Ashley R. Carlson's Blog

3 Most Common Craft Mistakes I See As A Developmental Editor

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash. I've been providing book editing services through Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services for going on seven years officially (and longer if we include internships and freelance work), so I can confidently say that when it comes to craft and developmental work--i.e., examining such facets as story/plot structure (Hero's Journey, three-act structure, etc.), character arcs (how significantly a character changes from start to finish), dialogue, world-building/setting descriptions (are they easy to comprehend?), pacing, and more--that I'm pretty damn familiar with the same mistakes authors make over and over.

Below are the top 3 craft mistakes I see in many (so many!) of the developmental edits I do. While you can't avoid all of them, you can certainly pay attention as you write to save yourself lots of time and money later on. If you'd like to discuss how I can provide one-on-one, personalized editing assistance for your own manuscript (I offer three different tiers of editing, as well as a budget-friendly editorial review) through Utopia, contact me any time. Now let's get to it!

1. Unintentional Point-of-View (POV) Switches
I've come across these so many times in my editing work that it gets the number-one spot as a huge writing snafu. This is something you do not want to do unintentionally at length, because it will require tremendous amounts of revising that can span far beyond a developmental edit's typical parameters. In a nutshell, unintentional POV switches are when you, as the narrator, hop from one character's "consciousness"/POV to another's without a designated scene or chapter break. Now, this isn't the same as omniscient POV--a.k.a., you do have the authority to go mind-hopping from one character to another in the same scene. As a rule of thumb, try to stick to third-person or first-person limited POV and avoid omniscient POV unless you feel extremely comfortable in your author pursuits.
Nowadays, omniscient is very rarely done well and almost universally despised by agents and publishers, because it can be clumsily executed and confusing for readers.
**Want to see a popular example of omniscient POV? Read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice--the author moves from one character's head to another throughout the entirety of the book, and does so seamlessly.**

2. Characters' Goals Aren't Clear, and Neither Are The Stakes
This is another huge issue that can encompass an entire manuscript--when the characters' goals aren't clarified so that we can become invested as readers, and the obstacles getting in the way of those goals aren't easily defined so that we feel compelled to keep reading. I'm not saying that every single character needs an assignment they must complete to prevent the end of the world (hello Lord of the Rings, which my fiancé and I watched this past weekend!), but as the author it is your job to understand clearly what your characters want (they all want something, or you have no story), and to convey that clearly to us along with what stands in the way. You can have the absolute coolest setting in the world (or a setting that's out of this world!), but if you don't have characters who deeply want things and are continually being faced with trials that prevent them from getting those things, readers won't care. 

3. Infodumps (Too Much Backstory, Too Soon) 
Remember what I said about not telling us enough about characters' goals and the stakes in their way? Well, you can do the exact opposite by dumping a massive backstory on a reader  without first providing a hook that assures the reader's investment. The concepts/literary devices of foreshadowing (hints of events to come in order to develop a reader's expectations) and Chekhov's gun (all elements in a story must play a role later on) exist for a reason: Pull your reader in with excitement, action, and the promise that their attentions will be rewarded later on with big reveals and backstories about the characters they've come to care about.
In writing, the author does best to abide by this poker-playing adage: Don't show 'em all your cards!

That's it for now--stay tuned for my next post, where I'll be focusing on the most common copyediting (i.e., grammatical) mistakes I come across in my work with clients.
And don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or to discuss your editing, ghostwriting, or publishing consulting needs! I'm always here to help. 

-Ashley

3 Exciting Announcements for Utopia Editing and Ghostwriting Services in 2020

I had the trip of a lifetime in Thailand in September 2019, when I went to a humane elephant sanctuary in northern Thailand called Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary where you do not touch the animals. Respect is paramount--an incredible organization doing revolutionary things for animal tourism!  It's been a frighteningly long time since I've blogged on my personal website. I'm going to blame it on writing deadlines and client work and my own personal travels and obligations, but the reality of the situation is that blogging took a backseat to running a business and falling in love (yes, I got engaged in November 2019. Me! The online serial dater, someone who'd nearly resigned myself to a life of cat-ladydom and Real Housewives marathons, met someone who actually claims he wants to be around me for the rest of his life?! You won't be surprised to find that we met on Bumble. So, thanks online dating. Sometimes--okay, occasionally--you really pull through. Wanna stalk? He's on my Instagram).

That's all going to change this year! I have exciting announcements both for myself and for the business, with the first, most exciting one getting first place in line: 

1. Utopia Editing and Ghostwriting Services is offering a ten-percent-off, beginning-of-the-year discount! 
That's right: To bring in the new decade, I'm offering ten percent off the entire total of any job that's booked (a down payment sent and contracts signed, with this post mentioned) between January 23rd and March 15th, 2020. I'm currently booking clients for slots in summer of 2020, but you'll still receive this discount if you book the job and mention this blog post to me within the next two months!
Now's the perfect time to finish that memoir, book a self-publishing and/or traditional querying consultation, or just to reach out to a professional (with almost ten years of publishing and writing experience!) and discuss where you see your book and brand going in 2020.
Contact me anytime through my form here, or by email: ashleyrcarlson13@gmail.com.  

