Authors' Alcove for Fantasy Writers

In this writer education podcast from the Story Savvy Series, we break down how to use developmental editing advice, the print-and-mark edit method, and storytelling improvement tips to move forward when you're stuck self-editing. Learn how to define theme and message, rethink story structure and editing, and stay focused even when editing repetitive words gets frustrating.

Hosted by developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com], this episode offers guidance for writers feeling overwhelmed or stalled in the self-editing process. Whether you're fighting decision paralysis or second-guessing structural choices, you'll learn how to make progress without striving for perfection.

In this Episode 

• Practical mindset shifts to move past resistance and perfectionism

• Fast placeholders for audience, genre, and theme so you keep momentum

• Scene-level fixes for sticky plot beats and arcs

• Lightweight final-pass cleanups (speaker clarity, typos, scene breaks)

• How long to try, when to pause, and when to return after outside feedback

Resources

• Hartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/

• Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.com

• Dragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com

In this writing craft podcast episode of the Story Savvy Series, we dive into catching typos in fiction and preparing your manuscript for feedback with a focused final read-through. You’ll learn how to polish your manuscript, improve reader clarity, and handle editing repetitive words before beta readers or editors ever see it. With powerful self editing tips for writers, this episode helps you wrap up your revisions with purpose.

Hosted by developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com], this episode tackles the final steps of revising your draft. Together, they explore what to do in your last read-through—from formatting and flow to clarity and polish—so you’re confident when it’s time to share your work.

In this Episode 

• The goals of a last-pass edit

• Formatting fixes you can’t search for

• Best tools for grammar, spelling, and clarity

• How to flag and fix unclear dialogue

• Timeline guidance for staying productive

• Tricks for making your brain “see” your story fresh

Resources

• Hartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/

• Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.com

• Dragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com
  

In this writing craft podcast episode of the Story Savvy Series, we walk through final checks for manuscripts to get your story ready for beta readers or editors. Featuring smart steps for editing repetitive words, avoiding head-hopping, and using self editing tips for writers to refine pacing and clarity. Whether you're writing fantasy or fiction, this session offers storytelling improvement tips, developmental editing advice, and practical tools to polish your manuscript with confidence.

Hosted by Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com], a professional developmental editor, and Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com], an emerging middle-grade fantasy author, this episode breaks down how to wrap up your final self-edit and prep your book for outside eyes. A must-listen if you’re nearing the end of revision and want to make it count.

In this Episode 

• What “final checks” cover: gaps, placeholders (TK/TBD), and last-pass polish

• Systems for flagging unknowns (unique markers + searchable notes)

• Quick wins you can make now for a visibly cleaner draft

• How much polish to do before beta readers vs. developmental editors

• What to do when decisions are still undecided—and how to brief readers

• Using lists and workspaces to remember “come back to this” items

• Deciding when this pass is truly the final edit

Resources

• Hartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/

• Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.com

• Dragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com
  

In this writing craft podcast episode of the Story Savvy Series, we explore how to polish your manuscript by refining your use of nonverbal cues in fiction. You'll learn practical strategies for editing repetitive words, enhancing deep POV writing, and using physical descriptions to reinforce emotion and pacing. With helpful developmental editing advice, we walk you through how to enrich your narrative rhythms, avoid telling, and sharpen character voice—crucial skills for Fantasy novel editing and strong storytelling across genres. 

Join developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and aspiring fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com] as they dig into this week’s self-editing focus: using nonverbal communication to refine and elevate your manuscript. Together, they share practical strategies for writers revising their drafts, from balancing body language with clarity and pacing to choosing the right NVC for character and scene.

In this Episode 

• The role of nonverbal cues in immersing readers in POV

• How to swap out adverbs and emotion labels for authentic body language

• Strategies for fresh, natural gestures without over-relying on clichés

• Personalizing characters through their unique physical responses

• Deciding when nonverbals support pacing—and when they slow scenes down

• Leveraging gestures and expressions to build tension and hint at what’s to come

Resources

• Hartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/

• Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.com

• Dragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com
  

In this deep-dive on self editing character names, we break down how to avoid similar character names, apply smart naming conventions in fiction, and make effective decisions around title vs name usage. Packed with self editing tips for writers and practical developmental editing advice, this episode offers focused tools to polish your manuscript and strengthen clarity in character presentation across genres.Join developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and aspiring author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com] as they break down the craft of naming in fiction through discussion and actionable advice. Their back-and-forth offers both professional insight and writer-focused clarity, helping you approach character names with purpose, consistency, and confidence during the revision process.Creating a character name database for clarity and consistencyChecking for look-alike or sound-alike character namesConfirming invented terms are relevant and reinforced in the storyManaging character name changes and cultural sensitivity during editsChoosing between proper names and functional titles when introducing charactersResourcesHartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.comDragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com

