo that’s even better; you can hold each other accountable. If you’re on social media, you can share updates every day and be accountable to your followers. There are a lot of ways to do it; so figure out what kind of accountability works best for you! 

2. Planning 

Planning a novel is definitely not for everyone. This is coming from someone who has pantsed many books! Planning can look different for different people. If you are a true-blue plotter, you might have your entire novel planned from beginning to end, with comprehensive chapter outlines. But if you’re not someone who plots out your entire novel before you’ve written a single word, planning is still important.

This planning can look like a rough outline of your book or finishing your writing day and jotting down a few quick ideas of what to write when you come back to writing the next day, or it can be leaving yourself voice memos as ideas spark when you’re nowhere near your novel. Going into every new day of writing without any idea of what the blank page will hold is very, very daunting, which is why planning ahead can be just the motivation that you need to fulfill your word count goal for the day. 

3. Figure out what works for you 

I have published four books so far and I’ve written many more. The process of writing each of these books has been very different. I drafted one in three months, one in 30 days, one was completely plotted with a rigorous outline, while one was plotted with a flexible outline, and two were completely pantsed. What I’ve learned about myself is that to make a book work, sometimes I have to try something different.

The only thing NaNoWriMo requires of you is to write those 50,000 words. How you go about it depends on you. You don’t have to write every single day if that doesn’t work for you. You can write at the same time every day, or a different time every day depending on what sparks your creativity. You don’t have to participate in writing sprints if writing with a countdown doesn’t help you focus. The point is that now’s your time to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. You might be surprised by what methods you swear will never work for you but ends up helping you over that finish line. 

4. Have fun!

This is easier said than done, but try to enjoy writing your novel. Especially when it feels difficult. When I wrote 74,000 words in 30 days, it felt like a breeze because I was having a lot of fun with my book. Try to remember what makes you excited about your novel and go back to that when it’s tough. If writing is what you love, find the joy of it and nurture it throughout this month. The more you enjoy it, the more likely you are to keep writing.

Adiba Jaigirdar is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of The Henna Wars, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, A Million to One, and The Dos and Donuts of Love. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and former teacher, she has an MA in Postcolonial Studies and a BA in English and History. She is the winner of the YA book prize 2022, the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021, and was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary awards. When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 1

Happy November! Let’s start out 30 Covers, 30 Days strong with Kuberia: The Alluring Abyss by Arpan Mondal, a Science Fiction novel full of intrigue! This novel cover was designed by the amazing returning artist, Alberto Rigau!

(For those of you who don’t know, 30C30D stands for 30 Covers, 30 Days in which 17 Wrimos and 5 YWP Participants get the chance to win a professionally designed cover! The rest of the days are being filled by community features. We’ll be posting a cover a day throughout November, so make sure to check them out!)

Kuberia: The Alluring Abyss

As a deadly gamma-ray burst threatens Earth, scientists propose evacuating a chosen group to the newly discovered planet Kuberia, named after the Hindu God of wealth, Kubera. This world seems perfect for humans, but a single question remains—Why is it devoid of inhabitants?

Upon arrival, the human pioneers are struck by the planet’s strange beauty. Purple and red flora blankets the landscape, some vegetation seems to have a reddish brown glow in the darkness, and everything has a captivating, twisting shape. However, they soon realize this very allure is what keeps Kuberia empty of life.

About the Author

I’m Arpan, an aerospace engineer who absolutely loves everything about space. A few years back, I got hooked on science fiction books, and that’s when I decided to start writing my own stories. My sci-fi stories are a way to share my knowledge about space and the universe with the world. ‘Kuberia: The Alluring Abyss’ is my first attempt at turning one of my story ideas into a complete novel!

About the Designer

With over 18 years in practice, Alberto Rigau crafts and conceptualizes brands, exhibits, way-finding systems, publications, books, photographic projects, and environmental graphics. As a former Co-Chair of AIGA’s Design Educators Steering Committee, he collaborates with nationwide design educators in developing content and programming to further academic research, teaching practices, and conversations within the field. Alberto has a Master’s Degree from NC State University’s College of Design and currently engages the field from his home studio in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Cover Design Process:

This year. we gave designers the optional prompt to explain their design process for the cover! Here’s Alberto’s:

I instantly decided that I did not want to give a visual voice to Kuberia. Now knowing anything about it is part of the mystery that drew me to the summary. I focused on the physical interrelation between these planetary bodies as main actors who are sparking the narrative and reality of this particular story.

