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Posted on November 10, 2025June 6, 2026 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Editor’s Pick: Book Recommendations for Veterans Day

Close up of American flag on a blurred background; offering discounts to veterans beginning Veterans Day 2024

Every year on November 11, we honor the veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country. This year, I’d like to offer a short list of book recommendations for veterans you know, or if you are interested in military history and literature.

First and foremost, please, take time to thank and hug a veteran today. Their service and their sacrifice deserve to be remembered every day of the year.

As a daughter, sister, and longtime partner of military service members, veterans from all branches hold a special place in my heart. Whether it’s a story of service by land, by air, or by sea, tales of military life add value to many book genres and categories. Often, when we think of books by veterans or about military life, we think of memoirs of famous generals or wartime leaders, but books that feature our brave men and women in uniform come in many varieties and in practically every genre.

While, of course, I could put together a list of some well-known bestsellers that I recommend, today, I’d like to make some quieter suggestions of books I’ve read in the past couple years, written by lesser-known authors, that both celebrate the many and varied lives of veterans and that touched me deeply and personally.

Of course, due to the nature of some content, reader discretion advised.

Jakovenko: From the Steppes of Ukraine to the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Vladamir “Jake” Jakovenko

Veteran Memoir Recommendation

Tagged: adventure, Vietnam, military lit, memoir, special ops, fatherhood, immigrant author

Jake’s tale is a wild one, full of honor, bravery, humor, and incredible resilience during a thirty-year career. As a US Army Ranger, now inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame, Jake completed two tours in Vietnam, was a SCUBA team combat diver, and performed counter-terrorism special operations. His funny and poignant tell-all provides fresh insight and honesty alongside a sense of adventure that kept me guessing what would happen to him and where he would end up next.

If you’re looking for a riveting true-life action-adventure story, check it out.

Eighty-6: My Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name…on This Dark Path My Father, Allow My End to Be Granted with Light. Amen

Eighty-6: My Father, Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed Be Thy Name…on This Dark Path My Father, Allow My End to Be Granted with Light. Amen.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

By Derrick Pickney

Inspirational Veteran Memoir Recommendation

Tagged: veteran, military lit, memoir, Black author, inspirational

A Purple Heart recipient, Derrick shares his stories of bravery and true lessons learned in childhood, on the front lines, and after coming home. As Derrick analyzes, many veterans like himself suffered traumatic experiences in childhood that primed them for their years of military service, and which is then complicated by that service. When those veterans return home, and once their enlistment ends, they may feel unprepared for the challenges of civilian life, including processing of their traumas. Although it is a difficult challenge, Derrick has chosen to attempt to give outsiders an understanding of this complex cycle of trauma in military veterans from his position within it.

If you’re looking for a thought-provoking journey of reflection on hard truths, check it out.

Vietnam From 35,000 Feet: A Stewardess Story

Vietnam From 35,000 Feet: A Stewardess Story

By Joan Derosa

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: romance, military lit, women’s lit, based on true experiences

At the height of the fighting in Vietnam, one American airline remained assigned to the route of shuttling soldiers to, and body bags from, the battlefields. Based on true experiences, this novel follows Christina as she stewards these soldiers through this moment in history, splitting her time between being airborne and as a volunteer Red Cross nurse. From this unique perspective, she bravely faces it all. With the drama of war around her, she can’t stop herself from falling for a handsome reconnaissance air force pilot, and there’s nothing like danger to fuel the flames of passion and young love. Full of tragedy, heroism, a touch of humor, and a unique perspective on patriotism, this novel will grab ahold your heart.

Do You Have a Book Recommendation for Me?

So that’s it! My short list of book recommendations for Veterans Day 2025.

If you have suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below about what you think I should add to my To Be Read list.

Happy reading.

10% Discount for Military Veterans

The service and sacrifice of all military service members should be honored every day of the year. This is one reason why SRD Editing Services offers a 10% discount on all editing services to active duty or veteran military service members from any branch.

Posted on November 25, 2024November 20, 2024 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Announcing: SRD Editing Services Small Business Saturday Specials!

Cartoon image with phrasing "Celebrate Small Business Saturday with SRD Editing Services"

For the first time, SRD Editing Services is excited to announce special pricing for Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30)! And guess what? It’ll be the perfect gift for a writer in your life.

New clients will receive 15% off their first project (usually reserved for our repeat clients!), and repeat clients will receive 25% off all editing services on their next project!

Whether it’s a single service or a package, writers (or gift-givers!) can take advantage of this limited time offer to secure their spot on Cortni’s calendar. Even if the manuscript isn’t done yet, the editing service can be scheduled in advance through March 2025.

Contact SRD Editing Services through the Contact form on our website, via messaging on Facebook or LinkedIn, or by email at editor@srdeditingservices.com.

This reduced pricing offer is extended only for November 30 through December 2, so send your message, get your Estimate, and secure your spot on the calendar fast!