2. Utopia is formally announcing two services available in 2020:
a self-publishing package and traditional querying/proposal package. 
y?! While I've been offering these services sort of "a la carte" for several years, I'm officially going to be adding them to my services page in the coming weeks. Both the self-publishing package and the traditional querying/proposal package and very personalized based on each author's needs, and vary according to your preferences and budget. Please don't hesitate to ask for my referrals from past clients who've utilized these services, or inquire with any questions regarding these new and innovative packages! 

A typical self-publishing package might include: 
-Creating and managing an Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing account for your e-book and print book (can also include Apple, Barnes and Noble, and more online distributors).
​-Collaborating with your interior formatter, cover designer, and more to ensure a smooth completion of all moving parts of your self-published book before going live. 
-Managing your paperback and hardcover book in all stages from creation to getting it into your hands. 
Self-publishing packages range from $70-75 USD/hour.

A typical traditional publishing package might include: 
-Searching for and putting together a list of appropriate agents and/or publishers to submit a proposal to. 
-Crafting and/or revising a book proposal for a publisher (nonfiction) or a query letter for an agent and/or publisher (fiction). 
-Acting as a liaison between yourself and publishing houses' editors, and acting as your personal assistant and book proposal manager before a book deal is secured. 
Traditional publishing packages range from $70-75 USD/hour.

3. My personal writing career has taken some new turns for 2020.
I currently have several pieces on submission at the New York Times, Bustle, and other publications focused on travel, lifestyle, and more. I'm excited for this new chapter of my writing career--not only am I seeking publication at outside outlets for both fiction and nonfiction, but I've got a new work-in-progress manuscript taking up a large part of my brain. First drafts are the absolute most blissful part of a book's publication, aren't they?! Stay tuned for updates on future acceptances and my querying/publication journey.

Lastly, my fiancé and I are going to Italy from April 23rd-May 4th, so I will likely be hard to reach during that time. Other than that, please contact me any time to discuss your book project, editing or ghostwriting needs, questions about querying agents/publishers and how to self-publish (or whether you should!), learn more about my traditional publishing packages and self-publishing packages, and more. I'm always here to help. 

-Ashley

Should You Hate Your First Draft? Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting's Perspective

The front and back cover of a newly published anthology I helped to organize, titled It Begins Here.
​Find it on Amazon today!  Utopia Editing and Ghostwriting's Thoughts on Whether You Should Hate Your First Draft... As Head Book Editor for Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services, LLC in Phoenix, Arizona and also an author, I know what it's like to read a first draft. Whether my own, my clients, or my critique partners, I've been down in the trenches when it comes to repetitive words, flat dialogue, purple prose, and plot holes for days (I'm only speaking on behalf of my own first drafts with these examples).  Anne Lamott, national bestseller of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, actually has a chapter dedicated to first drafts. Want to know what it's called? "Shitty First Drafts!" (Find it on Amazon here.) I was reading Lamott's Bird by Bird a few days ago, and as I'm in the throes of the first draft of the sequel to my award-winning fantasy novel, The Charismatics, I was hoping the chapter might speak to me. Or something. One of my favorite passages was this:
"For me and most of the other writers I know, writing is not rapturous. In fact, the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts."
                                  -Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life   I found comfort in her words--so much comfort--but also, worry. Because I thought to myself...but I don't necessarily hate my first drafts. IN FACT, as a way to hold myself accountable for NaNoWriMo 2015, I'm actually posting my DAILY WORD COUNT on Wattpad. It's terrifying, it's exhilarating, and as I read Lamott's words, it made me wonder...am I making a huge mistake? Read about how I wrote the first draft of my award-winning novel in two months here! As authors it seems like a consistent thread amongst so many is a certain type of self-doubt, even a self-loathing about our work. Stephen King's been quoted as saying:
“Writing fiction, especially a long work of fiction can be a difficult, lonely job; it’s like crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a bathtub. There’s plenty of opportunity for self-doubt.” So Should Authors Hate Their First Drafts? As an experienced editor and author, my opinion regarding this topic is mixed. I think that there's a fine line between "hating" your work and recognizing that as writers (or any artist, for that matter) we always have more to learn. A wider vocabulary, better descriptions, clearer ways of describing things, more believable dialogue, diversity in our characters (and ones who are more fully realized)...so many things to learn. 
But the crux of the matter is this:
YOU WILL NOT LEARN HOW TO BECOME A BETTER WRITER IF YOU DO NOT WRITE. 
And for so many, the terror of that "shitty first draft" (or second, or third) keeps them from writing, or leads them to read and reread that first chapter, to revise and be full of self-loathing and self-doubt and generally just forget the reason why they got into fiction book writing altogether--because it's supposed to be enjoyable.  A certain level of confidence--nay, childish excitement--is vital for those beginning to explore the world in which their new book takes place. There is no room for hatred.  You are fragile, the storyline is fragile, and with the slightest breath of "hatred" upon your work, it could all come tumbling down. So no, I do not think that we should hate our first drafts. We should love them--because, after all, we should ultimately be writing our books for ourselves, anyway. 
And when the time is right to have another pair of eyes on it, make sure that it is someone who will tell you the truth, whether that be a partner, fellow author, beta reader or professional editor (like me!). They should highlight the good and the areas that need work, so that you can feel confident in the end result. But never should you feel "hatred" for your book or give heed to any needlessly negative critique from someone else.  Interested in a professional book editor's opinion of your work? Contact Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services today to discuss the types of editing we offer and how we can take your book from first draft to publishable or query-ready!

