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Black Garden by Tom Warwick

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Black Garden is a sci-fi novella by Tom Warwick. For more information about the book, click on the Amazon link below.

Purchase on Amazon or read in KU

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About Me
About Me

I'm Hannah, an editor, author, and writing coach. I love helping writers like you polish their stories, enhance their craft, and chase their publishing dreams.

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I've been working hard on my own novel lately. Tha I've been working hard on my own novel lately. That's a scary thing for me to announce, somewhat permanently, here on my feed. As I'm drafting, I'll have moments where I'm proud of what I've written, almost immediately followed by doubt. "Is this any good? Would anyone actually want to read it? Should I keep this one tucked away, just call it practice?" Maybe you've wondered the same things. It doesn't seem like many writers are free of this burden. There's no easy, reliable answer to those questions. Quality comes from practice, persistence, and revision. What people want to read is subjective. Whether you want to publish or not is a highly personal decision. I'm committing to this novel, this story I want to tell. A story about friendship, forgiveness, magic space demon (duh), and a soft strength I don't always see in fantasy novels. Hopefully I'll share it with you someday, maybe in 2022 💜 In the meantime, I'll keep chipping away at my outline, revising as I go, and sending my friends the moodboards I create. QOTD: What do you worry about as you draft? And if that's too heavy for today, no worries! Let's talk about fun aspects of our WIPs instead ⬇️ ° ° ° #commonmistakes #authortips #writerstips #writingtipsandtricks #writersblock #writeyourbook #finishyourbook #writinganovel #writeeveryday #amditing #amdrafting #amrevising #writingtips #writershelpingwriters #writingmood #howtowrite #keepwriting #writerssupportingwriters #bookeditor #writingcoach #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #amwritingromance #YAwriter #YAauthor #YAauthorsofinstagram #womenwritingfiction #womenwriters
Anyone up for a little Friday self-editing tip? If Anyone up for a little Friday self-editing tip? If you’re like me and plan on writing this weekend, this might be useful! And if you aren’t writing this weekend, tap that little save button for later. 😉 You’re probably looking at this list and wondering why I’ve included some body language words on it. In my work, I find that when drafting--and even during self-editing--many authors rely heavily on basic body language to start conveying action in the scene. There’s nothing wrong with that when drafting, and sometimes these actions are useful! A timely shrug or glance can speak volumes in the right context. But when your characters are ALWAYS shrugging, or sighing, or looking, or glancing, well...you can see how that starts to get repetitive and boring. If your beta readers, CP, or even editor call you out on a specific body language you overuse, make a note of it for future drafts. Search for that word(s) and its variations (like shrugged vs. shrugging) to figure out areas to revise on your own. As for words like “quickly” and “very,” these don’t often convey what you want them to and are filler words. That being said, they can be useful in situations like dialogue! Example? “Quickly,” the guard said, “you must hurry.” And please, remember, everything in writing is about balance. These self-editing lists you find only are helpful, but you probably don’t have to cut out EVERY instance of EVERY word on them. Use this as a guide, then try to use your best judgment on what to cut, keep, and revise. QOTD: What’s your secret ‘overused body language’ word or phrase? My first draft was FULL of eye rolls 😂 👀🙄😒 ° ° ° #commonmistakes #authortips #writerstips #writingtipsandtricks #writersblock #writeyourbook #finishyourbook #writinganovel #writeeveryday #amditing #amdrafting #amrevising #writingtips #writershelpingwriters #writingmood #howtowrite #keepwriting #writerssupportingwriters #bookeditor #writingcoach #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #amwritingromance #YAwriter #YAauthor #YAauthorsofinstagram #womenwritingfiction #womenwriters