Posted on November 11, 2024November 7, 2024 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Announcing: SRD Editing Services Offering Discounts for Active Duty and Veteran Military Service Members!

Exciting news!

Beginning November 11, Veterans Day, 2024, SRD Editing Services will extend a 10% discount to active duty and veteran service members of any branch of the US armed forces.

Founded in 2018, SRD Editing Services began offering discounts to repeat clients in 2019, and discounts to current students and alumni of the schools our editor Cortni attended — the University of Central Florida, Florida State University, and Colorado State University — in 2021. We are proud to extend lowered pricing to anyone who has previously served or is currently serving in the US military.

We do ask for verification of your service, such as a picture of your military ID, to ensure that the discount is being applied fairly and accurately. Personal information can be redacted for security and privacy reasons.

The discount will be applied to any and all services on the first invoice with SRD Editing Services. Then, if the writer is interested in additional services — whether on the same or a new manuscript — the writer will receive our higher discount of 15% for repeat clients!

As someone who grew up in a military family and has family members active in the US armed forces currently, Cortni is excited to connect with and provide editing services to more service members, helping them tell their stories and turn their dreams into books.

Posted on October 7, 2024October 11, 2024 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Editor’s Pick: Horror Novel Recommendations for October (and Beyond)

Cover of the book "One of Us Knows" by Alyssa Cole

The countdown to Halloween has begun! And if the crisp air and pumpkins have you craving a terrifying tale, I have a few horror novel recommendations for you.

Now, horror isn’t my specialty genre, but every year in October, I binge listen to audiobooks that focus on this oh-so-appropriate genre. Some are fun-time spooky and some are downright nightmare inducing. This month is off to a great start for me – connect with me on Goodreads for real-time updates of my reading list. But this year is the first time I’ve put together a short list to recommend to readers who might just be looking for a good horror audiobook fix.

I also enjoy a good horror tale in the summer, for whatever reason. The sun is out and shining and I’m lying by the pool. Time for murder and carnage, ghosts and goblins, I guess. 🤷‍♀️

Now, generally after I read or listen to something, I post a private and very casual review to my friends on social media, which sometimes makes its way to Goodreads, although not usually. The horror novel recommendations you’ll find below here are reposts of what I tell my friends and family about these books.

Since October has already begun, and there’s way too many in my reading history for me to keep the list short if I include everything I recommend, I’ve narrowed it down to just three horror sub-categories: fantasy horror, psychological thriller, and horror featuring women of color as protagonists (two appear in this category below: one YA appropriate and one for adults).

It may go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Reader discretion advised.

The Salt Grows Heavy

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By: Cassandra Khaw

Fantasy-Horror Recommendation

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, women’s lit, romance, LGBTQ+, mom lit, short story

I covered this incredible short novel in my blog, Editor’s Pick: Top Books Read in 2023, so you’re welcome to check that out if you want the full (and extended!) review.

To what I’ve said there, I’ll add this: this is one of the few horror novel recommendations that maintains its place on my list, even as I read more in this genre, and I’m growing to love this author more with each exposure to her work.

I listened to another short story from this author in October 2022, returned to her to listen to this in October 2023, and have now returned to her again for my horror reading list of October 2024. She continues to impress me each and every time.

The Last House on Needless Street

The Last House on Needless Street

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

By Catriona Ward

Psychological Thriller-Horror Recommendation

Tagged: 21st century lit, LGBTQ, psychology, horror

This incredible book was an Honorable Mention in my blog, Top 5 Books of 2022, so you might want to take a look there for the full review.

What I can say is that this has stuck with me over the past two years. As someone with a background in psychology, I have to sometimes be careful about what types of psychological thrillers I get myself in — as they tend to hit deeper nerves than other types of thrillers — but as I continue to read more novels with depictions of mental illness, I continue to think about how well done this one is. Since the time of reading this, I have also listened to books by Mary Higgins-Clark and Cormac McCarthy, who are both superb writers in depicting mental illness, and I would maintain that this book holds up against those larger, perhaps more well-known writers.

I predicted when I published my Top Books of 2022 blog that this book would “stick with me for a long time,” and here we are, two years after I read it, and it’s showing up on this short list of horror novel recommendations. I love it when a prediction comes true. 😁

Horror Novel Recommendations Featuring Women of Color Protagonists

For the final category of my horror novel recommendations, I’d like to feature two books that star not only female protagonists but women of color specifically. There has long been discussion in the publishing community about how women of color are not featured enough in the horror genre, and I agree! #representationmatters

The first book is one I read just this past summer of 2024, so it’s fresh in my mind and still haunts me randomly as I go about my life. The second I read in summer of 2023 and is for a YA audience. I particularly enjoyed the narrative’s delivery of the character’s paranoia in the audiobook, and I hope you will too.

Both these titles include content warnings for hate crime violence and abuse based on race, as well as depictions of pretty severe mental health crises. The first also receives content warnings for harm to a child.