Local or Global: Should Your Book Editor or Ghostwriter Live Nearby?

 
As most of you know I live in Phoenix, Arizona in the U.S., which means that my editing/content creation business, Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services, is ALSO in Phoenix. 

Two major developments have revolutionized the publishing/content creation industry in recent history--one is the internet, which allows us to amass Twitter followers in Australia and Facebook friends in the U.K. (where some of my dearest author friends and readers live)--and the second is self-publishing. It's an amazing landscape that we're living in right now regarding the publishing industry; no longer do we have to move to New York or Chicago to provide editing services for authors through a claustrophobic publishing house with their long list of rules, and no longer do we have to query publishers in those cities, either (though we certainly still can--if we want to follow the rules). Publishing your novel or non-fiction is no longer out of reach--and neither is finding the perfect freelance editor or ghostwriter for you.
This means that with a computer and a proper internet connection, your editor or ghostwriter can live virtually anywhere... but should they?  ​ Why your editor or ghostwriter should live locally:  1. If it's a collaborative project. 
Is this a ghostwriting project to draft up your memoir or biography? Do you need to discuss lots of ideas regarding prior memories, stories or content from its most basic form? If you're unsure of what you want to include in the project, it includes a lot of personal details or it's still in the beginning to middle stages (some forms of content/developmental editing), then I recommend to choose a local editor or ghostwriter whom you can meet with in person to discuss these things. 

2. If you struggle to communicate online. 
The internet is not for everyone. Email is not for everyone. And as a seasoned editor, ghostwriter and self-published author I can tell you--this process can involve a LOT of online time. There's going to be frequent back-and-forth regarding ideas, clarifications, questions--and if it's a developmental content edit, then most likely some disagreements about my recommendations. (Kill those darlings! Kill! Those! Darlings!) So if you aren't of communicating in this manner, I suggest choosing an editor or ghostwriter in your area for in-person meetings. 
Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services offers in-person consultations regarding your book editing or ghostwriting needs in Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding areas. Contact me today and we can schedule a time to meet and discuss your project!  3. If you need accountability. 
Look at Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services like your own personal trainer in the content creation/editing field. It is my job help you get this project from A to B--whether that be from an edited manuscript to a proofread one, a rough draft to one with every plot hole addressed, or even from an outline to a completed novel/non-fiction book ready for publication (yes, I have done this! Read some of my clients' testimonials here).  Still not sure whether Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services is the right choice for you? Why not contact me so we can discuss your project, and I can give you a free sample edit of your first 1,000 words? My ultimate goal is to help your book or writing project in any way I can--it is my passion, it is my calling, and it is my promise to do anything and everything to perfect your words, whether in Phoenix, Arizona or globally. 
Contact Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services today!  Did you know about Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services' HOLIDAY SPECIAL? I am offering 10% off the FINAL total of any project scheduled in December of 2015 or January of 2016 as a gift from me to you! Contact me to discuss and get you on the schedule! Ashley R. Carlson is an award-winning author and editor based in Phoenix, Arizona. She provides editing, ghostwriting, SEO-optimized content creation and self-publishing consulting through her company, Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services, LLC in the Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley areas and globally. Contact her today to schedule an appointment or for a free sample edit.

A Brilliant Light at the End: One Brave Girl's Story of Overcoming Depression

Photo credit: Sarah Ann LorethAs an artist, I feel things.
Like, really feel things, it seems like.
I don't watch the news very often because of this reason, and my mom will frequently say, "Did you hear about this shooting?" or "Did you see that terrible video with the starving children?" to which I shake my head, gearing up for the horrific thing she's about to tell me has happened in the world today. 
I think its useful to be sensitive to this sort of thing, especially when you're writing novels about fictional characters and plotlines that you want to move readers, maybe even to instigate change. To teach people about courage, sacrifice, overcoming poverty, abuse and circumstances in a safe environment: the pages of a book.
Yet, even in my darkest days (which unequivocally pale in comparison to the plights of so, so many others on this earth), I've never been moved to consider ending it; to taking my own life. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to live in a world where hope is gone, where every second is a fight--one you're not sure you're going to win.
Depression is a prowling, lurking killer ... it hides in dark bedrooms, behind fake smiles, and even amongst those with families and exploding careers.  
It's dangerous.
But it's not incurable.
I've experienced a bit of loneliness in my adult life--namely that I'm 26 and single, attempting to gracefully wade through the miasma that is dating in 2015--and I can say that God blessed me with a wonderful girl a few months back, when my heart ached for companionship. She's not a husband, but is in so many ways even better; my roommate commiserates with me daily, sends hilarious pictures from the next room (even when we can still see each other), and most importantly, reminds me that I'm not alone.
This bubbly, gorgeous girl seemed to me the quintessential ideal of happy--but she wasn't always this way.
Recently, she shared with me some heart-wrenching stories about a time when she felt more isolated than I can even fathom, a time when she had to pretend to all she encountered that all was well, when in reality, she was composing suicide notes in her head.
Because I have a platform that might reach even one person who might need to hear it, I felt it my duty (with her permission) to repost a blog piece she wrote when the worst was over--when she'd decided, through much hard work and courage on her part--that she wanted to live.
You can make it through, and you don't have to do it alone. Please, email me at ashleyrcarlson13@gmail.com for anything, and I'd be happy to get you in touch with my roommate to talk, or even chat with you myself. Such a huge part of depression is feeling alone, and we are here to remind you that you. Are. Not. Alone.
Her and I strikin' out at a local bar, yet again, hence our expressions.
Isn't she just beautiful?

