Writing a book involves so much more than the writing itself, and among the most important steps in the process is editing. Messy first drafts, rough drafts, zero drafts, proof of concept drafts —no matter what you call them, they're aptly named. And more often than not, they won't be fit for publishing. Hiring a professional editor is always recommended, especially for writers intending to self-publish, but it can be expensive (though quite a few offer payment plans that can

Welcome to 2026, friends! Another year is done and dusted, which means it's time to charge headfirst into the next. And like a lot of bloggers, a new year also means it's time to share my goals for the months ahead. In the past, these goals would be specific and arguably lofty in retrospect. Life finds a way to get in your way, which often meant that the goals I set for myself in January would fall through. That's why I'm doing things a little differently for 2026. How so? To

It feels like only a few weeks have gone by since I posted my writing goals for 2025. Yet, here we are at the precipice of 2026. Before we go charging into the new year, however, I first have to wrap up the current one. Things didn't always go according to plan when it came to my writing. In a lot of ways, that might have been for the best. Past end-of-year posts have been broken up into segments, assessing each goal set back in January. This time around, I think a reflective

With this year drawing to a close and a new one dawning in just a few short days, many people are reflecting on the past twelve months (I'll be posting my own wrap-up here on December 31) and making plans for those ahead. And keeping with tradition, I'll be sharing my writing goals in my first January post. We're encouraged to dream big, especially around the start of a new year, and a common goal is picking up a new hobby or creative outlet—and for many, that might mean fina

2025 was my best reading year in a long time, but not every book was a winner for me. Here are some of the reasons I DNFed books this year.