Overcoming Ideas Problem in Writing

One of the biggest manuscripts I worked on last year came with a problem. The publisher loved the premise, but wanted the book reduced significantly before they’d move forward. And when I say significantly... I mean, seriously reduced 🫣 and that’s the kind of moment that can make a writer panic, because suddenly every scene feels important, every chapter feels necessary, and every word feels impossible to cut. Getting my hands on such a large manuscript was a tad daunting - it was well over 100k words, so where did I start as a Development Editor? Some head straight to the laptop, but no, not me. I'm a printed copy of the manuscript on the sofa, with a mug of coffee and a bowl of snacks, kind of girl. I read it through once, to get an understanding of the story, and then a second time with what I affectionately call my Big Red Pen. That second read is where the real work begins. It’s where I start spotting: 👉repeated emotional beats 👉scenes saying the same thing twice 👉dialogue circling the point too long 👉characters behaving differently simply because the plot needs them to 👉chapters that stall momentum instead of driving it forward Only then do I move onto the laptop. Track changes. Comments. Questions in the margins. Not just cutting for the sake of it, but helping the author understand: 👉 why something isn’t working 👉 where the pacing dips 👉 where the tension slips 👉 and how tightening the structure actually strengthens the story This is where we see the interesting part. The manuscript hasn't become weaker because we cut it down. It's sharper. Clearer. Stronger. Good editing isn’t about removing the heart of a story. It’s about making sure the reader can actually feel it, and that’s what I do as a Developmental Editor. It's not just fixing sentences. It's helping the story become what it was trying to be all along. #DevelopmentEditing #AmWriting #WritingTips #Storytelling #WritersOfLinkedIn #WriteBetter #EditingLife #FictionWriting #AmEditing #WritingCommunity

Step back from your draft. Let it sit. Be sure you think this draft is FINISHED--don't edit while you're in the middle of writing. Leave it for at least a few hours, but ideally for a day or even a week. Give your writing brain time to slow down. When you come back to it, you'll be able to see your draft more objectively. THEN... Tip #2 coming up in a few days! #EditingProcess #CreativeWriting #SelfEditing #FinalDraft #WritersLife #WriterCommunity #CreativeProcess #EditLater #WritingInspiration

Here’s our hot take on tenses as a writing coach and editor! You may disagree with some of the stuff we're saying here, and that’s totally fine. But in case what we're saying here is resonating with you… We've got a brand new course which covers writing intriguing and realistic dialogue, as well as writing creatively: coming up with original metaphors and banishing cliches. 👀 📌 Doors are open 💜 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/di3R3-C2 #NovelWritingClasses

Three things high achieving writers think ---but never say out loud.  1) I’m not sure I deserve the space my writing requires.  2) The better I get at editing, the harder it is to write.  3) I’m afraid that if I finally finish it, it still won’t be enough.  Sound Familiar? Lets unpack number 1.   « I’m not sure I deserve the space my ambition requires.” High-achieving writers have big ideas and a quiet, persistent suspicion that those ideas are too much — too self-important, too presumptuous, too exposed. They’ll frame it as “I just need to find the right angle” or “I’m still working out the structure.”  But underneath most chronic unfinished work is a permission problem, not a craft problem. They’re waiting to be chosen before they’ll fully commit to their own voice. #focuscoach #amwriting #clarity #selfawareness

Most articles don’t fail because of bad writing. They fail because no one finishes them. And if no one finishes… it doesn’t matter how “good” it is. Most writers focus on sounding smart. But readers are scanning, skipping, and deciding in seconds if your article is worth their time. Good article writing isn’t about big words or long paragraphs. It’s about clarity and flow. • One clear idea at a time • Simple, easy-to-follow sentences • A structure that pulls the reader from start to finish Because a great article doesn’t just inform… it guides the reader. If your introduction is weak, they leave. If your body is confusing, they skim. If your ending is forgettable, you lose impact. That’s why structure beats effort every time. Clear introduction. Smooth flow. Strong finish. Simple but powerful. Do you agree with this? Or what’s your biggest struggle when writing articles #ContentWriting #ArticleWriting #SEOContent #ContentStrategy #WritingTips

Reposting this because it describes something I recognize deeply in my own mentoring work. A manuscript critique and a mythic mentoring session share the same foundational premise: you cannot serve the work until you understand what the work is actually trying to do. That requires listening before prescribing, and it requires meeting the writer, or the person, exactly where they are rather than where a template expects them to be. The parallel holds further. Both processes ask the same essential question: is this landing? Not according to a formula, but according to the internal logic the work itself has established. That is a much harder and more honest question than whether a piece follows the rules. If you are writing something and wondering whether it is finding its shape, the person below is worth your attention.