Below is her story, and letter of encouragement to you. Thank you for being brave enough to share it, my sweet friend.
In my life, I struggled with depression. For a long time I didn’t even know what that was. I thought, for some reason, I had to unhappy for the rest of my life. I had no choices. I was not happy and I never would be. There was some internal flaw in me that had made all my choices for me. I accepted this for years. I smiled when with people and was extremely excitable, but when I was alone a dark cloud would surround me. It followed me around during the day, but I was pretty good at pushing it off and ignoring it at certain times. I felt as though I was choking on air though. I spent most of my time alone when I could. I didn’t want to get out of bed. Each year my depression affected me in a different way, but the result was the same, I was miserable in a way that words could not describe.

Early in my college career I sought help. I went to the doctor, to counselors. I started reading up on what I was going through. I did not want to be unhappy for the rest of my life. It took time. So much time. I had to try different doctors, counselors, and different medications and it got tiring. Depression already made it hard enough to do anything. Getting up everyday took effort, adding anything else on top of that seemed impossible. Even taking my blood pressure at the doctor’s office was always confusing because my anxiety would make heart beat too fast for them to actually know what the number was. I didn’t enjoy going to the doctor and the mess that involved getting better. But I knew I was investing in the most important thing: me. My future. 

People would mention here and there that you "could choose to be happy or unhappy." I disagreed. It wasn’t my fault I was unhappy. I was depressed. Chemicals, my past, thought processes--these were all responsible for my unhappiness. Everyone said it differently but I couldn’t choose happiness, unhappiness had chosen me--or so I thought.

About a year ago I realized something. It was almost like it was lit up in bright lights, a theme weaving in and out of my life. Happiness is a choice . Those four words, when I thought about them, began to make a lot more sense. Though I had heard it every once in while, I never really thought about what it meant. I thought it meant “You can choose to be happy in this exact moment, and if you are not happy right now, that is your fault.” It didn’t make sense to me. How could someone choose happiness when there was this invisible weight tied to every thought? Why wouldn't someone choose happiness if they could? It didn’t occur  to me that happiness was a choice in a different, more complex way . Maybe I wasn’t happy right then, but I could do things to invest in my future happiness. 

People comparing cancer and diabetes and other physiological diseases to depression confused me in that same way, because I assumed there was nothing I could do about the disease that was eating up my life. It existed, it had chosen me (and many others) to suffer by it, and there was nothing anyone could do. But there was. I interpreted the metaphor completely wrong. People with diabetes do not just sit at home. They go see doctors. They get help. Depression made me want to stay at home, stay in bed. The last thing I wanted to do for a long time was let anyone else in on this thing terrorizing me, but what happens when serious illnesses go untreated? They get worse. They can get deadly. 

In my worse times, I could not be happy right then. My body, my mind, would not let me. Not to say I’m happy all the time now. Things are better, not perfect. I don’t expect them to be. But I’m taking control over this invisible enemy that splayed darkness across many, many years of my young life. I learned to turn my thoughts from the dark void that that ate up every good thought and brought me down. Beating depression was like climbing out of a deep ditch, one with crumbling walls. Sometimes you think you get a foothold, but you fall back down--but if you keep trying, you'll find the best way out of the hole. Its difficult, but there are people willing to help if one will also help themselves.

Being happy is like treading water; its not a permanent destination but something that one has to work at. Something one has to decide to be, continually. I did not choose depression, no one does. But it takes a lot of people, some worse than others. It's a battle that isn't always fair…but it is winnable. It's a harder battle for some people than others, but there can be victory over it. Though it may be clawing at every action and every emotion as you go through the day, you can choose to over take this beast, make it a story of your past and not something that clings to every moment of your future. It probably won’t be easy, and won’t happen instantaneously, but I know you can do it. I may not know you, your personal story or what exactly you are struggling with, but I do know 2 things about you: 1. You deserve happiness, and 2. You are strong enough to defeat this sickness.

Where to Find your Editor or Ghostwriter

(Above is a conversation I had with a favorite critique partner of mine, and a video I made about why your editor needs to be a "hardass." Watch and keep it in mind as you read this post about where to find the best editor/ghostwriter for you.) There is a LOT of content being put into the world every second--advertising copy, marketing materials, college papers, fiction books like this and this--and for many, an editor was used (and sometimes a ghostwriter/web content writer).
Where does one find editors and ghostwriters for all of the words they want to put into the world?
Many places, actually. I thought I would compile a list of the various places you can find an editor or ghostwriter for your project, as well as my thoughts about the quality of the work you can expect from those places (it can vary a lot).