One of Us Knows

One of Us Knows: A Thriller

By Alyssa Cole

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: horror, adventure, psychology, women’s lit, romance, LGBTQ+, 21st century lit

4.5 stars. Oooo! Spooky! A psychological thriller for your summer reading list. Very well done. 👏👏👏

Disassociative Identity Disorder (previously known as “multiple personality disorder”) is not particularly well understood or depicted in general pop culture media (books, TV, etc.), and I’m certainly no expert, but I’d say this is extremely well done. Our main narrator is one of the two hosts of this person’s system, a queer Black woman in her early thirties, and she is co-narrated by several of her/their other identities. 👉👈

While people with DID often experience gaps in time due to various personalities controlling the body’s actions and memories, this novel shows how terrifying that really can become when your whole personhood ends up the center of a mystery that urgently needs solving before more people die or disappear under strange circumstances… 😱

So while one of them must know what’s going on, all of them will have to work together to save themselves using only the pieces of information available to each.

Terrifying. Funny. Deeply disturbing depiction of true-to-life trauma caused by people of MAGA ilk. It’ll have you cheering and laughing and gasping in the same scene.👌

Reminded me of The Shining and The Menu and Last House on Needless Street.

Obviously content warnings. No SA but violence, hate crimes, abuse/neglect of children, mental illness, and more. 💔

White Smoke

By Tiffany D. Jackson

⭐⭐⭐

Tagged: psychology, women’s lit, YA, 21st century lit

3.5 stars. A mid-summer ghost story that actually felt like fun summer reading.

A lot of YA tropes mixed with standard ghost story stock that felt like a fresh twist on some classics I probably read in middle or early high school and just can’t remember now, like “Fear Street.”👻

This was fresh and modern, with an angsty MC who learns a few valuable lessons along the way. 👩‍🎤 Her dad is in an interracial relationship, and she’s learning to adjust to having a White stepmother and stepsister. She’s also struggling with her own mental health in a few different ways.

At times it was a bit predictable or obvious, but maybe that’s because I’m an adult who is familiar with the formula. And at times I was honestly questioning what would happen next. Generally, I enjoyed it. ❤️

Do You Have Horror Novel Recommendation for Me?

So that’s it! This is my short list of horror novel recommendations for October 2024.

If you have suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below to let me know what you think I should add to my horror To Be Read list.

Happy reading, and have a great/horrific spooky season!

Posted on July 1, 2024June 30, 2024 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Excellent Experience at the Read It Write It! Book Festival

Cortni Merritt MA stands next to her table at the Read It Write It book festival in Wellington Florida on June 14, 2024

Read It Write It Book and Writing Festival

Editor Cortni had a wonderful time at the Read It Write It Book and Writing Festival 2024. The event took place at the Mall at Wellington Green on a bright and sunny Saturday, June 15, a perfect backdrop for the sunny group of writers who met to swap ideas and share their stories. While most writers were local to central or south Florida, at least two had traveled from Georgia and South Carolina to connect with other authors.

The most represented genre was romance, with everything from sweet to spicy making an appearance. Additionally, fiction genres of various authors included fantasy, small-town mystery, and science fiction.

Our editor also spoke with authors of nonfiction, including memoir and social/political critique and analysis. Additionally, several authors at the event were showcasing their children’s books as well.

Speaking of a showcase, SRD Editing Services was privileged that several of our own writers were kind enough to send copies of their printed books to display and distribute. Cortni gave away several copies of various books from the display at no cost to interested people. We love sharing and promoting our authors’ work and hope everyone who walked away with a copy enjoys their gift!

SRD Editing Services display table at the Read It Write It book and writing festival 2024.

Throughout the event, there were several highly interesting panel discussions. Panelists included award-winning authors and publishers of a variety of materials Unfortunately, due to our table placement and the acoustics of the venue, they were sometimes difficult to hear unless stationed near the seats at the front of the stage.

When visiting various writers’ tables, we saw inventive, interesting merchandise from numerous authors, including 3D-printed figurines of characters, colorful and creative stickers, bookmarks, calendars, and notebooks. Several writers described using QR codes to lead readers to Spotify playlists that accompanied their stories.

Perhaps most interestingly, one author of a children’s book explained how he integrated a QR code for readers to scan in order to access augmented reality features designed to enhance the kids’ reading experience. How cool! Can’t wait to check it out.

There was so much talent that the room was bursting with it. In addition to all the writers, publishers, and illustrators, Cortni even chatted with a few future editors who stopped by the table to ask for advice.

At the end of the day, no visitor left empty-handed. Whether you picked up some merch or some swag, you at least walked away with the knowledge that the book reading and writing communities are strong in South Florida.

SRD Editing Services is looking forward to maintaining these new connections and growing these new relationships with all the Read It Write It authors over the next year. In fact, the date has already been announced for 2025, and we’ve submitted our interest form. See you in June next year!