🎉 NaNoWriMo is here! 😱 ✍️

🎉 NaNoWriMo is here! 😱 ✍️

Here’s some tips on making sure you’re all set for success these first few days:

1. Make sure you’ve set your goal for November! 

You can do this by clicking on your main dashboard. You’ll see buttons to either join with a new novel or join with an existing novel.

2. Update your word count! 

When you’re knee deep in writing, you might forget to update your word count! Remember to update it when you can, since it helps you track your goals for the month. If you need help updating your word count, check out our FAQ!

3. Connect with other writers! 

Find and join your local region on the NaNoWriMo website to connect with other writers in your area. You can even join multiple regions! You can also create or join a private writing group of up to 20 people. We’ve shared some tips on what makes a good writing group!

4. Join a NaNoWriMo event!

We’re kicking off November 1st this year with a series of Write-Together-A-Thon livestreams where published authors share writing prompts and we all write together on YouTube. Plus, you can check out other virtual events happening through the rest of the month!

5. Have fun writing!!!! 

No matter what happens during this month, just know you already have whatever it takes to bring your story to life. You got this!! 💖

Write Meow! 4 Writing Tips Cats Teach Us

Did you know cats have a lot of wisdom about the writing process? It’s because of their cat lifestyles! NaNo Participant Megan Jenkins lets us know what our wise cat friends can teach us about writing.

“Cats are too human-like,” my friend complained while explaining to my cat-lady-self why she’s a dog person. I laughed, but after pondering my cat’s behavior, I realized just how much cats can teach us about becoming a better human, and more importantly, a better writer. (Arguably.)

Here are a few writing lessons we can learn from cats.

1. Have a Routine

As someone who rolled her eyes at this advice for years, I still cannot believe that my cat hoodwinked me into a morning routine. 

My cat was right though. 

Writing for 15 minutes during my cat’s breakfast has me writing more than ever before. While 15 minutes may not seem like a lot, giving yourself prompts for the next session and having consistent sessions helps you accomplish more than you would think.

Also, cats are great accountability partners. If you stray from their routine, they will meow loudly and slap you with their paw. (Or is that just my cat?)

2. Take Breaks

Before my cat, my writing process was to write for hours at a time on a random weekend day. This process was exhausting and made me feel like I had to block an entire day for writing, which is becoming increasingly impossible. 

However, cats inherently know the importance of taking breaks and stepping away from screens, which is why they sit in front of our keyboards and computers when we spend too much time on them (I assume). 

One way to remember to take breaks is to participate in writing sprints, in which writers write together for a set time. 

For any fellow introverts, the Pomodoro Technique, in which you work for 25 minutes then break for 5 minutes with a longer break after four rounds, has been shown to increase productivity. 

You might hesitate to try sprints or Pomodoro like I did because you love to emerge yourself in your writing for hours. However, I have found that both methods have built my endurance, allowing me to write longer. 

Plus, the frequent breaks to entertain my cat prevent her from hijacking my keyboard. 

3. Prioritize Meals

Cats are grazers, meaning they eat several small meals throughout the day, which they do not like to miss. 

Unlike my cat, I skipped meals all the time. I couldn’t be like Pippin in The Lord of the Rings asking for second breakfast while on an important quest!

However, modeling my cat, I now prioritize my eating. While it may not work for everyone, eating throughout the day gives me energy to write after work, not just rewatch The Lord of the Rings.

Since you are likely not on a quest to eliminate all evil, try prioritizing eating, like cats (and hobbits) do, and see how it impacts your writing. 

4. Focus on the Present

Do you sometimes focus so much on the past or the future that you forget about the present? I do. With NaNoWriMo especially, I tend to over-plan and dwell on any minor failures. 

Cats don’t do this. Cats live in the present, and while cats learn from their past, they do not dwell on their failures or worry about the future. Instead, cats deal with problems when they arise.

Similarly, do not torture yourself if you have a bad writing day (or week or month) or worry about every what-if. Instead, use the past to improve your current writing session.

As NaNoWriMo begins, I hope what I have learned from cats’ behavior helps remind you to have a healthier relationship with writing, which is ultimately the goal of NaNoWriMo. Besides the 50k.