THE BEST WAY TO FIND AN EDITOR/GHOSTWRITER (in my opinion): 
 1. Organically. Maybe you stumbled across them on Twitter and became fast friends over your love of Ever After and chocolate-covered anything. Maybe a friend used them and couldn't stop raving. Or MAYBE they wrote a book you really enjoyed, and they offer editing services as well! (Most of my recent clients are individuals who read "The Charismatics" and wanted to become clients of Utopia Editing & Ghostwriting Services because of that.) For a fiction book, I think this is THE best way to hire an editor or ghostwriter--you've seen their work (or at least their work ethic), you know they are reliable, and that your money will be well-spent. Always go with this option if you are serious about having a well-done end product (and are willing to invest in it).

2. Thumbtack.com. This is my second-favorite option, mostly because Thumbtack doesn't deal with any pay transactions. A freelancer pays a small amount to send a quote for a job, and after that Thumbtack is out of the equation, and it's just the freelance editor/ghostwriter and the client. When you post a job on Thumbtack you'll receive up to five quotes from interested freelancers (and normally within minutes), and you can browse their profiles, read reviews, and compare their proposed amounts to do the job. I think this is another way to get high-quality work, though it will cost more. Since it's less "competitive" regarding pay rates (freelancers don't know how much others are quoting), you are getting realistically "high" amounts for a job done well. Other websites make it a much more competitive market for jobs so that freelancers quote low (and take a cut of freelancers' earnings), and in my observations it can severely hinder the quality of work.
 **Keep in mind that if you use Thumbtack to post a job, that freelancers are PAYING several dollars or more to bid on it. It's courteous to be serious about actually hiring someone, as long as they are the right fit.**
**Freelance editors/ghostwriters should keep in mind that a lot of people aren't necessarily serious about a job, so be thoughtful about spending the "bid tokens" you purchase.**

3. Elance/oDesk/Upwork.com (These were three separate companies, but they are merging to Upwork this year). On Upwork, all of the payments and correspondence are done through their website--both to protect you and the freelance editor/ghostwriter. When you post a job that's decently compensated, you could have upwards of 50 applicants in minutes! Upwork allows you to browse profiles, read reviews--but keep in mind that freelancers who work with you can ALSO rate you as a customer. The website also posts how much you've spent on jobs, how much you normally pay people an hour, and what your "customer rating" is--so guess what! If you only pay $3.33 an hour (a frequent sum, I've seen), the individuals who will be applying for your jobs MIGHT not speak English (or they might just be downright spammers).
Compensate someone for the quality of work you want. If it's some simple ad copy, then you can probably get away with $7.00 an hour (anything lower than that in my opinion is unethical). But if you want a full-on deep content edit of your novel (something I offer for $25/hour),  then best to go elsewhere. Or hire me. :)

4. Fiverr.com. Ah, Fiverr. Fiverr, Fiverr. Fiverr. If there was ever a "bargain" shopping option for freelance work, it's here. The name says it all--five dollars for a service. "It's too good to be true!" you might be saying. And, well, the answer is YES. It *is* too good to be true if you want quality editing/ghostwriting for more than a few hundred words.
I've only utilized the website a few times, and my experience was mixed. The freelancer didn't really give me what I wanted (this was when I gave up on trying to format "Misery and Marlene" myself, even though I DID end up doing it after I worked with this individual and wasn't happy with the result), but I felt bad continuing to ask for edits from them when I'd only paid five bucks.
Other friends I've talked to said they enjoyed the service, but I did begin editing a manuscript for someone who'd originally worked with an editor from Fiverr and it was ... well ... pretty awful. Still needed serious copy-editing and proofreading, so I hope he didn't pay too much for such poor work from the site.
I DO offer several services on Fiverr including proofreading, copy-editing, content editing and ghostwriting (of a novel, blog post or social media marketing), but they are for small amounts and are mostly to meet clients for bigger jobs. I do not offer things for barely anything, because I believe that my work is worth more than that.
**Be wary of people stating they will "edit" your entire manuscript for five dollars. It just isn't feasible for quality. But if you have a college paper that just needs a quick proofread, go right ahead!**
**ALSO be wary of some serious spammers. The site is full of them, both for those offering services and those posting jobs. Look for freelancers with several pictures of themselves (or a video, even better!) and those with reviews. And DEFINITELY no typos or weird English--that is the HUGEST mark of a spammer who's used some sort of Google Translate and doesn't have good intentions.**

Hope this helped to enlighten you about where and how to find an editor or ghostwriter for your next project! And as always, I'm here to discuss editing or ghostwriting services with my own company, Utopia, at ANY time! Email me at ashleyrcarlson13@gmail.com to discuss your project, for my references, and to receive a free sample edit of your first 1,000 words.

Dating Fails and the Release of "Misery and Marlene"

Below are two actual individuals I had the pleasure of seeing on Tinder. It's a wonder I'm still single. Hello my humble readers. It is I, your single 26-year-old author/editor friend Ashley.
To celebrate the release of my contemporary novella, "Misery and Marlene," I wanted to post about the perils of dating as a young woman in this technological age.

It applies somewhat to my novella--in it, Marlene is a 25-year-old living an unhappy (nay, "miserable?") life in Fenton, Missouri, and she is involved with a really sweet but BORING guy named Seth. They met at the restaurant where Marlene works as a waitress, and Seth represents many things that Marlene thinks she wants to escape: a complacent life of domesticity, a passionless marriage with someone who's safe and "reliable," a boring existence.
Marlene is terrified of two things:
that her life will never mean anything,
AND
that someone will hurt her by leaving first.

