I am pretty sure every adult in my life told me this, and I just refused to listen. And now here I am, exchanging working body parts for wisdom in some kind of fucked up devil's bargain.

Or consider this equally valid, wildly different, goblin-mode approach. 😂

And don't be afraid to make mistakes and get stuck from time to time. Even Frieren falls for mimics, gets sidelined by fetch quests, and needs spa days. In fact, that's part of the journey. Take it all in.

If you're a plotter like me, fill the page with your plot, bits of dialogue that you love, and research tidbits that excite you. Then the page isn't blank anymore, and filling in the gaps feels like going on an adventure and meeting friends along the road who remind you of your care and preparation.

One thing about me is that if you compliment my ideas, I am compelled to tell you exactly which piece of research I got them from. It's like the "thanks, it was 50% off" of writing.

Bad ideas are entirely mine.

A bright kelly green swath of forest undergrowth fills the photo. On one leaf there are gathered raindrops shining silver

Fresh and green in the forest this morning.

I was just at Norwescon where she was a featured guest, and when I saw her lanyard tag, I was like...wait didn't she go on Fated Mates to talk werewolves???

Today's act of restraint: calling my senators without raising my voice or swearing. I am now fresh out of restraint. Fully feral. Gonna go to the dead center of the forest and scream.

Thank you! It works like a bolo tie, kind of adorable.

A 3D printed medallion shows the logo for Lodestar Editing & Coaching, LLC. The medallion is green with a blue tree that has four-pointed star-shaped leaves. The tree and its leaves are outlined in white.

At Norwescon this weekend! You can spot me by the Lodestar Editing & Coaching logo medallion on my lanyard.

Fully understanding that increased gas prices are a legit hardship for many, I'm still continually annoyed by Murray's anesthetized messaging. Like I'm supposed to care more about the "price at the pump" than about the fact that they bombed a school full of girls the same age as my nieces.

Mom: It's so beautiful at the coast today. How is it up in Seattle?

Me: *Watching a pack of enormous feral crows knock over a bin and drag the trash down the street like some kind of garbage omen*

Me: Also beautiful.

Two of my dearest editing colleagues are offering a guided writing support group and are looking for one more signup to get the show on the road.

Take a gander if you are the kind of writer who would benefit from excellent community and shared wisdom!

www.eliotwesteditorial.com/writing-grou...

The way I will devour this.

Nominations are open! I would be honored if you considered my stories but especially my novelette "The Life and Times of Alavira the Great" published in @uncannymagazine.bsky.social written as a series of Goodreads reviews! 🙏

Wholehearted Writers Week, January 12-16, 2026. Come as yourself. Leave as community. wholeheartedwriters.weebly.com - Image is of a beautiful garden with a couch in the middle, covered in notebooks, a comfy blanket, a cup of tea and pillows.

Our sign-up period will soon be coming to a close!

If you want to join a warm, silly, welcoming and passionate group of publishing professionals and writers for a week of learning and community building, come join us!

wholeheartedwriters.weebly.com

Excited for these demons

Oh why yes it IS true that the indomitable M. L. Krishnan will be spilling her secrets at the Wholehearted Writers Week. Do you want to hear her speak on staying true to yourself in the process of ideation and drafting? Early bird pricing closes October 12: wholeheartedwriters.weebly.com/apply.html

Ok, so, not only are applications for our writers week now open, but I can now confirm that my dear friend @foxesandroses.bsky.social will be one of our brilliant speakers! I'm so excited to hear her speak on this topic--she's one of the most generous, community-minded writers I know.

The applications you've all sent us so far are SO GOOD!

Keep 'em coming! You've got until this Friday to apply.

#QueerSFF #QueerFiction 🌈📚🪐 #WriterSky #WritingCommunity 💙📚 #RSM2025

Man, if I went back in time and told tiny Alex they were going to grow up to be an editor, they'd have been like, "what's an editor."

But a hundred questions later, damn, the excitement. Through the roof.

Three incredible colleagues and I have been working so hard on this idea for almost the entire year, and I cannot quite believe that applications for our brand new, fully online Wholehearted Writers Week are opening so soon.

Come as yourself. Write from your heart.

Queer SFF Opening Pages Consult Application Submit the first 500 words of your queer SFF novel for the opportunity of a 15-minute consult with a professional editor the week before the Rainbow Space Magic conference. If you have any questions,...

Rainbow Space Magic is trying something new this year! We’ve lined up some kickass professional editors--myself included!--to give feedback on the opening pages of your queer SFF novel. Submit your opening pages to apply for a one-to-one session. forms.gle/vaqPkKYwM1ex...

#RSM2025 🌈📚🪐 #QueerSFF

This whole post, but especially the constructive critique: the entire issue is avoidable with the barest modicum of effort.

Why Academic Editors Should Read The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors - The Editors' Weekly E. Alex Crawley discusses The Chicago Guide for Freelance Editors and why all editors should have this book.

Check out my post for Editors' Weekly!

Looking forward to hosting the @efafreelancers.bsky.social Academic Editing Book Club chat with @ebrenner.bsky.social later this fall.

blog.editors.ca/why-academic...

Rabbits: disarmingly soft, known forms with whip-fast, preternatural horror at the center. Much like Kris's writing. I will be pre-ordering the shit out of this, and I think you should, too.

I know house centipedes are just doing their thing, but why do they have to have so many legs about it?

Fair point, fair point.

What a triumph already. But if you win, I will possibly actually scream so hard my head explodes.

Delighted to be part of a Hugo-nominated editorial team, as if I needed a reason to eat ice cream at noon on a Sunday.