YOUR MANUSCRIPT IS NOT JUST A STORY. IT'S A PRODUCT. And I don’t mean that in a cold, commercial way. I mean it in the most empowering sense. Because the moment you decide your work deserves to be read, bought, and remembered, you have crossed from hobbyist into creator. And creators who want to impact must think beyond writing, they must think in value. Most writers spend months, sometimes years perfecting their supposed manuscript. But when it’s time to present the work, they rush the most critical parts: No professional editing No clear positioning No defined audience No intentional packaging. Imagine building a beautiful house and then listing it for sale without paint, proper lighting, or even a front door. That’s what many manuscripts look like in the marketplace. A manuscript, like any product, needs: Refinement: Developmental editing, line editing, structure. Positioning :Who is this for? Why should they care? Packaging : Title, cover, blurb, tone, readability. Market awareness : Where does this sit in the current literary conversation? This is where many writers get uncomfortable. “Shouldn’t the writing just speak for itself?” It should, but only after it has been given a fair chance to be heard. Publishing either traditional or self is not just about talent. It’s about clarity, strategy, and presentation. The best stories don’t always with the best prepared ones do. As a writer, editor, or agency, your job is not just to create art. It’s to ensure that art meets its audience at the right level of excellence because readers are not just consuming stories, they are choosing between thousands of options. So the question is not just “Is your manuscript good?” It’s “Is your manuscript ready?” If you’re ready to take your manuscript seriously, I’d love to help you do it right. Whether you need editing, positioning, or a clear path to publication, send me a message or comment “READY” and let’s talk about turning your manuscript into something the market can’t ignore. #bookwriting #bookeditor #writingtips #literaryagency

📢 Attention Fiction Authors... Do you ever feel like Instagram takes more effort than your actual writing does? As authors we know we need to stay visible online, but coming up with fresh content all the time can get exhausting fast. Instead of trying to invent something new for every post, start with one story idea and build from there. That could be a character, trope, scene, setting, theme, or even a reader question. From that one idea, you can create a: ✅ Reel to catch attention ✅ Stories to get people reacting ✅ A Carousel to go deeper ✅ A Highlight to help new visitors understand your books ✅ A Live if you want to turn it into a bigger conversation. That kind of approach makes Instagram feel a lot more manageable. It also helps you share your writing world in a way that feels interesting and natural, instead of forced. If you want to read more, check out my full blog post, “How to Use Instagram as an Author: Reels, Stories, Carousels, Live, and Highlights”. The link is in the comments. If you’d like a copy of any of these free resources, leave a comment on this post and I’ll send the link to you in LinkedIn messaging: 🔗 Author Instagram Fit Checklist 🔗 50 Instagram Post Ideas for Authors 🔗 Instagram Format Planner for Authors #InstagramForAuthors #FictionAuthors #AuthorPlatform #AuthorMarketing #BookMarketing #WritersOfLinkedIn #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorBrand #ContentStrategy

Ever read something you wrote and think: “This sounds wrong… but I don’t know why?” You’re not alone. Most people don’t have a writing problem. They have a clarity problem. Here’s the fix: ✔ One sentence = one idea ✔ Cut unnecessary words ✔ Make the meaning obvious That’s it. Clear writing is faster writing. 👇 I broke this down step-by-step below #WritingTips #Clarity #Students #ContentCreation #SolveThrive

Most writers reach a stage where the story works, but the writing does not quite flow the way it should. It is not a talent issue. It is a clarity and structure issue. Editing helps bridge that gap so your story reads as strongly as it feels in your head. If your manuscript feels almost there, let's take it the rest of the way. #fictioneditor #indieauthorlife #amediting #bookcommunity #australianeditor #wickedwyrmeditorial