In this author education channel episode of the Story Savvy Series, a writing craft podcast for fiction and fantasy authors, Rebecca Hartwell and Agnes Wolfe dive into the art of naming in fiction. They share self editing tips for writerson how to introduce names clearly, avoid reader confusion, and ensure consistency across series and worlds. If you’re ready to polish your manuscript with professional developmental editing advice, this episode is for you.In this Story Savvy Self-Editing episode, Rebecca Hartwell and Agnes Wolfe break down how to introduce character, place, and title names without overwhelming your reader. You’ll learn a practical checklist: cap new names per scene, pair each with context and a memorable trait, confirm cultural/time-period fit, clarify geography on first use, and keep aliases and titles consistent across a series.In this episode:-Keep new-name count reader-friendly-Pair every first mention with relationship context-Seed late-appearing characters earlier in the book-Align names with era, region, culture, and faith-State what a place is on first use (city, inn, forest)-Tame aliases and titles so one character stays one ideaRecommended Resources-Hart Bound Editing: www.hartboundediting.com-Agnes Wolfe: www.agneswolfeauthor.com-DragonheartAcademy: dragonheartacademy.com

Too much showing can bog your pacing; too much telling can flatten your emotion. This writing podcast for authors in the Story Savvy Series explores that delicate equilibrium with narrative distance explained in practical terms. You’ll uncover how to avoid info dumps, weave exposition naturally, and recognize when direct telling enhances reader understanding. Combining self editing tips for writers with developmental editing advice, the episode guides you toward stronger storytelling choices that polish your manuscript and keep your readers immersed from start to finish.In this episode of the Story Savvy Self-Editing Series, developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and aspiring fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com] examine the pitfalls of exposition and over-description. Rebecca discusses how to balance show versus tell, write essential context without info dumping, and maintain narrative momentum through clear, purposeful prose.In this episode:Balancing show vs. tell for stronger storytellingRecognizing over-showing and trimming excess detailAvoiding exposition overload in your scenesUsing telling strategically for smoother pacingReplacing info dumps with purposeful, timely details

In this week’s Story Savvy Series episode, we explore cutting word count effectively and how to avoid repetition in writing—a must-listen Podcast for fantasy writers. Through developmental editing advice and storytelling improvement tips, Rebecca and Agnes discuss editing with integrity, sharing real examples from fantasy novel editing that show how to polish your manuscript with precision.In this episode of the Story Savvy Self-Editing Series, developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and aspiring fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com] explore the importance of reducing redundancy in your manuscript. Rebecca explains what counts as repetition, how to identify word echoes and overused phrases, and why trimming these moments can strengthen pacing and polish your final draft.In this episode:How to tell when something’s actually repetitiveSpotting when you’ve both shown and told a momentCutting out overused words and echo phrasesSlimming your story without losing its voiceUsing repetition purposefully to strengthen key moments

Today we discuss all things AI and the writing process as well as editing with integrity. In this podcast for fantasy authors, we talk AI and storytelling ethics, specifically ethical AI use for authors. Rebecca points out the need for protecting author rights, the cognitive impact of AI use, and the environmental cost of AI tools. This is such an important topic, as it will have large impacts on the future of creativity and the arts. Agnes shares her still-evolving perspective on AI and the importance of researching the impacts for yourself.In this episode of the Story Savvy Self-Editing Series, developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and aspiring fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com] discuss the highly controversial topic of AI. Rebecca defines the difference between generative AI and assistive AI, the environmental impacts of AI, and the long term effects on the cultural and personal art of writing. In this episode:-Understanding difference between generative and assistive AI-Dangers of using generative AI as an assistive tool-Ethical considerations of using AI-Value of human creativity vs AI generated-Importance of transparency when using AI

Join this podcast for fantasy writers as we dive into fantasy novel editing, practical author self-editing tips, and essential techniques for polishing your manuscript. We’ll break down fixing head hopping, revising narrative style, and refining first person vs third person narration to elevate your storytelling. This episode equips you with actionable strategies that editors use to help fantasy stories shine.Episode 39 of the Story Savvy Series focuses on cleaning up narrative style—specifically your choices of person, tense, and POV. Aspiring fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [authorsalcove.com] and developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] explain how to identify inconsistencies, manage dual or multi-POV books, and tackle common tense or pronoun errors. You’ll also learn when it’s safe to experiment with omniscient POV and why consistency builds reader trust and momentum. By the end, you’ll be ready to polish this vital layer of your manuscript.In this episode:-Why person, tense, and POV consistency is critical for immersion-How to spot subtle POV mistakes in your draft-Strategies for balancing first person vs third person narration-Editing tips for multi-POV and omniscient styles-Practical ways to catch tense errors beyond dialogue-Why this stage of self-editing is the right time to polish these issues