Embracing the Fiction Author Journey

76. Navigate the Editing Process with Allyson Wilkins

Ready to transform your manuscript from a rough draft into a polished gem? Discover the secrets to navigating the entire editing process, whether you're working with a professional editor or sharpening your skills to self-edit your book! In this episode, join Erin P.T. Canning and special guest Allyson Wilkins, an expert editor for YA and adult fantasy and fairy tale retellings, as we demystify everything you need to know about getting your book ready for readers. Learn how to know if your manuscript is truly ready for professional eyes, debunk common myths about working with editors, and get practical and actionable tips you can apply right away! What you’ll learn:  * Understanding Editing Stages: The key differences between developmental editing, line editing, and proofreading, and when your manuscript is ready for each phase. * Finding the Right Editor: How to choose a great editor who enhances your unique author voice, not changes it, and what happens once your manuscript leaves your hands. * Editor Rates & Time: Get transparent insights into how editors charge, what goes into their work (the 1K–3K rule!), and realistic turnaround times. * Self-Editing Masterclass: Actionable strategies for self-editing your own book, including the power of beta readers, show, don't tell, avoiding LY adverbs, and unique proofreading techniques. * Common Mistakes to Avoid: Learn common pitfalls authors make before and during the editing process, and how to set your book up for success. * Pacing Your Publication: Honest advice on managing publishing deadlines and preventing burnout. Guest Spotlight — Connect with Allyson:  * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getitwrite_editing [https://www.instagram.com/getitwrite_editing]  * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getitwriteedit [https://www.facebook.com/getitwriteedit]  * Website: https://getitwrite-editing.com [https://getitwrite-editing.com]  Resources discussed:  * Editorial Freelancers Association: https://www.the-efa.org/ [https://www.the-efa.org/]  Connect with us:  * Website: https://erinptcanning.com [https://erinptcanning.com]   * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning [https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinptcanning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinptcanning/]  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2054797/fan_mail/new] READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER?  Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more:  https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor [https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor]

75. Book Talk: The Quicksilver Conundrum – Editor’s Eye, Reader’s Heart

Ever wonder what makes a massive novel like Callie Hart's Quicksilver tick … or maybe a struggle?  Join Erin P.T. Canning for a fascinating dual review, breaking down this popular book from both a writer/editor's analytical perspective and a reader's honest opinion. In this episode of Embracing the Fiction Author Journey, Erin dives deep into Quicksilver. You'll hear insights on plot structure, character arcs, industry guidelines, and Erin's personal reading experience with this captivating, yet challenging, book. What you'll discover: * The Anatomy of a Massive Book: Insights into Quicksilver's number of chapters and total word count, and thoughts on the placement of pronunciation guides and the surprising absence of specific pages. * Word Count & Industry Standards: A breakdown of Quicksilver's estimated word count and how it compares to the typical book length recommendation for new fantasy/romantasy authors. * Inciting Incidents & Character Goals: Analysis of how Quicksilver handles the inciting incident and character motivation within the crucial first few chapters. * The Reader's Journey: Erin's honest struggles with the protagonist Saeris's anger and the male lead, Kingfisher, in the first half of the book, and why she continued reading. * The Impact of Book Size on Pacing: How the book's length might affect the "enemies to lovers" trope and overall reader engagement. * World-Building & Comic Relief: Highlights of the phenomenal world-building and the essential comic relief provided by secondary characters. * The Value of Persisting: Why, despite initial struggles, Erin’s glad she finished reading the book, leading to excitement for the sequel. Mentioned in this episode:  * Book Review: Quicksilver by Callie Hart * Free Guide: Download Erin's guide, "Four Steps to Help You Finish a First Draft," to help you write your first book without struggling to get words on the page: https://subscribepage.io/erinptcanning-podcast-newsletter-sign-up [https://subscribepage.io/erinptcanning-podcast-newsletter-sign-up] Connect with Erin P.T. Canning:  * Website: https://erinptcanning.com [https://erinptcanning.com]   * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning [https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning]  * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinptcanning/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinptcanning/]  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2054797/fan_mail/new] READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER?  Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more:  https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor [https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor]

74. Capture Story Ideas with Discovery Drafts

Do you start writing fervently but get lost in the murky middle? Or have you ever had an idea for a story but you're not sure where to start? And sitting down to write a massive number of words feels intimidating? In today’s episode, learn how discovery drafts can help you capture your story idea much more quickly—and provide flexibility for pantsers.  Topics discussed in this episode:  * Two case stories * What is a discovery draft? * What goes into a discovery draft? * Many benefits * Structuring your discovery draft * Developmental edits vs manuscript evaluations * Join writing sprints and get my prompts Resources discussed:  * Document navigation with styles: https://youtu.be/qjbMeZBrrOA [https://youtu.be/qjbMeZBrrOA]  * Different types of editors: https://erinptcanning.com/book-coaches-and-editors-whats-the-difference/ [https://erinptcanning.com/book-coaches-and-editors-whats-the-difference/ ] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2054797/fan_mail/new] READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER?  Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more:  https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor [https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor]

73. Exciting changes coming to my podcast

Big changes are in store for Parents Who Write. In this episode, I'm excited to announce a new chapter for my podcast! I'll share the inspiration behind the name change and how it better reflects the show's current focus. Get ready for a fresh start with engaging discussions and valuable insights. *********  Connect with Erin P.T. Canning:  * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanningeditor [https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanningeditor]   * Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/erinptcanningeditor [http://www.instagram.com/erinptcanningeditor]    * Book a free 30-minute consultation call to learn about my editing services:  https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting [https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting]  Let’s connect via my Facebook group, the Creative Writing Collective, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativewritingcollectivegroup [https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativewritingcollectivegroup].  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2054797/fan_mail/new] READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER?  Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more:  https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor [https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor]

72. BOOK TALK: The Witch Collector

Have you ever read a book and the world falls away?  Pay attention to those moments. Because as writers, we can learn a lot from the books that inspire us.  We should study what works and why. We can also explore what didn’t work for us and learn how that knowledge can also shape us into the writers we want to be.  In today’s episode, host Erin P.T. Canning discusses The Witch Collector, a fantasy romance novel by Charissa Weaks. Learn what made this book unique with its use of magic and sign language, what the author used as her hook, and Erin’s overall impression of the story.  You’ll also gain tips for world building, introducing several characters, and avoiding the all-too-easy info dump. We’ll also analyze the length of time before we reach the inciting incident (call to action).  Learn more about Charissa’s book:  * The Witch Collector: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H6894GR [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H6894GR]  Connect with Parents Who Write:  * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite [https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite]  * Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite [https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite]  * Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite [http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite]   Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2054797/fan_mail/new] READY TO TAKE YOUR WRITING FURTHER?  Join our Patreon community and access our vibrant Discord writing group to get writing prompts, participate in sprints, download free resources, and more:  https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor [https://www.patreon.com/erinptcanningeditor]