Sometimes shouting at mythological beings is the only option left 😅

I hope you have a treat lined up this evening as a reward for getting through it!

Happy Tuesday! (If such an event is possible 🙃)

Are you looking for a freelance fiction editor?

I’m trained, CIEP-registered, and an ALLi partner member.

I offer free sample edits.

I DO NOT use gen-AI.

Prices are listed on my website.

Please get in touch if you’re interested 🙂

I hope today goes better! 🫂💜

Thank you! I hope your day is going well 💜

a cartoon drawing of a person laying on a bed with the name porucz on the bottom Alt: Cartoon figure lying in bed in the dark, staring at the ceiling and blinking occasionally

Good morning to everyone except billionaires, fascists, and my autism / anxiety, which decided that I needed to spend the night mentally re-reading and second-guessing every email I’ve ever sent in my life.

In some writing sessions the words flow out of my fingertips, and I can get 2000 words written as easily as blinking 🙂

In other writing sessions I feel like I’m carving each word out of my brain, and I have to fight for every one of the 500 words I end up with 🥴

Suddenly remembered the time I asked my then-3yo son what he wanted to be when he grew up.

He couldn’t decide whether he wanted to be a Mini Cheddar, a train track, or a beard.

As a freelance developmental editor, there are some issues which come up over and over again in authors’ manuscripts.

I’ve put together a free guide on these common ‘mistakes’, which you can get by signing up for my newsletter 🙂

BOOKS ARE POLITICAL Books, reading and writing are inherently political; even down to who is allowed to read them, write them, publish them, and enjoy them.

After recent discourse about books supposedly not being political, I’m just going to drop this here…

www.clairebentley.co.uk/post/books-a...

a man is using a vacuum cleaner to clean a fire pit Alt: Man futilely vacuuming a patch of fire

How it feels having to carry on working, parenting, and running a household in the context of *gestures at the entire world*

Selfie at my desk with my laptop, diary, daffodils, and sunlight peeking through the window.

It’s a warm and sunny day in Yorkshire.

My kids are with their grandparents for the day 🙂

I’m using the time to do two sample edits, finish a scene in my own manuscript, and begin fiction coaching training.

I’m incredibly lucky to be doing a job that I love. I will never take that for granted 💜

spongebob is sitting at a table in a diner with a cup of coffee Alt: SpongeBob sitting in a diner with a mug of coffee. He is alone and looks bored.

Actual footage of my manuscript whenever my kids are off school.

April Fool’s Day seems a little pointless when the true state of the world is more absurd than the lies.

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that when you’re a parent-writer with writing time planned, your delightful little cherub(s) will get sick 😞

a cartoon character named spongebob is smiling with blue eyes Alt: SpongeBob making a rainbow with his hands, with the words ‘the more you know’

As a UK-based writer and editor, I feel it is my professional duty to inform you that ‘trump’ is a synonym for ‘fart’ in the UK.

😂

Typo spotted in the first draft of my novel:

“Option two is to tell someone, and spend the rest of my life as a lad rat.”

Are you looking for a freelance fiction editor? 🙂

I’m trained and CIEP-registered, I’m an ALLi partner member, and I offer free sample edits.

And I’m a writer myself 😅

Prices are on my website. I still have slots available from June 2026, so please get in touch if you’re interested 🙂

I’ve been doing this too! Her videos speak to my planner / organiser soul 🙂

👋 Hello!

I’m a writer and freelance fiction editor based in Yorkshire, England.

I’m autistic.

I’m a mum.

I’m also fiercely left-wing and anti-fascist: books are inherently political, after all!

Nice to meet you, and hope you have a great Friday 🙂

Parent-writer hack:

Suggest a game of hide and seek.

When they’re hiding, sneak away to your laptop and type some words. Remember to call out ‘oh no, I can’t find you’ every so often.

When you’re hiding, take your laptop to a good hiding spot and try not to type too loudly.

Newsletter | Claire Bentley Claire Bentley newsletter: sign up and get regular updates and my free guide on Productivity for Parents. Mindset guidance and practical tips for parents who wish to grow their creative passion

I know lots of writers can’t afford a fiction editor.

I also know lots of writers struggle with knowing where to start when editing their novel.

I have a free ‘common mistakes I see in manuscripts’ guide for newsletter subscribers 🙂

You can sign up here:

www.clairebentley.co.uk/newsletter

One of my favourite parts of editing is leaving positive comments in the manuscript 🙂

- I love this!
- I just snort-laughed.
- Nooooooooo!
- I just spat out my coffee (in a good way).
- I officially love this character, and now I need all their merch.

Authors need to know what IS working too!

Human-shaped fidget toy sprawled on a desk with a thick forest-green diary lying on its head

Current mood:

It’s Mother’s Day in the UK on Sunday.

This mother’s wish list is short:

1. Books
2. Everyone on the planet to live in peace, safety and happiness: regardless of their nationality, race, sex, gender, sexuality, age, abilities, religion etc.
3. Sushi

I’m fully booked until June, but if you’re looking for a freelance fiction editor for 2026 then please let me know 🙂

- Trained
- CIEP-registered
- ALLi partner member
- I don’t use gen-AI
- Free sample edits
- Info and prices are on my website

I’m glad it’s not just me! 🫣

On some mornings my phone’s Face ID doesn’t recognise me.

In case anyone is wondering what parenting is like.

Thank you! 🙂💜

Yesterday, I added 2500 words to my manuscript 🙂

I was at a difficult point in the story, but I fought for every single one of those words, and they ended up halfway decent (helped along by copious caffeine and lots of swear words).

Gen-AI could never.