Megan is a business risk and control advisor at a financial institution. The rest of her time, she spends dreaming of fantastical places. Her love for language led her to obtain a BA in English with a concentration in professional writing and an MA in Technical Communication and Rhetoric. When she is not writing, reading, or editing, she also enjoys traveling, watching movies, and spending time with her family and cat, Sophie. Connect with her on Linkedin or Goodreads!

Photo by Pixabay

Beyond the Word Count: A Book Editor’s Guide to Writing a First Draft

ALT

Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. First Draft Pro, a 2023 NaNoWriMo sponsor, is a beautifully designed writing app for fiction writers. Today, they’ve partnered with Kelly Norwood-Young, former book editor for Pan Macmillan and Penguin Random House, to bring you some pro tips on writing your first draft:

In my career as a book editor, I’ve reviewed hundreds of manuscripts. I’ve seen the joy of authors creating compelling tales, but also how disheartening it can be to rewrite a disjointed story. I’m here to give you some strategies to address common pitfalls so that you not only reach your NaNoWriMo goal, but also lay the groundwork for a manuscript that truly deserves to be called a gripping novel.

1. Have a plan.

Even if you’re more of a ‘pantser’ than a ‘planner’, it’s really helpful to have an outline. I have two favourite approaches for this: the structure-first approach, and what I call the ‘Phoebe Waller-Bridge approach’.  

The structure-first approach

There are a lot of narrative frameworks for story structure, but the most foundational in Western fiction is the three-act structure. Here’s a handy guide that breaks each of the classical three acts into a day-by-day guide to NaNoWriMo: 

8-day guide to Act 114-day guide to Act 28-day guide to Act 3The Phoebe Waller-Bridge approach

I love this quote from Phoebe Waller-Bridge: ‘I’ve never thought structure first. I’ve always thought material first, jokes first, character first … But knowing the end really helps. Then you just go as far away from the end emotionally as you possibly can.’  

Sketch out your major story arcs, your character’s desires and conflicts, and the world they inhabit. The more you know your story’s world and inhabitants, the less you’ll stray into scenes that lack purpose or create plot and character inconsistencies. 

2. Keep the story moving.

Each word needs to propel your story forward. Superfluous details or tangents that don’t serve the narrative stall the momentum you’re trying to generate for your reader. 

There’s a trick you can use to move your story forward, called the question of reversibility. Ask yourself: How difficult would it be for my character to reverse their decision? The harder it would be for them to turn back, the more you’ve moved the plot forward. 

3. Plant clues carefully.

Plant important elements early and make sure every element, however subtle, serves a purpose (i.e. Chekhov’s Gun). 

Be sure to set up necessary components for your climax so that you can steer clear of Deus ex Machina (having that strong outline will help you here), and avoid red herrings unless they serve a clear, meaningful purpose (e.g. you’re writing a mystery and your readers expect some false leads). Misleading your readers without a payoff can erode their trust.

4. Write for the reader, not yourself.

‘There is only one thing you write for yourself, and that is a shopping list,’ insists Umberto Eco in On Literature. Even if writing, for you, is a therapeutic outlet, a form of self-expression, or a way to leave a legacy, you’re still writing to say something to someone else. Your story simply won’t be as strong if you forget your reader’s perspective. 

5. Keep daily editorial notes for your future self.

While editing should wait until at least December, end each day with a brief reflection, noting any off-course deviations, potential inconsistencies, areas to research further, or moments of inspiration to revisit when you start editing. 

These daily notes will be invaluable during the editing process, helping you to remember insights that are no longer fresh when you come back to the manuscript later.

6. Embrace the first-draft mentality.

There’s a lot you can do to ensure that your first draft is the best it can be before the end of November—but just as important is to understand that all first drafts have flaws.

As a book editor, I’ve witnessed manuscripts transform, sometimes unrecognizably, from their first drafts. Embrace the uncertainty and creative detours—because it’s from this beautiful chaos that your story will find its true voice. 

Kelly Norwood-Young is a seasoned book editor and proofreader with comprehensive experience across various facets of manuscript editing. Her background includes roles at Pan Macmillan and Penguin Books, extending into a successful freelance career working with award-winning authors. Kelly’s work, known for its precision and sensitivity to the author’s voice, has been integral to the success of both new and established writers globally.

Try out First Draft Pro: All NaNoWriMo participants can use the discount code NANOWRIMO2023 for 20% off a premium subscription to First Draft Pro! Offer expires January 31, 2024.