Kayleigh | Developmental Editor & Writer 📚

@editsinthemargins.com

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I help writers to shape their stories and hone their skills via developmental editing, 1:1 workshopping, marketing strategy, and more.

As a writer, I enjoy kid lit and exploring fantastical worlds. 🐉

https://editsinthemargins.com/social

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Dear Writer, So many things can make us question what we've written or are writing. Sometimes our characters get away from us. Sometimes the world demands to be built. Sometimes the backstory calls to us. Sometimes it's someone outside of the story entirely trying to impose their own ideas. 👇🏻

"Why did you stop subscribing?" they ask. It's been a few years since I gave up my NYT subscription and I've never regretted it.

Jesus Fucking Christ. NYT runs THIS on Independence Day, during the most pivotal election year since the Civil War. This is obscene.

Opinion | Why I Don’t Votewww.nytimes.com If casting a ballot is merely expressive, then the same is true of not casting one.

Today will be all about packing and choosing which book(s) to bring with me on my trip. Guess which one will take longer. 😇

This week has been a lot of things to process, and this Gaiman news is just... ugh.

✨ Writing Prompt ✨ I find the ELI5 (Explain Like I’m 5) approach to be helpful in teasing apart something complex or conceptual—like the psyche of a complicated character. Do you know what YOUR villain would do or say if confronted by the uncontrived innocence of a young child? 👇🏻

Working with an editor should leave you feeling prepared to tackle your next draft. Hop over to IG to check out a few real snippets of feedback I’ve given to clients who have come to me for developmental editing, beta reading, and individual workshopping: www.instagram.com/p/C87R2Ips8-j/

Login • Instagramwww.instagram.com Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

As someone with EU citizenship, I'm really eyeballing that Italy offer. I just don't wanna live by myself in a tiny town. I will go full hermit.

*best raspy Rod Stewart voice* Have I told you lately… I’m an editor? Have I told you I’m booking through December? Fill my inbox with emails! Let’s dive deep in that novel! Revise that story, yeah we will. *deep bow* (But really: let's get you booked.)

Happy Monday! This week I'll be wrapping up some administrative stuff and preparing for my trip. (This involves putting anything I see that I'll need into a giant pile in my bedroom until it's time to organize it into my suitcase...) What are you hoping to have wrapped up by Friday?

☠️

I can’t think of a clever caption for this. It just breaks my fucking heart.

Every time I see this meme pop up, I have a little chuckle. But I also want to be clear: revisions don’t always have to feel scary (or like an attack). In fact, with the right mindset (and the right help) they can be exciting and fun. When we finish a first draft, we deserve to feel good about...

*new client dance!*

😂💜

Like this, you mean? 64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz3j5...

I'm in one of those really strong "I'm going to get so much done today but none of it will be what I NEED to get done" moods. So many things are done. So many more important things are not. 😂🫡

✨ Friday Tip ✨ Crafting authentic characters may seem easier said than done, but there are things you can consider to create characters who pop off the page and feel genuine. In my latest blog post, I give a list of 7 tips for writing characters your readers can better connect with. Link below!

😍😍😍

After month of public outcry, NYC libraries to get budget funding back — and reopen on Sundays

NYC libraries to get budget funding back — and reopen on Sundaysgothamist.com In November, the mayor's budget cuts forced libraries to close on Sundays. The issue has been a thorn in his side ever since.

It’s easy to look at a rejection or a similar moment and believe that we’re bad at something, that we’ve let ourselves down, or any one of the other numerous messages we let flood our minds when something doesn’t work out. But failure means that you tried. You put yourself out there.

Running on two hours of sleep, so no editing today (clients don't deserve a sleepy me 😅). Social media prep and admin stuff it is.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor & Writer 📚

"Kill your darlings" only applies if you're holding onto something that actually hurts your story. But jerks sometimes use "kill your darlings" as a weapon to try to break you. Don't wantonly kill what you love the most about your story. That's why you're writing it. Make it work.

if u see this, quote-post with your tips for writers that no one gives anymore because they seem obvious (even though they're not)

When I was a teen, I'd be up all night in Photoshop or messing with coding to make my MySpace the prettiest MySpace. I'd lose myself for hours. Apparently in my late-30s I still lose track when playing with images and designs, as it's now after midnight and I'm usually cozy and asleep by now. 😂😴

Just wrapped up a sample edit and sent off a proposal! Now it's time for dinner and then game night. 🎮 I hope you're all doing wonderfully as we get over that midweek mark. 💜

I loved hearing about your wins last week, so let’s start a new thread of celebrations! What are you proud of? What did you accomplish? 🥇 Even if you’re having a tough time right now, what is one small way that you beat the odds this week? Mine is below! 👇🏻

💜 TESTIMONIAL 💜 Kevin’s story of a freshly fallen angel’s acclimation to (literal) Hell was such a fun and unexpected read that puts a twist on what we think we know about Good and Evil. I had a good time diving into his manuscript and am grateful for his kind words about our work together.

I have an intro/discovery call in half an hour, and of course I have a humidity-inspired migraine starting. Cross fingers with me that meds kick in—I'd like to be coherent and human when meeting a new potential client... 😅😭😖

Happy Monday! This week and next i'm going to be a bit busy as I prepare for my summer slow down, including a week off in July. I'd still love to hear about how your writing is going! Did you just write an exciting scene? Are you puzzling through an element of your world? Let's talk about it! 👇🏻

My dad once said to me, “Be a brave little toaster, Kayleigh.” And friends, let me tell you—being a brave little toaster isn’t always easy. First, we MUST be kind to ourselves. But alongside that kindness, we should never be afraid to PUSH ourselves, too. (Keep reading!👇🏻)

*Deep breath* OK. I have about 2.5 hours of work I need to do right now, then I get to relax and eat my snackies.

From Authors Publish: "Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Authors in June 2024" authorspublish.com/77-opportuni...

77 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Authors in June 2024authorspublish.com This list of publishers meet our guiding principles, but are only open to free submissions from historically underrepresented writers or focus on publishing content produced by historically underrep

🙋🏻‍♀️ Recs needed: I have ulnar nerve compression on my dominant side, and it's at a point where using my (fancy ergonomic) mouse causes irritation and numbness on the outside of my hand. I've tried using my non-dominant hand but I can't work that way. Does anyone with this kind of pain have recs?