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 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getitwriteedit 
• Website: https://getitwrite-editing.com 

Resources discussed: 

• Editorial Freelancers Association: https://www.the-efa.org/ 

Connect with us: 

• Website: https://erinptcanning.com  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinptcanning/ 

Send us a text

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

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

Connect with Erin P.T. Canning: 

• Website: https://erinptcanning.com  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinptcanning/ 

Send us a text

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

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 
• Different types of editors: https://erinptcanning.com/book-coaches-and-editors-whats-the-difference/

Send us a text

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

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  
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/erinptcanningeditor   
• Book a free 30-minute consultation call to learn about my editing services:  https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting 

Let’s connect via my Facebook group, the Creative Writing Collective, at https://www.facebook.com/groups/creativewritingcollectivegroup. 

Send us a text

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

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 

Connect with Parents Who Write: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite 
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite 
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite  

Send us a text

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

Juggling motherhood, writing, and career aspirations?

Join Erin as she chats with author and editor Jessica Dall about her journey from fan fiction to publishing historical romance and romantasy. 

Discover the challenges and rewards of balancing writing and editing, as well as the unexpected twists and turns of motherhood and creativity. 

You’ll also learn valuable insights into the research process, the importance of support systems, and the power of perseverance in the writing world.

Key takeaways:

• The unique paths writers and editors take to their careers
• Balancing writing and editing as a creative professional
• Overcoming challenges like postpartum depression and finding support
• The importance of research and authenticity in historical fiction and romantasy
• Tips for managing writer's block and pushing through creative hurdles

Get Jessica’s books:

• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jessica-Dall/author/B004G5527Q

Connect w/ Jessica: 

• Website: https://jessicadall.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicadall 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicadallauthor 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicadallauthor 

Send us a text

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

Ever wondered what makes a bestselling book tick? 

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of genre analysis and why having this knowledge is vital to your author career. 

Learn how to identify and leverage the key components that make your genre resonate with readers. You’ll also discover how understanding those components can unlock your writing potential.

Tune in today so you don’t make the same mistakes I did… Oops. 

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Why you’re not selling out
• Technical considerations
• The power of tropes
• Reading book reviews
• Studying book covers
• Learning the hard way

Connect with Parents Who Write: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentswhowrite 
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite 
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/parentswhowrite  

Send us a text

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

Every feel like a fraud? Imposter syndrome can plague even the most successful writers. 

In this episode, host Erin P.T. Canning chats with developmental editor and life coach Charlotte Chipperfield about strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome and building self-belief.

Listen in as they explore the root causes of imposter syndrome and practical tools to silence that inner critic. You’ll also learn how to build confidence through achievement and prove to yourself that you can be an author too. 

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Origins of imposter syndrome
• The female perspective
• 4 questions to understand your imposter syndrome
• Tips for managing imposter syndrome 
• Fighting perfectionism 

Connect with Charlotte: 

• Free Novel Writing Checklist: https://www.hernarrative.com/novel-writing-checklist
• Website: https://www.hernarrative.com 
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/charlottechipperfieldwrites 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorcharlotte 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hernarrative 

Send us a text

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

Do you ever feel like you're drowning under the pressure to be a perfect parent, spouse, and—on top of that—a creative writer? 

In today’s episode, host Erin P.T. Canning and fellow Fantasy Author Michelle Summers share their experiences and strategies for balancing writing with family life. 

Through this conversation, listeners will discover how Michelle and Erin combat the pressure to do it all, how to prioritize tasks in a way that refills your creative cup, and how to jump start the creative writing process. 

Bonus: Listeners will learn about the concept of a discovery draft, a technique between outlining and a first draft that allows for flexibility and exploration.

Get Michelle’s books:

• The Guardian Series: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michelle-Summers/author/B0BZQH7FT6 

Connect with Michelle: 

• FB page: https://www.facebook.com/msummerswriter  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msummerswriter  
• Website: https://msummerswriter.com 

Books discussed during the show: 

• How to Keep House While Drowning by K.C. Davis
• Ruins and Redemption by Erin P.T. Canning 
• Author Liane Moriarty
• Author Phoebe Ravencraft

Send us a text

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

Curious about transforming journaling entries into a published memoir?

Joining us today is Sarah Birnbach, author of the memoir "A Daughter's Kaddish." Sarah shares her surprising journey from journal facilitator to published author and how journaling helped her heal through grief.

But the question remains: How do you take those raw, personal entries and turn them into a compelling memoir?

In this episode, Sarah shares her secrets! You'll hear:

• Tips for overcoming overwhelm and getting your ideas on the page
• The unexpected ways grief can inspire powerful narratives
• Strategies for crafting a memoir that resonates with readers

Get ready to hear Sarah's top journaling tips and advice for crafting a memoir from your own journal entries.

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Top 3 tips for journaling
• Writing about grief
• 22 years from start to finish
• Surprises about writing a memoir
• Dialog tips
• Finding a good writing group
• Books on craft

Get her book:

• A Daughter’s Kaddish: https://sarahbirnbach.com/books/a-daughters-kaddish/

Connect with Sarah: 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarah_birnbach  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahsheilabirnbach/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahsheilabirnbach  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.birnbach/ 

Books discussed during the show: 

• The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass

Send us a text

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