Tag: writing

Posted in book editor

Why Your Manuscript Deserves More Than Just a “Quick Proofread”

Posted on by There for You Editing

You didn’t pour your heart into your manuscript just to hand it off for a surface-level polish.

You wrote it because something in you needed to say it.

Because your characters wouldn’t leave you alone.

Because your story matters.

And stories that matter deserve thoughtful, intentional editing.

That’s where I come in.

Editing That Strengthens Your Voice … Not Rewrites It

Since 2011, I’ve worked with more than 700 manuscripts across genres. Fiction. Memoir. Devotionals. Fantasy worlds. Love stories. Raw, vulnerable life stories.

My goal is never to rewrite your book into something that sounds like me.

My job is to help it sound more like you … only stronger, clearer, and more powerful.

Editing is not about stripping away your style. It’s about sharpening it.

What Makes My Editing Different

I offer a hybrid approach that blends line editing with content insight. That means we work on both:

• Sentence-level clarity and flow

• Word choice and repetition

• Grammar and mechanics

• Pacing and structure

• Character consistency

• Emotional impact

• Reader experience

You don’t just get corrections.

You get collaboration.

If something feels unclear, rushed, underdeveloped, or confusing, I explain why. If something is powerful, I’ll tell you that, too. You deserve to know what’s working just as much as what needs refinement.

For Authors Who Care About Their Craft

My clients aren’t looking for a red-pen massacre. They’re looking for growth.

They want their story to land the way they intended.

They want their message to be understood.

They want readers to stay hooked.

If that’s you, you’re in the right place.

Supportive But Honest

I believe in kindness. I also believe in clarity.

You won’t get vague feedback.

You won’t get one-line comments.

You won’t get left guessing.

You will get thorough edits, thoughtful suggestions, and clear explanations. You will get someone who respects how vulnerable it is to hand over your work.

Writing is brave. Editing should honor that.

Established, Experienced, Invested

There for You Editing has been open since October 2011.

Over 700 manuscripts edited.

More than a decade of helping authors strengthen their work before publication.

This isn’t a side hobby.

It’s my profession, and it’s personal.

Because every book represents someone who dared to create.

Ready to Work Together?

If your manuscript is complete, or close, and you’re ready for real, detailed editing that supports your voice and strengthens your message, I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s take your story from almost there to absolutely ready.

Your book deserves it.

Posted in authors, book editor, writing

Why You Absolutely Need an Editor (Yes, Even You)

Posted on by There for You Editing

By someone who loves you enough to tell you the truth

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off: every writer needs an editor. Yes, even the ones with degrees. Yes, even the ones who are editors themselves. And yes, even you, my talented, brilliant, spell-check-abusing friend.

Here’s the thing: writing is emotional. It’s personal. It’s vulnerable. When you’re that close to your own words, it’s nearly impossible to spot the gaps, tangents, or scenes that only make sense in your head. That’s where an editor steps in … not to tear you down, but to build you up better.

Here’s what a good editor actually does:

Clarifies your message so your readers aren’t left saying, “Wait, what just happened?”

Catches errors your brain glosses over because it already knows what you meant (curse you, typo blindness).

Strengthens your voice without watering it down. A good editor doesn’t erase you—they amplify you.

Saves your credibility. No one wants their book baby published with homophone horror stories like “bare with me” instead of “bear with me.” (The trauma.)

Polishes your pacing, flow, and structure so your reader stays hooked, not confused or bored.

Editing isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.

Your story might be raw, real, and powerful … but if it’s buried under clunky sentences, confusing transitions, or grammar glitches, your message gets lost. An editor helps bridge the gap between your ideas and your reader’s experience.

Because at the end of the day? It’s not about your ego. It’s about your impact.

Common excuses I hear (and lovingly demolish):

“But I’m good at grammar.” Cool! You’re still too close to your work to catch everything.

“I’ll just use AI.” AI is a tool. An editor is a human brain + a literary therapist + a plot surgeon. We see what a robot can’t.

“Editing is expensive.” So is reprinting your book with a typo on the first page.

The truth?

If you believe your words matter—if you care about your craft, your readers, and your reputation—you need an editor. Not because you’re not good enough. But because you’re too good to settle for less.

Want help making your words shine? I know a girl. Let’s turn your draft into something you’re proud to share with the world.

Posted in writing

Villain Origin

Posted on by There for You Editing

Oh, I remember.

