Short answer: YES. Developmental editing is the stage where we zoom out and look at the whole story — not the commas. Think of it as the big-picture checkup your book needs before polishing. As writers, we are emotionally attached to the stories we write, and this blinds us from…

So, you typed “The End” — now what? First of all, congratulations! You did it! So, give yourself a big pat on the back before reading the rest. It’s tempting to send your manuscript to an editor right away, but rushing too soon can waste money and momentum. I am…

Characters who don’t change leave readers cold. But don’t worry — “arc” doesn’t have to mean building a complicated chart or memorizing craft jargon. I’ve seen hundreds (if not thousands) of many different charts and templates to craft characters that are well fleshed out, yet it can be very easy…

If you’ve ever hit a wall with your novel and thought, “Something’s wrong, but I can’t tell what,” you’re not alone. Most writers don’t stall because they can’t write — but because the story’s foundation is wobbling. Do not fret or allow imposter syndrome to take over just yet. Plot…

There’s a common misconception going around about outlines: that they are going to limit you.  On top of all of this, there’s also the highly likely chance that you have never been taught how to plan a novel, and, since you don’t know how, you may think you don’t need…