I wonder sometimes if these are some of the reasons why guys (and girls) act so oddly regarding online dating (or any dating, for that matter). Do we use defense mechanisms like bravado (*cough* both pictures at the top *cough*), humor and overconfidence to put off the truth--that many times, we are on there because we feeling an emptiness in our lives, one that a significant other could fill?

I like to tell myself that's why. It makes things easier (and less depressing) to imagine some of the sexist, ridiculous and downright degrading things men have said to me and my fellow single women more tolerable (albeit barely); to believe that they're doing it so they don't get hurt. Because I can understand that. Hell, I wrote an anti-heroine named Marlene who does EXACTLY that.

And although I can understand that we're all in this awkward, vulnerable boat together, it doesn't mean I'm not going to let you off the hook for acting like a fool. For treating me or my fellow single gals like we're stupid, a piece of meat, someone to occupy your time with for an evening, someone to USE. And believe me when I say that we KNOW when you're doing that. Maybe not right away, and maybe we don't all post about it ... but we know.

It doesn't take that much to stay out of the "Dating Fail" category. Be pleasant, be polite, be a gentleman. Please don't cry on a first date. Please don't ask us to pay for our half if you invited us out. Please don't make us smell videogames unless we've made it abundantly CLEAR that we like the smell of plastic.
Watch the video below and you'll know what I'm talking about, and give " Misery and Marlene " a read if you like adult contemporary, complete with a naughty sex scene or two. ;) 

Next up is "The Charismatics 2," and more dating videos! (Unless I meet my Prince Charming this weekend ...) Fingers crossed. And remember my friends ...

Never stop writing and never stop dreaming!

NEW VIDEO: Reading "The Charismatics"

I finally made another video!
I have been meaning to do this for a few weeks now, after realizing that my YouTube channel had somehow grown to thirty subscribers. (Want to subscribe? Here's the link.)
After some suggestions from kind reader friends (some of which included my doing a weird dance, more stories about my horrible past dates, showing my "writer's cave," or just filming my four pets), I decided to first go with a reading from my book, "The Charismatics."

Things have been getting more exciting for me career-wise, as I was offered a head editor position with a local company I've worked for in the past, Midnight Publishing (want us to edit your work? Here's the contact link!). 
Starting March 23rd, I will begin that position, slowly transitioning from the restaurant to editing and another business endeavor I'm beginning: pet-sitting!

As many of you know, I love animals so much it could be deemed unhealthy, and over the past few months have really gotten a reality check: writing fiction is NOT a lucrative career path in the beginning.
You're thinking, "Well, duh, Ashley, everyone knows that."
I guess I was overly hopeful, thinking that somehow my book would take off, or would fall into the right hands, or that Oprah's niece would recommend it to the book club ... (HA! Just kidding. No I'm not.)
And that's unrealistic. Not impossible, and it doesn't mean I will ever stop writing--but in the meantime, I need to start pursuing an income doing something I enjoy.

So, that's the update on me. I will be hard at work editing, growing my pet-sitting business, giving motivational presentations, and writing "The Charismatics'" sequel this summer, of course! Once again, thank you for your support, I really wouldn't have the strength to keep going without it.
If you enjoy the video and want to hear more, email me at ashleyrcarlson13@gmail.com to let me know (or if you think I sound ridiculous then we can just pretend this never happened). Same goes for if you want a free e-book to keep reading.
As always, keep writing and keep dreaming!
Want me to give a presentation at your school, event, or personal home? Contact me!
Want me to edit your manuscript and make it publish-ready? Contact me!
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Self-Published Authors Interview Series: Ava Morgan

Climbing mountains when I'm not writing Misery and Marlene. As an author it's important to remember that sometimes you need to LEAVE your writing space for inspiration. This past week I hiked a mountain with some family who were visiting, and as I sat up there near the top, the icy wind blowing my hair against my dried-out lips, the white sun glaring into my eyes while I looked down upon that open land dotted with cacti and underbrush, I felt like a wild thing. And I started imagining--imagining the main character from my fantasy novel, "The Charismatics," climbing her own mountain in the sequel I'll start writing this summer, and the harrowing journey she has ahead--and it was magical. I itched to start writing again. So before I introduce my steampunk author friend, Ava Morgan, and our interview about her self-publishing journey, let me just remind you that as artists we need to EXPLORE the world sometimes. Eat a new food, go on a mini-trip, take a salsa dancing class, gree to a date.
Experience life so that we can encapsulate it fully in our writings, and enjoy our precious time here.
Now let's meet Ava Morgan, steampunk author extraordinaire!
1. Tell us about Ava Morgan as a child (all the strange details!). Or maybe just some personality traits. Did you show signs of a future as a writer, even when you were young?
Thanks for welcoming me, Ashley. I was the lone wolf/class nerd growing up, always reading or scribbling stories down in a notebook. My usual inspirations were Saturday morning cartoons (Waaay back in the day when Saturday morning television was reserved for the young’uns), Dungeons and Dragons, and Choose Your Own Adventure novels.
This geekdom definitely wasn’t cool when I was growing up in the Steve Urkel era. If I only knew the terms cosplay and fanfiction in those days. It would have saved me plenty of preteen angst about my little corner of weirdness. But I’m happy to live in a time now where people are embracing individuality and consuming entertainment with a scifi/fantasy bent J

2. What have been your best and worst experiences in writing so far, and how have you handled them?
I’ll start with the positive. My best experience was choosing to go the self-publishing/independent route. I love the freedom and control I have over my writing, the ability to work hard to turn it into a career. No one is telling me I can’t write steampunk and paranormal romance at the same time. No one is telling me I can’t have multicultural characters in my novels or to change their ethnicity and background so readers will feel more “comfortable”. A couple editors actually did tell me to do this when I was in traditional publishing. With self-pub, the only people whose opinion matters are the readers, not a marketing department.