I used to shrink myself to make others comfortable.

Smiled through gritted teeth. Bit my tongue until it bled.

I was the helper, the healer, the “of course I don’t mind.”

But soft doesn’t mean stupid.

Kind doesn’t mean weak.

And silence doesn’t mean consent.

They laughed when I set boundaries.

They mocked my fire and called it “too much.”

And when I finally said no, they called me the villain.

Fine.

Let them.

Let them whisper about me in rooms they thought I’d never enter.

Let them fear the storm they created.

Because I’m done being digestible.

This is the part of the story where the soft girl sets everything on fire …

not out of cruelty,

but because she finally realized

she never needed their permission to burn.

Now I wear my rage like red lipstick.

Now I protect my peace like a dragon guards gold.

Now I smile when they flinch …

because I earned my crown,

and I’m not handing it back.

Not for them.

Not ever again.

Posted in writing

Sun? I Barely Know Her: Confessions of a Fall Girlie Trapped in Summer Hell

Posted on by There for You Editing

I know, I know, summer is supposed to be this magical time full of sunshine, beach days, and tan lines. But let’s be real: it’s mostly just swamp ass, sunburns, and pretending you enjoy day drinking in 98-degree heat while your thighs become mortal enemies.

I was not built for this. I am not a “poolside with a seltzer” girlie. I’m a crunchy leaves and emotional breakdown in a cozy cardigan girlie. My heart beats to the rhythm of movie marathons about witches and oversized hoodies. I romanticize storm clouds. I thrive in overcast.

Summer? She’s that loud girl at brunch who’s always talking about how much she loves “hot yoga” and makes everything a group activity. Fall? Fall is the friend who brings you soup, hexes your ex, and lets you rot on the couch in peace.

The second July hits, I’m already lighting cinnamon candles and whispering “soon” to my collection of knit scarves. And don’t even get me started on pumpkin spice—judge all you want, but I’d sell my soul for a venti iced PSL right now.

So if you see me in August with Halloween socks and a haunted expression, mind your business. I’m manifesting October. I’m daydreaming of dead leaves and dead relationships. I’m a fall girlie through and through … and this sun-drenched nightmare can end anytime now.

Posted in book editor, mental-health

Stop Calling Me Strong: I’m Tired, Babe

Posted on by There for You Editing

You ever notice how “strong” always sounds like a compliment, but somehow ends up feeling like a curse?

Like … thanks, I guess?

But what you really mean is:

“I know life keeps sucker punching you, but I fully expect you to eat your feelings, smile pretty, and keep carrying the weight of everyone else’s emotional baggage, in heels, with lashes on … while gaslit into thinking you should be grateful for the resilience.”

Yeah. No.

Let’s talk about it.

Being “strong” became my identity. And then it became my prison.

I was the girl who handled everything. Independent. Capable. “So mature for her age.”

The problem?

No one thought to help me. They just assumed I’d figure it out.

Being the strong one means people stop asking if you’re okay.

They assume you always are.

Even when you’re not.

Even when you’re breaking.

And if you do crack under pressure?

They look at you like you’ve betrayed them.

Like the mascot of emotional survival wasn’t supposed to have human limits.

Strength is not silence. It’s not self-sacrifice. It’s not smiling through trauma.

I am tired of being called strong as a way to avoid supporting me.

I’m not a superhero. I’m not a martyr.

I’m a woman who has survived shit she shouldn’t have had to.

And I’m exhausted.

What if I want to be soft today?

What if I need to fall apart?

What if I just want to scream-cry into a void and then take a nap while someone else makes the damn decisions?

That doesn’t make me weak.

That makes me human.

So here’s your permission slip:

You don’t have to perform strength to be worthy. You can cry, rage, rest, and ask for help. You can set that “strong woman” cape down and say: “I’m not doing it all today. Try someone else.”

Because strong isn’t the goal.

Alive is.

Peaceful is.

Unbothered, hydrated, and left the hell alone is.

And that, babe?

That’s the kind of power no one can take from you.

Posted in book editor

Learning to Soften: The Battle Between Independence and Surrender

Posted on by There for You Editing

For women who’ve had to do it all—be the protector, the planner, the provider—shifting from masculine energy to feminine energy doesn’t feel like self-care. It feels like a betrayal of survival.

We’re told to “be soft,” “lean back,” “receive,” but how the hell do you relax into your feminine when your nervous system only knows hyper-vigilance? When your inner child still flinches at the idea of depending on anyone?