Is it beneficial to work with the same editor(s) i Is it beneficial to work with the same editor(s) if you’re planning on writing and self-publishing a series? In an ideal world, yes! It would be great to work with the same editor if you’re working on a series. This ensures: 📚 A consistent editorial style throughout your series 📚 Your editor will know your characters and story inside and out, and that knowledge helps your editor help you bring your full vision/plan to life 📚 Deeper collaboration that can help you be an even better writer and storyteller Many indie authors can work with the same team over the course of a series. But sometimes things happen; people retire, you didn’t work well with your first editor, schedules are booked out further than you planned, etc. What do you do if this happens? 📚 If you do need to work with a new editor, send them a copy of your previous book(s) in the series to help them get caught up. (This may also come with a small fee for their time spent reading/notetaking.) 📚 Talk with them about your vision for the rest of the series. 📚 Let them know if there’s something specific you’ve been working on in your writing style, like getting better at balancing “show don’t tell.” This will help them as they begin analyzing your work. And when it comes to elements like cover design and interior formatting, the same goes! It’s great if you can lock in a team whose work you love so that your books will be consistent in every way. This post is inspired by the fact that @samantha_heuwagwn and I have been working together as editor-author since 2016! Can you believe it? Five years since we started working together, and she’s about to publish the fourth book in her series. QOTD: Have you been working with your editor for a while? Or do you plan to find one you can work with long-term once you’re reading to begin the editing process? ° ° ° #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #publishingmentor #publishingpro #bookediting #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #editorsofinstagram #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor #romanceauthor #romancewriter #amwritingromance #YAwriter #YAauthor #YAauthorsofinstagram #womenwritingfiction
“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinkin “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” - Joan Didion I’m sure this quote comes as no surprise to you; many of us writers put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) and learn something about ourselves in the process. Whether it’s purposeful exploration on the page or a previously subconscious nugget of truth that pops up in our dialogue, writing is a powerful tool for authors and readers alike. Why do you write? 🤔 ° ° ° ° #indiesareworthit #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #indieauthorsunited #selfpublished #indiepub #bookpublishing #authorpreneur #writingcareer #getpublished #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor #romanceauthor #romancewriter #amwritingromance #YAwriter #YAauthor #YAauthorsofinstagram #writerssupportingwriters #writingcommunityofig #storyteller #bookeditor #writingcoach #editorsofinstagram #copyeditor #womenwritingfiction #womenwriters
One thing I absolutely adore is working on a whole One thing I absolutely adore is working on a whole series with an author. Which is actually a lot of what I end up working on with my clients! Standalones are also great, but one of my favorite challenges as an editor is helping authors with the story arcs for their series. It’s like a big puzzle or big mystery, helping them figure out how to move pieces around, where to plant clues, and so forth. Developmental edits and story critiques are perfect for this type of work. Of course, before working with an editor, it’s also important to self-edit! My top tips for your story-level self-editing: 📚 Write a summary of each chapter in a separate document, including the main details. This will help you track your overall plot. 📚 If you find yourself getting confused, flag it and come back to it later. If something is still confusing you, try to figure out what. (Is the subplot, motivation, explanation, etc. unclear?) 📚 If you think a scene is boring, so will your readers! 📚 Watch for head-hopping and POV slips. Self-editing your story can be challenging, but if you stay organized and listen to your CPs and betas, it’ll be a much smoother process. It’s a skill you’ll get better and more efficient at as you practice, so give yourself some time to learn. And once you’re done with self-editing, consider working with an editor on a story-level edit! This can help you dig even deeper into your story structure and root out trouble spots for further refinement. If you’re in need of a story-level edit (or any edit!), I’m currently booking for late July and beyond. Visit the link in my bio or DM me for more info. QOTD: Do you like self-editing at the story level? ° ° ° #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #bookediting #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #indiesareworthit #indiepublishing #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #indieauthorsofig #selfpubauthors #indieauthorlife #indieauthorsbeseen #indieauthorlove #selfpublished #indiepub #bookpublishing #authorpreneur #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor
Do you ever get feedback from your critique partne Do you ever get feedback from your critique partner or beta readers that your scene doesn’t feel grounded in reality? Like there’s no sense of setting or that your scene lacks description? This is sometimes referred to as “White Room Syndrome.” Which is exactly what it sounds like...that your characters exist in some big empty white room. It’s like Janet’s Void in The Good Place TV show--an empty plane of existence. This is really boring for readers and doesn’t help guide their imagination through the world you’ve created for them. White Room Syndrome is a lack of description on the page. *You* probably know every detail of the scene’s setting, but you have to remember to actually put it in the story! It’s easy to get hyperfocused on dialogue or conflict as we write, but an immersive book needs many different layers and aspects to keep readers’ attention. Some ways to revise and/or avoid White Room Syndrome: 📚 Describe the actual location. You don’t need paragraphs of this, but ground us in the basic setting: the castle, the throne room, at the harbor, etc. 📚 Weave in more subtle details as you go. Avoid those info dumps! Instead, weave in detail as you go. At the harbor? Mention the seagulls interrupting an important conversation. In the throne room? Maybe your MC notices how drafty it is once the queen denies their request. 📚 Use the five senses. Sight, sound, taste, touch, smell--all important in your setting! Use these details sparingly and purposefully. 📚 Think about weather or the season. Is it stormy? Sunny? Windy? Does this match the character’s mood or struggle, or does it contrast it? 📚 And on that note, also think about the time of day! Is it dusk? Dawn? The dead of night? First thing in the morning? Think about all of these details and how they can play into or contrast what your characters are experiencing. Get creative, but also keep it relevant! QOTD: Do you have trouble with descriptions and locations in your WIP? ° ° ° #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #bookediting #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #indiesareworthit #indiepublishing #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #indieauthorsofig #selfpubauthors #indieauthorlife
Happy Friday! I saw a few of my IG friends posting Happy Friday! I saw a few of my IG friends posting “meet me in memes” carousels and figured I had to join in the fun. A bit more about me that my selected memes probably don’t share: 📚 I’m a book editor! Not just an author 😜 Fantasy, sci-fi, and romance are my all-time favs 📚 I love the band BTS 💜 and I also love the Foo Fighters 📚 I got married in January (hooray eloping!) 📚 I’m presenting at a writing/gaming/nerdy convention in 2022 🥳 📚 Even if I’m like David in the field when I’m outside (all-black outfit and all), I do like tending to my flower garden 🤷‍♀️😅 Enjoy the memes and have a great weekend! ° ° ° ° #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #bookediting #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #indiesareworthit #indiepublishing #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #indieauthorsofig #selfpubauthors #indieauthorlife #indieauthorsbeseen #indieauthorlove #selfpublished #indiepub #bookpublishing #authorpreneurship #authorpreneur #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor #romanceauthor #romancewriter #amwritingromance #amdrafting #amwriting #amrevising
“Is my novel more YA or NA? Is NA even popular? “Is my novel more YA or NA? Is NA even popular? Can my NA characters fit in a YA novel?” A lot of my work as an editor is on books in the YA and NA categories, and I get a lot of questions from authors about the differences. NA was born out of YA, an easy naming convention for those books that bridged the gap between Young Adult and Adult. Which, if you think about, makes sense: you don’t suddenly have Big Adult Problems when you hit 18. There’s a transitional period, and that’s what NA tackles. NA is still a new-ish concept in publishing, but it’s gaining traction with publishers, and readers *want* it. Just look at the popularity of books like ACOTAR and Red, White & Royal Blue--a bit older than traditional YA but definitely popular! So, how do YA and NA fit together? YOUNG ADULT 📗 MCs generally aged 12-18 📘 Themes like first loves, early relationships, self-identity, friendship, mental health, and general coming-of-age; may include a loss of innocence 📕 Characters lack life experience & perspective at the beginning 📙 This is the “middle and high school” period of life -- teenage years with lots of change NEW ADULT 📗 MCs generally aged 18-30 📘 Themes like relationships, first or second loves, and mental health, but also self-empowerment, self-discovery, fear of failure, and loss of innocence as characters step into “real” adulthood 📕 Characters usually have *some* experience & perspective (though not necessarily a lot!) 📙 This is the college years & early career period of life There’s definitely crossover between the two categories, both in minor ways like character age (17-19 range) but also in themes. A lot of the change that begins in YA continues through NA as people continue evolving into their true selves. Are you writing in either of these categories? My WIP is a NA fantasy novel! ° ° #indiesareworthit #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #selfpubauthors #indieauthorsbeseen #indieauthorlove #selfpublished #indiepub #bookpublishing #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor #romanceauthor #romancewriter #amwritingromance #writingtipsandtricks #writersblock #writeyourbook #finishyourbook