Posted on June 3, 2024June 2, 2026 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Tools for Romance Writers: Ratings for Spicy Romance Novels

Although writers of all genres should consider how different readers may approach their text, it’s particularly important for writers of romance, erotica, or “spicy romance” novels to connect with readers who are looking for their content. That’s why everyone could benefit from a universal ratings system.

As a reader, if there were a single standard for rating the “spice level” in books, it would be easier to select, recommend, and review books they love and avoid books that don’t match their preferences. As a writer, a single rating system would make it easier to connect with readers who enjoy reading about what you enjoy writing about.

Oh! If only.

While other types of media such as TV shows and movies have standard ratings systems that make it easier for viewers to identify age-appropriate and content-desired material, books are sadly a bit different. While many good romance authors are beginning to include “content warnings” (or “trigger warnings”) so readers are aware of specific content they may find upsetting (or particularly enticing), it’s not required nor a standard practice, although it does seem to be trending in that direction (especially with self-publishing authors).

But without a universal rating system for books, it remains difficult for readers to have insight into what books are appropriate for them (or their kids, if they’re parents), and it remains difficult for writers to appropriately connect with the right readers.

Rated Reads helps parents determine if the book their child is reading is age-appropriate (not just because of romantic or sexual content, but for a whole host of reasons.) Our blog last year on the Accelerated Reader Bookfinder tool may also be helpful.

So what do writers and readers do? Well, here are a few things to consider if you enjoy reading or writing romance, erotica, or erotic/spicy romance.

What’s the Difference?: Romance, Erotica, & Spicy Romance Novels

It’s important to note that reader preferences vary, and what one person considers spicy or erotic may differ from another’s interpretation. The key is to find a balance that suits the preferences of the target audience while maintaining a coherent and engaging narrative.

Hiring some romance beta readers can help you gauge where your novel falls on these scales and help with your marketing and promotion plans. Beta readers in general, but specifically, beta readers who are avid fans of different types of romance, can be invaluable in helping you determine if your content has the “right” spice level for your target readership.

If you are a romance reader and want to help writers hone and perfect their on-page spice, consider being a beta reader! There are numerous groups on Facebook and hashtags on IG and TikTok (aka “Bookstagram” and “BookTok”) where you can volunteer to be ARC or beta readers for the works-in-progress of all types of romance writers.

Romance

To begin with, a “romance” novel typically holds the romance and the developing relationship between characters as central to the plot. The best romance novel tips remind writers to keep the emotions as the story’s focus, and there should typically be a strong narrative arc in the journey of the characters, including challenges, conflicts, and resolutions. True romance novels build an emotional connection as they explore their feelings, and the end result for the reader is a satisfying emotional payoff or a “happily ever after” (HEA) ending.

While there may occasionally be intimacy, often characters will engage in “relations” through euphemism or off-page action, similar to how movies or TV plots will show characters tumbling into bed, kissing, and then fade to black. Often, there is a fade-in afterward to show the characters’ emotional reactions to the events, but the focus is on the emotions and relationships rather than detailed sexual encounters. Even when sex scenes happen on-page, the characters may speak in euphemism or “softened” sexual language rather than explicit word choice from the author.

In movie-ratings terms, true romance novels can be at any major commercial movie level – G, PG, PG-13, or R.

Erotica (aka Smut)

To begin with, an “erotica” novel typically places a strong emphasis on sexual content and exploration. The primary goal is to arouse and titillate the reader through explicit descriptions of sexual encounters. While erotica may have a plot, it is often secondary to the explicit content, and as all good romance authors know, the narrative may serve as a framework to connect erotic scenes rather than a central focus that details characters’ emotions and their journey toward a romantic connection. Beware of losing sight of the plot just to get caught up in “the action,” unless you intend to write erotica. While some erotica may explore emotional connections, the central theme is sexual pleasure, and the emotional depth is typically not as developed as in romance.

Erotica is known for its explicit and detailed depictions of sexual acts. The language used is often more direct and graphic, catering to readers seeking a more intense exploration of sexuality. Its content runs the full gamut of sexual fantasies, preferences, and kinks that you can find when reviewing the categories and tags of any website that publishes adult videos.

In movie-ratings terms, erotica is pretty strictly X-rated and higher.

Spicy Romance Novels / Erotic Romance Novels

“Spicy romance” or “erotic romance” falls somewhere between traditional romance and erotica. These subgenres acknowledge and include explicit sexual content while maintaining a strong emphasis on the emotional connection between characters. Here are some key erotic romance novel tips:

Balanced Focus: Spicy or erotic romance strikes a balance between the emotional development of the relationship and explicit sexual content.

Narrative integration: Unlike erotica, which may prioritize sexual scenes over the plot, spicy romance integrates intimate moments into a broader narrative that includes emotional tension and character development.
Reader expectations: Readers of spicy or erotic romance are seeking a more sensual experience than traditional romance without necessarily delving into the more explicit and purely sexual nature of erotica.
Varied Heat Levels: “Heat levels” are often used to classify the level of explicit content in romance novels. Spicy or erotic romance can encompass a range of heat levels, allowing readers to choose the intensity of sexual content they are comfortable with.