You can’t just throw glitter on that kind of trauma and call it healed.

Especially when you’ve had to raise yourself. Especially when you’ve been the emotional load-bearer for partners who didn’t show up. Especially when your independence wasn’t a choice, it was your only option.

And now, maybe you want to soften. Maybe your body is begging to rest. Maybe your soul is ready to receive love, protection, support.

But the part of you that’s kept the whole world spinning? She’s not convinced.

She says:

“If I stop doing, everything falls apart.”

“If I trust, I’ll get disappointed—again.”

“If I let someone else lead, I’ll be abandoned.”

So we stay in our masculine. We keep grinding, fixing, controlling, proving. Not because we want to, but because we’re afraid not to.

And that fear? It’s valid.

But here’s what I’m learning:

Feminine energy doesn’t mean being weak, passive, or dependent. It means trusting that you are safe enough to let go. That you’re worthy of being cared for, without earning it. That softness isn’t a liability—it’s sacred.

The journey back to feminine energy isn’t linear. It’s not an aesthetic. It’s not a TikTok trend. It’s a slow, terrifying, tender return to the parts of yourself you had to bury just to survive.

So if you’re struggling to let someone in …

If you’re exhausted from being “the strong one”…

If you’re learning how to stop clenching your jaw and start trusting your heart …

You’re not broken.

You’re unwinding decades of armor. And that’s holy work.

You’re allowed to rest.

You’re allowed to receive.

You’re allowed to be held.

Even if it feels unfamiliar. Even if you have to learn it in baby steps.

You are still worthy of softness.

Posted in book editor, writing

Lower Your Expectations. No, Lower.

Posted on by There for You Editing

Grumpy Capy’s Blog Post:

Greetings from my emotional support blanket.

It’s me, your favorite emotionally exhausted rodent with a caffeine addiction and a low tolerance for nonsense, Grumpy Capy. I didn’t want to write this blog, but apparently, if I don’t show up every now and then, people start assuming I’ve “gone on a wellness retreat.” Spoiler: I have not. I’ve just been busy contemplating the abyss and side-eyeing productivity culture.

So let’s talk about something important …

Motivation? I Don’t Know Her.

Every productivity guru is out here screaming about 5 a.m. cold plunges and hustle vibes while I’m just trying to remember if I brushed my teeth or if that minty feeling is from last night’s regrets.

You want goals? Here’s mine:

Wake up. Don’t scream. Maybe respond to one email without throwing my laptop into a swamp. Eat something that isn’t passive-aggressive trail mix.

That’s growth, baby.

Self-Care? More Like “Self-Don’t-Talk-to-Me.”

I tried journaling. Got through half a page before I wrote, “This is stupid,” and drew a tiny middle finger.

I tried meditating. Immediately fell asleep and woke up angrier.

I tried yoga. Got stuck in Child’s Pose and had an existential crisis.

So now I just sit in a warm bath of sarcasm and iced coffee and call it “healing.”

To-Do List? More Like “Suggestions I Will Ignore.”

There are currently 47 tasks on my list, and you know what I did today?

I stared at them.

Then I added “stare at to-do list” to the list.

Then I checked it off.

I’m basically a productivity god.

Final Thoughts (Before I Go Hibernate Again)

Not everything has to be optimized. Not every moment has to be a lesson. Sometimes you’re just a tired, introverted capybara doing your best in a loud, emotionally draining world.

And that’s enough.

Now leave me alone … I’m busy doing nothing. It’s a full-time job.

With all the love of a half-finished iced latte and none of the patience,

—Grumpy Capy

Posted in authors, book editor, indie authors, writing

You’re Not a Bad Writer, You Just Need a Good Editor

Posted on by There for You Editing

Let’s get one thing straight: needing an editor doesn’t mean your writing sucks.

It means you’re smart enough to know that your words deserve a second set of eyes, and that your story deserves to shine.

You didn’t pour your heart, soul, and late-night caffeine binges into your book just to second-guess every comma, right?

That’s where There for You Editing comes in.

📣 We’re not here to tear your voice apart.

We’re here to amplify it. To polish the magic you already made. To help your message hit harder, flow better, and sound exactly like you … only sharper.

Whether you’re a first-time author, a self-publishing badass, or a spicy content creator with too many tabs open and a looming deadline, we’ve got your back.

