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Get the Support You Need

How do you get the support you need as a writer? Well, here’s how to know when it’s not the support you need.

Get the Support You Need: A Little Horror Story

When I was an acquisitions editor, I heard from an author who wanted to pull her book from publication because her friends had found a bunch of errors in the ARC (that’s the Advanced Reading Copy of a book, which is sent out to reviewers before the book is published).

Of course, I was concerned, as I had seen nothing but a handful of typos typical of an ARC and asked if the friends could provide further information about what they’d seen.

They couldn’t because it was just a joke—a little prank they were playing on the author, who was absolutely devastated by what they did.

This story still haunts me years later.

If you can’t be happy for your friend’s success, then just STFU.

If your friends can’t be happy for your success, and they can’t STFU, then you need new friends.

foundations of storytelling for writers to get the support you need.

Tips for Editors & Writers

  • Letting go of mistakes

    Once upon a time, I trained in the martial arts. When I was a brown belt, I hit someone pretty hard and broke his rib. We were supposed to demonstrate excellent physical control, and accidentally breaking someone’s rib does not equal excellent physical control. I felt terrible for causing him pain and for not having…

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  • Toxic Freelance Relationships

    I wrecked two Christmases in a row as a freelancer for a publisher client. I was trying to salvage disasters that someone else had caused, so there I was, working feverishly all Christmas Eve and half of Christmas Day, trying to fix it. I couldn’t enjoy the season or time with my family because of…

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  • Doing quick manuscript evaluations

    I once had a manuscript land on my desk was written in such an abstract way (“glorious silver moon moments brandish sparkles”) (not a direct quote) that I couldn’t figure out how to begin to edit it. This was for a publisher client who would send projects my way without giving me a chance to…

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