Like the best rated-R movies can have very graphic, enticing, titillating sex scenes without losing sight of how those scenes play into the overall narrative arc and important relationship-building between the characters, spicy/erotic romance novels walk the fine line between turning on both their readers’ bodies and minds.

Spicy Romance Novel Tips: Popular Ratings Systems & Resources

There are several tools and systems that readers and writers can use to assess the spice levels or explicit content in novels, especially in the romance and erotic genres. These tools are often referred to as “heat levels” or “sensuality ratings.” Good romance authors would be wise to understand readers’ expectations and make the most of these rating systems and reader feedback to strike the right balance to connect with their audience.

All About Romance (AAR) is a popular romance-focused website that provides sensuality ratings for romance novels. The ratings range from “Kisses” for books with no sexual content to “Burning” for those with explicit scenes.

Smart Bitches Trashy Books is a romance book review site that provides heat ratings for the books they review. The ratings range from “Sweet” to “Scorching.”

Romance.io is a fairly new (2 years old) book review site that provides a “steam” or “spice” rating for a variety of romance books and invites site members to add their own reviews and ratings. They offer a “similar book finder” so if there is something you liked and want more of, you can find it easily.

Is the Book Spicy? blog focuses just on the spice ratings. No reviews. No spoilers. Just letting you know how steamy the book gets and what the tropes and triggers are for different titles.

Goodreads, a popular book review platform, allows readers to tag books with descriptors like “steamy,” “erotic,” or “clean romance.” Reading reviews on Goodreads can also provide insights into a book’s heat level. (Connect with our editor, Cortni Merritt, on Goodreads!)

Readers can use these tools to find books that align with their preferences, and good romance authors can refer to these and other online spice-rating systems to navigate the varying levels of sensuality expected from readers in romance and erotic novels.

How Writers of Spicy Romance Novels Promote & Connect with Readers

One of the most common ways to connect with readers of spicy romance is through newsletters. It’s a great way for writers to find both romance beta readers and eventually promote their finished books for sale. Many newsletters target in on specific subgenres, character types and tropes, and content that’s close to their heart, but here are a few ideas where writers of spicy romance novels can start brainstorming for promotion and marketing:

Book retailer newsletters (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.)
Book review sites (Goodreads, BookBub, BookSends, etc.)
Book subscription services (Book of the Month, Romance Reveal Book Box, etc.)
Blogs for romance, spicy romance, or erotica books/writing.
Social media groups (Facebook, IG hashtags, BookTok, etc.)
Forums such as Reddit r/RomanceBooks

By becoming a subscriber to a few newsletters or forums for the genre in which you write, you become familiar with the expectations, including the spice levels and standard ratings, for your spicy romance novels.

Writers of Spicy Romance Novels: Do Your Research

Among all the advice out there on how to write a solid romance novel, tips about incorporating spice are in no short supply. If there were a universal rating system, it would certainly be easier for writers, but since there is not, it is worth the time for a writer working to establish themselves or better target their readership in the romance genre to review several sources of reader feedback about spice levels.

There’s a reader out there for every book! Don’t feel like you have to force your book to become too spicy if you don’t want it to be, but if you want to turn up the heat, just connect to readers who are looking for that level of burn, and your spicy romance novels and readers will enjoy the perfect match-up.

Ready to talk to a romance novel editor?

Erotica, Romance, & Spicy Romance Novels Edited by SRD Editing Services

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Posted on December 31, 2023December 18, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 2 Comments

Editor’s Pick: Top Books Read in 2023

Collage 10 book covers of editors picks top books read in 2023 entire list

The SRD Editor's Pick: Top Books Read in 2023

Welcome back for the second year of the SRD Editor’s pick of top books read this year! (Check out the 2022 list here.)

As a refresher, I love tracking my audiobook listens and physical book reading via Goodreads (let’s connect!), and I typically get my materials from the county library using the Libby by Overdrive app. I love it! And the audiobook experience is perfect for me.

So in 2023, I borrowed 151 audiobooks from my library. My total reading tracked on Goodreads is 154 books – which is more than double my goal of 75!

Don’t ask me to pick a single favorite – I just can’t!

But I did narrow it down to a shortlist.

Like last year, I posted my preliminary, casual reviews of these books on Facebook to my personal circle. Below, you’ll find that original, informal and sometimes knee-jerk reaction review, but in this blog for my comprehensive editor’s list of top books read in 2023, I’ve included a bit more of my thoughts in the extended review.

In the Libby app, I also tag books to keep track of the genres and main themes/types of books I read, out of curiosity. You’ll find that info below as well.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

These book reviews may contain some details that could affect your reading of the book. But, I tried not to give away too much.