As for the not-so-positive experiences, see the above. I used to write historical romances for trad pub, and encountered my share of difficulties from both creative and business standpoints. I realize some authors prefer this route to publishing. I’m not attacking them. It’s just that trad pub wasn’t a good fit for me and the stories I wanted to publish.

3.  Why did you decide to self-publish? Was it always your plan, or something you decided upon after querying for a while?
I had stories that I knew were better served for a niche market. Self-publishing allowed me to do that. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I like how self-publishing provides higher royalties than those in boilerplate publishing contracts.

 4. Tell us about your current novel available (or novels). 
 I just released Dominique’s Dilemma , a novelette that takes place in the steampunk Curiosity Chronicles world. It centers on the story of Dominique Fontaine, a former industrial spy for the French, as she and British agent Colton Smythe deal with a mysterious mechanical menace terrorizing the people of her village. There’s sort of an old French fairy tale theme going on… The whole Curiosity Chronicles series follows agents from both New Britannia and France as they race to catch criminal industrialists and find scientific inventions, all while discovering love.

5. What does your writing process look like? How long does it take you to write each draft, do you re-write the entire second draft (as I’ve read some authors do) or just tweak it, etc.? Beta-readers, editors, cover design? TELL US YOUR SECRETS.
 I write 5-6 days a week, and I aim for a certain word count. Once the first draft is done, I give it and myself a break for a few days. Then I begin self-edits. Once those are completed, I hand the manuscript to my editor and several beta readers. Finally, when all the feedback is received, changes are incorporated into the final draft. As for my cover design, I go with For The Muse Design. Elaina Lee is amazing. She knows what images work for different genres, especially steampunk art. She also designs my covers for my YA paranormal series The Grafters and my upcoming shifter series Wolves of Amarok.

6. Any mistakes you've made or advice for other writers?
 My mistake was failing to educate myself about my options early on. Do your research before you make any decision. Don’t just rely on one source of information. Fact-check, read the self-publishing blogs, participate in forums. Also, don’t be afraid to treat writing as both business and pleasure. Yes, we do it because we love the art of writing, but we need to consider ourselves business entrepreneurs as well as artists.

7. What is something readers don’t know about you? Hobby you enjoy, or a fun personal quirk?
I love film noir and pulp fiction. There was definitely a gritty but stylish aesthetic in the look and tone of 1940s-50s entertainment. My bookshelves are weighed down with classic movie tomes, Golden Hollywood autobiographies, and Raymond Chandler collections.  

8. And finally, I like to ask each interviewee to recommend a charity that they feel personally drawn to, so that I can add it to the charity page on my website! What organization or charity do you feel we should raise awareness about?
Compassion International is a child sponsorship program that my husband and I have been a part of for five years now. This program enables people to donate $38 a month to provide a child in developing countries with access to food, clean water, education, and mentoring. With all the hatred and persecution plaguing humanity right now, we sometimes forget about the smallest victims. Compassion International provides an opportunity to be proactive by helping children live better lives.
Thanks for hosting me today, Ashley! I enjoyed our conversation. Looking forward to reading more of your novels. Cheers!
Ava Morgan is a history buff, vintage style lover, and a bibliophile. She’ll read anything, especially steampunk, fantasy, and pulp fiction. When she isn’t planted in her writing chair, she can be found bicycling with her husband, raising two furry canine children, costuming, and traveling. Come say hello at www.avamorgan.com.

So You Got A Bad Book Review ... Now What?

Photo by Alex Stoddard It's been a little over two months since "The Charismatics" released, and so far I've received a lot of support and--for the most part--favorable reviews.
As I've grown further as an author, I've come to realize this conundrum that all of us human beings deal with, but one that is particularly strong with those who create: we design/invent/cook/write/paint/sing something into existence, something we have most likely poured our hearts into, our energy, our free time, our daydreams, and whittled at it and perfected it and breathed life into it, all so that it could be--

JUDGED.


Judged. Doesn't that sound like a terrible word? JUDGED. Many times, it's judged positively. Sometimes, your work receives accolades and awards. And every so often ... it gets torn apart.
Those in the public eye are probably used to this by now--figures like Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lawrence and Justin Bieber are (unfortunately) used to getting verbally attacked on the interwebs, or having their private phones hacked (I'm STILL livid about that happening to my future bestie, JLaw), or just plain-old bullying. Some people say, "you shouldn't become famous if you don't want the attention," or "you shouldn't take compromising photos if you don't want to run the risk of them being stolen and shared," or, to authors like me, "you shouldn't write a book unless you can handle someone's negative review of it."

