Reading - I'm always learning new ways to do AND not to do things 😌

If I may add to this: figuring out Nev's stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn, fine, flop/faint) to different scenarios massively helped to keep her consistent and real, as the meat of a story tends to be your MC dealing with conflict. In what circumstances do they react with each?

Also currently doing this! It has to happen at some point, right? :')

How to Find Effective Comp Titles: A Guide for Querying Writers — Allison Alexander Are you querying your novel to literary agents? Here’s how to find the perfect comparative titles.

Not sure how to find comp titles for your query letter? I've got you covered. #Querying #Writing #Publishing

I think so, personally 👀

One of my beta readers made fanart 😳

Your first page is your first impression on your reader (or a literary agent).

And you might be inadvertently turning them off.

Here are the 7 biggest first-page mistakes I've seen in 10+ years as a book editor — and exactly how to avoid or fix them. 👇

After more than a decade as a book editor, I've finally nailed down the single biggest gap between solid writing and truly great writing.

It all comes down to what the author DOESN'T say.

That's so exciting! Congrats! 😄

Letting someone else read it after 😬

I can't speak for Scalzi, but the great thing about writing is that you can go back and edit so that the thing looks exactly like you planned it even if it was slightly sideways when you first started writing it.

a man wearing sunglasses and a denim jacket is sitting on a chair ALT: a man wearing sunglasses and a denim jacket is sitting on a chair

Anyone up for my second round of #10Queries? 👀 #RevPit

A=Adult
YA=Young Adult
MG=Middle Grade
GMC: Goal, Motivation, Conflict

F=Fantasy
SF=SciFi
M=Mystery
H=Horror

I've seen people trying to defend it today by saying "No, no, I just use it to brainstorm, bounce ideas, I do the actual writing" and with all the kindness in the world I need to tell you: if there is a stage of writing you are not good at, you need to get good, not use the plagiarism machine.

Editor: I think the only one I would add is [x song].

Me looking at that exact song that I had saved months ago but not added to the playlist yet: How did you know

Spalted maple bowl with wire burn (black lines) ornamentation.

This spalted maple bowl is still looking for a home...

www.galdrecraft.com/product/hard...

You know your story might be effective when your editor sees your book playlist for the first time and just says, "Yep. Yes. Of course. Of COURSE." to every song. #writing

Tiny walnut bowls for people not ducks

Larger Walnut Bowls with Canarywood lips, despite the name canarywood is not made by canaries its wood from a tree and birds can't use the tools necessary to process it much less make a bowl from it

Claro Walnut Tarot Deckbox. A regional walnut hybrid from English Walnut and Bastogne walnut, sometimes called "paradox walnut" b/c both English and Bastogne are slow growing but Claro grows relatively quickly... for walnuts that is

A non-zero portion of our water bill b/c ducks primary form of exercise to keep them healthy and also to take care of their feathers requires water for swimming and they also love pooping in it so much that there is yet to be designed a filtration system that keeps the water clean on a small scale so their poo-water gets pumped out every few days (given to the healthiest trees in the state) and they get fresh. Its not actually a ton of water, but its not zero water either. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, these adorable ducks that make no monetary contributions to the household. They refuse to learn excell.

some of my recent pieces and some jobless freeloaders for reference

www.galdrecraft.com

Haha I'm in danger 🥲

Hey, #RevPit. Let's talk about wordcount.

There are specific wordcount expectations that vary depending on your manuscript's age group and genre.

It is better to be the *rule* rather than the *exception* here. I'll explain why:

The fight for trans rights is and has always been about controlling bodies.

I ask you, Do any of us have the right to bodily autonomy?

If I don't, you don't either.

Trans rights are abortion rights.
Trans rights are women's rights.
Trans right are men's right.
Trans rights are human rights.

I said this in replies elsewhere, but I want to say it loudly here.

Anything other than a fullthroated affirmation of birthright citizenship in this country by SCOTUS is an act of treason. It is grounds for immediate impeachment. It is a violation of every oath they have made.

let's have some fun #RevPit writers, shall we?

below you'll find my second #10Queries thread!

this thread will feature my YA & MG feedback (vague, as always) - posted one at a time.

first, the lingo:

Yayyy another one! These are so fun to read through.

Great news everyone :D

Is it weird that I love reading these threads even tho I've never submitted to RevPit

Here's what's going to happen: every woman, cis, trans, intersex, will have to undergo a humiliating test for a specific gene. A non-trivial number of women who have lived as women for their entire lives will find themselves labelled as "not women" because biology is more complicated than one gene.

Image showing a foppish aristocratic boy in guardia quarta, but edited so he's wearing a party hat and wielding a fork. Text reads: Alexander's Birthday Party 2026! Alexander's 381st birthday is April 2! In the 17th century, he couldn't buy trans books for his birthday... BUT YOU CAN!

Buy Alexander a trans book for his birthday and I'll draw you a horrible little doodle! Comment below with what you got and what you'd like me to draw! Fine print: Alexander is a fictional character. Any books you buy are yours to keep, obviously. Or art, or game, or donate to a campaign or tip jar, I don't care, just support trans people!! You can find books for $0.99!!! Pay what you want on itch! Free serials with cheap patreon tiers! ANYTHING! From now until April 3 or I get bored or my hand starts to hurt, sorry LMAO, but I'm really grateful!

April 2 is my MC's birthday! 🥳 As a goofy lil celebration, I will draw you a custom thank-you doodle if you buy him a trans book for his birthday! I may spend minutes on it!!

Don't know where to get one!? Links below!!!

J.K. Rowling uses Harry Potter wealth to fund anti-transgender organization This is where "Harry Potter" profits are going.

if Anita Bryant was still alive and promoting Florida orange juice, you couldn't pay me enough to drink it. how is Harry Potter any different?
here is a timeline of JK Rowling's transphobia: web.archive.org/web/20241225...
& here is where her HP money is going: www.advocate.com/news/jk-rowl...

Spurred by this, I blogged on the subject of plot-service character behaviour, why you shouldn't, and what to watch out for.

kjcharleswriter.com/2026/03/24/d...