This page contains affiliate links. SRD Editing Services may receive a commission if you purchase a product through one of our affiliate links. Thank you!

The Salt Grows Heavy

By: Cassandra Khaw

OMG. What an intense and beautiful but insanely gory and graphic and literary excellence of a horror love story fever dream. I don’t even know. By far, the best true horror in my spooky October readings.

The writing in this is superb. Descriptions and word choice that will soak through your skin and bite you with their beauty while the content of what’s being said will melt your brain. I can’t even with this writer.

The mermaid. She was abducted. And her children have teeth. She burns down the kingdom and escapes into the woods with a fearless nonbinary plague doctor who (spoiler) turns out to be analogous to Frankenstein’s monster. They stumble across a society of unaging children in the woods who are under control of three “saints.” (Not sus at all…) Chaos and destruction ensue.

It’s graphic, can’t-look-away horror not quite like anything else I’ve ever read. I keep trying to picture how you’d make it into a movie and i don’t think you could. I think it’d have to be anime. It’s so violent and extreme i don’t know how you’d show a live action representation.

CW for all the physical, visceral horror things and cult-type abuse with children. (No SA).

Extended Review

In October, my reads are exclusively horror/thriller themed, and looking back from the end of the year, it’s easy to see why this made its way onto my editor’s pick top books list. The language flowed over me like syrup, and many months later, I remain stuck in the unique, fascinating, gruesome world.

Although I didn’t delve into it too much in my original review, the themes of motherhood and identity weave through every paragraph of this revenge tale. While the mermaid character explores her intense storyline, the plague doctor’s path explores deep LGBTQ+ meanings. Placing both of their narratives (the mermaid and the doctor) in spotlights that circle each other keeps the trance woven as the carnage piles up around them.

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, women’s lit, romance, LGBTQ+, mom lit, short story

Good Inside: The Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be

By: Dr. Becky Kennedy

OMG. I loved this so much. This might be my new favorite recommendation for parenting books, like for real y’all. So good. For both mothers and fathers. For kids of any age. For struggles of any kind.

The basic premise is: you are good inside. Your kid is good inside. Either of you might be a good person having a hard time/struggling through a tough situation.

It’s overwhelmingly positive, with easily understood advice that anyone can begin implementing immediately, and not just in parenting relationships but in others as well. It has personal stories and large-scale stats and ties together both micro and macro.

It’s hard not to ramble about how much i love this book and why. In the span of a few hours, it helped me tie together my personal experience with scientific best practices. It helped explain and dissolve some of my confusion.

I want a print copy. So i can highlight things and put stickie notes in it and reference it as needed.

Extended Review

While I don’t specifically choose the books on my editor’s pick top books of the year list because of their genre, if I had to narrow down and choose only one nonfiction book this year, this would be it. Perfect for parents of children of all ages. My main takeaway, months later, that I’ve been able to implement and see results in my own life is the idea that everyone is good inside, they might be going through a hard time. Including you.

It’s possible to change your communication style. It’s possible to use compassion and empathy to approach your children to change their behaviors. It’s possible to help kids grow into the people you know they can be. It’s not only possible–it’s your job as a parent. And I think this book will, for me, personally help me get there.

Now, I did just receive a copy of this book as a holiday gift. (Hooray!) I may revisit and post a more extended review next year, after I’ve had a chance to re-read and learn more from it.

Tagged: psychology, 21st cent. lit., mom lit., funny, self-help, dad lit

Moon Witch, Spider King

By: Marlon James

This may be one of the most incredible things I’ve ever read. I’m still processing it. Black History month book 4.

It’s epic high fantasy adventure with an all-Black cast, brought to you by a Jamaican author, so the voices are truly unique and authentic.

Picture Game of Thrones in its level of backstory and intricate politics and character storylines. But instead of dragons, we have other magic in the world in direct connection with the gods. Mainly shape shifters that can turn from human to big cats (lions and jaguars) but many other magics as well.

Our MC — we start following her at age 11 and by the end she is 177. She is cursed. A witch with powers she cannot fully control and a destiny she strongly resents once she discovers it. Then when she embraces it, all hell breaks loose and the gods should tremble.

It’s vulgar. Like, John Waters and Cardi B lyrics level raunchy. And violent. Like Tarentino-level violent. And its completely unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s the Odyssey. And Gulliver’s Travels. And Gladiator. And Beloved. And Blade. With a Jamaican-ish female MC.

Apparently it’s the second in a series. I didn’t read the first (but i added it to my list) and the third is pending release. If you like intricate, epic high fantasy with fantastic world building and strong Black female lead characters, then take the plunge.

Extended Review

So I’m no stranger to paranormal romance, and this takes the cake. Not the type of book I typically enjoy, I am a bit surprised this ended up on my editor’s pick of top books for 2023, but looking back over the competition this year, it still stands above many of the other books I listened to and read.