And in some ways, they're right. When you put yourself out there, whether it be as an actor, chef, business owner, flying trapeze artist--you're inviting others to judge you and your work. They can say whatever they want about it, and they can post it online for others to see--it's their prerogative.

But that doesn't mean it's not going to hurt, especially not in the beginning as you're thickening your artist skin.

Read on to see how I felt when receiving my first negative review of "The Charismatics," and the coping (I call them coping--that may sound serious, but I think it's vital not to downplay the important of learning to cope with others' judgments of you, in work and in life) mechanisms I utilized to work through it:
THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF--AKA, RECEIVING MY FIRST NEGATIVE REVIEW
1. Denial.
I stared at my computer for a solid five minutes, reading and re-reading in disbelief. Thinking, for a moment, "maybe this person reviewed the wrong book. Maybe they have mine confused with another's." The worst part was, I read this first thing as I woke up. (do you do that as well?! Check Amazon and KDP every morning for new sales or reviews? Oh. Me either.) It's not a great way to start one's day off.
2. Anger.
This was not anger at the person. This was anger at MYSELF. I literally thought this exact thing: "I am never writing anything ever again. I am a HACK, a sad excuse for an 'author.' I should give everyone who's ever bought my book their money back and be a waitress forever and FORGET THIS EVER HAPPENED."
3. Bargaining.
Then I spiraled into this way of thinking: "what if I contact them and ask, specifically, what they didn't like? What if I consider changing those areas so that I can make it better, so that it's not just a MASSIVE PILE OF SHIT AGGGGGGGHHHHHHH---" this led into the next stage:
4. Depression.
I got up, made coffee, reread the negative review, cried and called my mom and ex-boyfriend for moral support. I whined a *tiny* bit about it on social media, which led to my awesome author friend, Ryan Hill, sending me a fantastic email full of great advice--which I'll get to in a bit--and I crawled back into bed. I didn't write at all that day.

I didn't write for a couple days after that, putting my novella Misery and Marlene aside to wallow, somewhat appropriately, in my misery. (Get it?! GET IT?! I'm so funny, har har, I'm so witty and good with puns and--sorry. I drank coffee this afternoon so I'm a little wound-up).
5. Acceptance.
This had some to do with Ryan's advice, but it also had to do with some actual THERAPY--which I'll get to below as well. But I got to a point soon after where I could write again, and I spoke with some awesome, supportive reader friends who complimented my novel, and I ACCEPTED IT AND MOVED ON.

So how do you handle receiving a negative review?

This is what I did. It might be a little different for you, but as a new author--an INDIE one no less, and thus with NO EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER in being rejected by agents/publishers countless times--I needed to mentally realign myself. Here are my tips, and feel free to share more in the comments:

1. Find solace in other writers who've been through it as well.
This is where my little social media "cry for help" came in. My friend Ryan, a much more seasoned author than I, reached out with a kind email. He not only regaled me with funny tales of his own negative reviews (I say funny because he is snarky and sarcastic as hell, so it was hilarious to hear his perspective on some individuals' thoughts of his work), but he also reminded me: ONCE YOU PUBLISH A BOOK, IT IS NO LONGER YOURS.
"But I wrote it Ashley!" NOPE. Not yours.
"But they are MY characters, living MY storyline, in MY world!" So?! If you never wanted anyone to dislike your romance or say it was "insta-love" or that you had too many sexual innuendos in it (yes, that's one I've received) then you SHOULD NEVER HAVE HIT THAT AMAZON PUBLISH BUTTON.

2. Read your positive reviews.
This was a great tip from another steampunk author I admire, Deina Furth, which she talked about in one of her recent video blogs. It's a great pointer--and something that really does help.

3. Get therapy.
Remember how I mentioned therapy earlier? Yeah. My mom is a counselor with a specialty--EMDR. It stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and it's main purpose, through specialized eye movement with a trained professional, is to help the brain clear itself of traumatic memories received over the years. Sounds hokey? Here's a little bit of info--and it's been heralded as an incredibly effective treatment for individuals suffering from PTSD. No matter how much we talk about something with a therapist/friend/dog, sometimes we simply cannot rid ourselves of deep traumas that affect our behaviors without deep exploration and treatment. That's where EMDR comes in. As I struggled with feelings of rejection from the review, I began to realize that this was a pattern--a pattern of rejection that stemmed from childhood rejections/traumas that I needed to address.
After an EMDR session, where I was able to assess and clear some childhood memories of rejection, and assess the dysfunctional thoughts behind my feelings ("I'm not worthy, I'm not good enough, lovable, etc."), I felt SO MUCH BETTER.
Not perfect. This isn't a miracle brain-hijacking. But it WAS very helpful. So as you can see, I'm a huge advocate for exploring therapeutic measures, whether that be with an actual professional, reading helpful books, or simply going for a walk outside--it's very important to heal and maintain your mental and emotional health.

It's hard to be an author. It's hard to be a HUMAN. We get rejected by the world every day. But we keep pressing on, and that should be acknowledged. Don't forget to acknowledge that.
As someone said to me a few days ago, when I was feeling dejected about the sales of my book and career: "Ashley. You are doing a GOOD job."
Six simple words that held so much meaning. So don't forget to tell yourself the same thing, and I'll say it here, too--

My friends. You are doing a GOOD job.

Now keep writing and keep dreaming. And email me about anything.
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