When does worldbuilding or narration turn into inf When does worldbuilding or narration turn into info dumping? A book I’m currently reading for fun had me almost ready to DNF. The opening chapters were great, picking up where the cliffhanger ending of the previous book left things. The plot was progressing, we were getting glimpses of worldbuilding and the characters, and then… Everything came to a grinding halt. Gone was the action, replaced instead by lengthy descriptions of morning routines, the same convos repeating over and over, and inner monologues so long I found myself skipping them. This book is ~200k words, and the author could’ve cut about 60-70k without losing the plot or character development that did happen in the muddled middle. Worldbuilding & narration are important, but how do you know when you’ve crossed the line into info dump territory? 🤔 📚 Flag scenes and conversations that are markedly similar. There’s a good chance the repetitive ones can be condensed, cut, or changed. 📚 Ask beta readers if they got bored at any point. That’s a sign of either an info dump or poor pacing (or both, tbh). 📚 Determine what each scene does for the story. Does it somehow advance the story or force characters to make a decision? 📚 Is the worldbuilding info presented relevant in that moment? We often do more worldbuilding as authors than readers need to see--or it can be spread out more, discovered as it’s relevant to the story overall. Don’t tell everything all at once. 📚 Check dialogue for info dumps. Writers often try to convey info through dialogue instead to avoid an ‘info dump,’ but it just makes the dialogue stilted and unnaturally, well, info dump-y. Don’t get sucked into this trap! Does a lot of info dumping in books make you give up on them? Are info dumps something you struggle with as you draft? ° ° ° #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #bookediting #freelanceeditor #indiesareworthit #indiepublishing #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #indieauthorsofig #selfpubauthors #indieauthorlife #indieauthorsbeseen #indieauthorlove #selfpublished #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor #romanceauthor
Fun fact: many manuscripts I work on are lacking i Fun fact: many manuscripts I work on are lacking interiority. Another fun fact: my CP just told me my own opening chapters need some more interiority! 🤭 I think it’s something most writers struggle with--no shame in that! Interiority sounds fancy, but it’s really just referring to your character’s thoughts, feelings, and internal struggle. It helps readers understand why your character is doing what they’re doing and why they have the goals they do. It’s really important. My top tips on interiority: 📚 Interiority is good ‘telling.’ Remember, some telling is okay. Context is key to understanding. Don’t be afraid to add it. 📚 Use interiority to not only show feelings and thoughts but also personality! A fun, snarky comment in a character’s head can convey both their thoughts on a situation and their sassy side. 📚 Cut out some of your physical descriptions. Clueing readers in to how a character’s body feels can be helpful and good, but I find writers relying on this too much. Change some of those moments to true interiority for balance. 📚 Ask yourself is you can answer the question “why?” Why is your character reacting how they are? Why do they chase that goal? If it’s not clear, you might need more interiority to illustrate why. 📚 Are you combining dialogue and action to also help convey feelings? 📚 Are you exploring emotions--truly exploring--or just naming them? 👀 Don’t forget to check in with your betas and CP about this. Weigh their comments and determine if they’re hinting at interiority (or outright naming it). QOTD: What are some of your favorite ways to use interiority in your manuscript? ° ° ° ° #bookeditor #bookcoach #writingcoach #bookediting #copyeditor #freelanceeditor #indiesareworthit #indiepublishing #selfpublishingcommunity #aspiringindieauthors #indieauthorsofig #selfpubauthors #indieauthorlife #indieauthorsbeseen #indieauthorlove #selfpublished #indiepub #bookpublishing #fantasywriter #amwritingfantasy #fantasyauthor #romanceauthor #romancewriter #amwritingromance #romanticfantasy #romanticfantasywriter
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