Because editing should feel like support, not shame.

We’re here to:

•Catch your sneaky grammar gremlins

•Strengthen your voice without stripping your style

•Help you say what you actually mean with confidence

•Remind you that you’re a damn good writer, full stop.

So if you’re tired of staring at your draft like it just personally offended you …

Let us help. Because your words matter.

And we’re There for You, every sentence of the way.

🖤 Learn more or book your edit at https://thereforyouediting.wordpress.com

🖊️ Follow us on Instagram @ThereForYouEditingServices

Posted in mental-health, writing

Self-Care Isn’t Bubble Baths—It’s Survival Magic

Posted on by There for You Editing

Section 1: What Self-Care Really Looks Like

Forget the aesthetic Instagram posts.

Self-care can look like:

Crying in the shower because you finally let yourself feel it. Cancelling plans because burnout is whispering, “Please.” Setting a boundary and not over-explaining it. Making a to-do list that just says “wake up + survive.”

And yes, sometimes it is curling up with a book and a face mask.

But real self-care is less about pretty and more about permission.

Section 2: The Self-Care We Don’t Talk About Enough

Here’s the stuff we often skip:

Mental care: Going to therapy, taking your meds, journaling your rage instead of texting your ex. Emotional care: Letting yourself be soft. Or angry. Or silent. Digital care: Muting, blocking, deleting—and walking away from screens when they start screaming instead of soothing. Social care: Choosing people who don’t make you question your worth.

Section 3: A Self-Care Survival Kit (That Doesn’t Cost Money)

A playlist that makes you feel like a goddess in a hoodie 3 trusted people who let you be unfiltered A tiny ritual: morning coffee, evening stretch, whispering “I’m doing my best” to yourself in the mirror Saying “no” like it’s a full sentence (because it is)

Section 4: Final Reminder

You don’t owe anyone your sparkle when you’re just trying to hold it together.

Self-care isn’t selfish.

It’s how you stay alive in a world that keeps demanding more.

So light the damn candle, but also protect your peace like it’s sacred.

Because it is.

And so are you.

Posted in authors, book editor, writing

Why Authors Need to Be on Social Media (Even If It Feels Cringey)

Posted on by There for You Editing

Let’s be real: writing a book is hard. Publishing it? Even harder. But selling it in a world where everyone’s attention span is shorter than a TikTok? That’s a whole new beast.

So here’s the truth most authors don’t want to hear:

If you’re not showing up on social media, your book is missing out on the spotlight it deserves.

Before you panic-scroll away, take a breath. This isn’t about becoming an influencer. You don’t need to dance, lip-sync, or overshare your personal life (unless you want to … then by all means, bring the drama). But you do need to show up.

Here’s why social media matters for authors:

1. Visibility Is Everything

You could have written the next great literary masterpiece, but if no one knows it exists? Crickets. Social media helps your book be seen. It’s the digital equivalent of waving your book around in a crowded room and saying, “Hey, this might change your life.”

2. Readers Buy from People, Not Just Pages

People want to know the human behind the words. Posting on social media builds trust and connection. You’re not just a name on a cover—you’re someone they root for, laugh with, cry with, and buy from.

3. It’s Free Marketing (aka Budget-Friendly Brilliance)

No need to throw thousands at ads right out the gate. With consistent posting, smart captions, and a sprinkle of personality, you can build a loyal audience organically. Bonus points if you include cat pictures. Readers love cats.

4. It Keeps You Top of Mind

A one-time post doesn’t cut it. Regular posting reminds people, “Oh right, I’ve been meaning to buy that book!” Visibility breeds familiarity, and familiarity leads to sales.

5. It’s Where Your Readers Already Are

Whether they’re scrolling through BookTok, saving aesthetic Instagram posts, or lurking in Facebook book groups—your readers are online. Meet them where they are. Then blow their minds.

Okay, but what do I even post?

I got you. Try:

•Behind-the-scenes of your writing process (yes, even the messy parts)

•Quotes from your book

•Funny or relatable author struggles

•Fan reactions and reviews

•Aesthetic mood boards

•Personal insights (you’re more interesting than you think)

Final thought:

You don’t need to go viral to be successful. You just need to be present. Authenticity > perfection. Consistency > gimmicks. And yes, you can do this—awkward selfies, imposter syndrome and all.

So log in. Post the thing. Say hi.

Your readers are waiting.