I said this before, but it bears repeating, this book is not a YA fantasy. It’s smutty and raw and graphic with both violence and pretty extreme sex. It gets in-the-jungle levels of dirty. And another about a powerful magical woman who is out for revenge, even if it destroys her in the process. There are plenty of angry powerful women out there, but if B. Kiddo from Kill Bill was the Witch Doctor character from the Diablo video game, you might have something close to this MC. Truly one of a kind.

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit, romance, political, mom lit

Remarkably Bright Creatures

By: Shelby van Pelt

OMG. So i just told you how i love stories from animal perspectives? One of our three MCs here is a Giant Pacific Octopus named Marcellus. And i love him.

Overall, the story is heartwarming, bringing together three disparate characters with an intergenerational mystery. It’s got elements of romance, some light action, some family friendly humor. Really just delightful.

And then there’s Marcellus, the real star of the show.

I also loved that this audiobook included an interview with the author, giving us some behind the scenes insight and fun writerly discussion. So if you read/listen to this and love it, i recommend the bonus interview as well.

Extended Review

Of all the books on the editor’s pick top books list, this is definitely the most wholesome. At some point this year, I started to realize what “upmarket fiction” means, and this book is one of the ones that I would put on that list. (I might not be right, but the genre is a concept I’m still trying to wrap my head around, and the best explanations I’ve seen for it are very much “I know it when I see it” type explanations…so I feel like this counts.)

I love books with animals as first-person POV narrators, and for me, Marcellus steals the show. However, I also enjoy that the other two MCs whose perspectives we (readers) get to enjoy are of vastly different ages, backgrounds, and points of view. And I appreciate that the main MC (as it were) is an older woman. Many of the MCs I enjoyed following along with this year were in their forties or older, and I’m finding it very refreshing to get away from YA more often than not. You can still go on adventures and learn lessons and enjoy life (and even fall in or find love) without being young and innocent. I’ve been here for it all year, for sure.

Tagged: fantasy, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit., mom lit., mystery

We Over Me: The Counterintuitive Approach to Getting Everything You Want out of Your Relationship

By Khadeen and Devale Ellis

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed everything about this book. I came to it knowing nothing about this couple and walked away feeling like i not only knew them but i knew myself better.

So as someone who wasn’t familiar with either of their individual journeys or their combined journey as a couple, i appreciated the first half of the book giving me that insight and showing me how they built up their trust, support, and communication over the years to achieve a healthy, balanced, and happy relationship now. The first half of the book was very insightful.

The second half felt like it switched into a more focused directive of giving advice, which was welcomed. As a successful celebrity (who wouldn’t call themselves that) couple in their 40s, they offer solid advice on how to make a relationship work for 20+ years and how to raise 4 boys. (lawdamercy)

Overall i really liked what they each (and combined) had to say. I like how they told their story and i think they offer very valuable advice about teamwork, marriage, and parenting. Not to mention business and work-life balance.

One of the key things that struck me is that you have to be in love with marriage, the idea of it, the committment of it, to make it work. There will be good days and bad days and longer periods when you have to recommit yourself. The “happily ever after” is up to the individuals, and it’s ongoing work.

Extended Review

This year, a lot of the self-help I enjoyed focused on either parenting strategies and skills, or relationship improvement. There are many places you can go to get relationship advice, and one of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard over the years is “Never take advice from someone you wouldn’t trade places with.” Well, there’s a lot to admire about the Ellis’s relationship, to me, and I think I’d be willing to trade places with Khadeen, so I wanted to see what I could learn from them.

After enjoying what they had to say in this book and how they put their perspectives together to explain their joint philosophy and approach to life, I tried listening to a couple episodes of their podcast. Now, I’m not much of a podcast person anyway, and I generally don’t like podcasts that are unstructured conversations between small groups of people, so ultimately I found that their podcast was not for me. I liked the structure and approach to the material in the organized presentation of their book, but if you like the book and you generally like spontaneous conversation-style podcasts, you should check that out as well.

Tagged: psychology, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit., romance, sports, mom lit., self-help, dad lit, memoir

Honorable Mention

When Women Were Dragons
By Kelly Barnhill

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, women’s lit., romance, LGBTQ+, mom lit., historical lit., YA

4.5 stars. Loved this historical fiction fantasy. Strong LGBTQ romance(s). True metaphorical coming of age tale. Deep themes of mothering.

What would happen if, in 1955, over half a million women suddenly, miraculously, without explanation or specific warning, turned into dragons? Real life, scaly, flying dragons.

So many things could happen. And do.

This story was both solidly crafted and surprising. Refreshing in its unique details yet familiar in many of its tropes. It’s lovely. A unique beauty. A pearl among emeralds.

The Candy House
By Jennifer Egan

Tagged: adventure, 21st cent. lit., women’s lit., LGBTQ+, sci-fi

Exquisite. Brilliant. This is a deep sci-fi masterpiece that I can’t recommend enough.

When i was in grad school, I read “A Visit from the Goon Squad” from Egan, and it turns out that this book is not only in the same universe, but also contains some of the same characters, giving us insight, foresight, and hindsight on all their lives. I’m going to have to re-read Goon Squad to more fully see all the connections (it’s been 10+ years), but I’d be very willing to do it.

We have neurodivergent characters. LGBTQ+ characters. Interracial relationships. All my favorites from the “woke” world of today.

What if you could upload your consciousness into the cloud? What if you could also access others’ memories in the cloud to re-experience events from other points of view that lived through them? What would the tech geniuses who created this reality look like? How would espionage function? How would this impact everyday people?

Egan probes into all these questions and more in a strangely real but slightly dystopian depiction of the current and upcoming world. We jump through character perspectives and various timelines in vignettes that glimpse into one another and ultimately, reveal an overall truth in the big picture.

Like the fable of 5 blind men who touch different parts of an elephant and describe the beast based on their limited knowledge (“It’s like a tree trunk!” “It’s like a snake!”), this novel collaborates in all its various parts to form an image of a massive, new beast — the pink elephant in the room, as it were, whose heart is technology and its effects on our daily existence.

It isn’t until the end when you can step back from the individual puzzle pieces to see the mosaic as a whole. And the image may be unlike what you expected and reveal some truth that you normally only glimpse in sections. In the end, it may be a self-portrait, warts and all.

Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too Much World
By Jen Granneman and Andre Solo

Tagged: psychology, 21st century lit., women’s lit., mom lit., science, self-help, dad lit.

Ever been told you’re “too sensitive”?… What does that even mean? What’s a “normal” level of sensitive and what is “too much”?

Sensitivity, like so many things in life, may be a spectrum. Individuals are more or less sensitive than each other in a variety of ways and that sensitivity can adjust over time and according to context.

You might be highly sensitive to tactile sensations or pain. You might be sensitive to other people’s emotions and needs. You might be sensitive to changes in the environment or a situation. You may be sensitive in myriad other ways.

You’re not “too sensitive” and you don’t need to “toughen up” or feel guilty that you’re affected by things in the world. You don’t need to buy into the “toughness myth” that so frequently tells you that being sensitive in any capacity is wrong. If you’re an emotionally sensitive person in particular, you may need to learn to harness the power of your sensitivity. You may even need to be told that is an option. This book will give you all that and more.

Not only do the authors understand and give examples of what it’s like to be sensitive — whatever that means to you and for you — but there’s a loving and compassionate presentation of new information, namely, how can you love forward and embrace success in today’s world by using the powers that your sensitivity affords you.

Demon Copperhead
By Barbara Kingsolver

Tagged: adventure, 21st cent. lit., romance, true crime, sports, LGBTQ+, memoir, dad lit., YA

Destined to become a true literary classic. Modeled after “David Copperfield” and hitting every classical structural point, this novel really is a masterpiece. The author uses metaphor and simile like they should be used, giving characters unique voices and a sense of place through language choice and colloquial expression. An exemplary piece of writing.

Little Daemon’s mom brought him into her under educated and addiction-filled world and he never really stood a chance. In the poorest county in the US, where unemployment from closed-down coal mines hovers around 50%, there isn’t much to do, or anywhere to go, or anything to be.

Yet Daemon, a foster kid who works his way through all the colorful characters that appear in that system, is surviving okay. His life twists and turns down a trail of hillbilly self-discovery, poverty, addiction, and redemption that anyone living anywhere in the US in the 1990s and early 2000s should find somewhat familiar. Frightening and sad, touching and tender at times, but somewhat familiar.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
By Moniquill Blackgoose

Tagged: adventure, fantasy, romance, LGBTQ+, YA, sci-fi

4.5 stars. I think might be one of my favorite YA adventures this year. Destined to be a new classic.

A mix of some of your favorite tropes and some things I’ve never quite seen before. Mild spoilers ahead

Like Harry Potter or Wednesday, we begin with an outcast in a prep school for elite teenagers. What makes these kids elite?… They’re dragon riders.

So our MC is from a remote indigeneous population and she is 100% a fish out of water but also bold, brave, true, and steadfast. She is anti-colonial and there to fully represent her people and her traditional way of life at one of the sacred institutions of the metropole. She is a groundbreaking phenomenon and a gamechanger. A chosen one and not really all that reluctant about it.

She also turns out to be bi and polyamorous, and one of the relationships she involves herself in is interracial and inter-class, which she completely disregards in importance. Just busting through all the boundaries.

Of course, it’s the first in a series, and i will 100% look forward to the next one. And the eventual TV or movie series. Because I’m telling you, this is going to have a ripple effect.

Goal: 100+ More Books in 2024

So that’s it! Thank you for taking the time to look at my editor’s picks, top books of 2023 list. For 2024, I’m setting my goal at 100 titles, but I’m sure I’ll go over that. If you have a specific book you think I’d love and should add to my TBR for 2024, leave a comment and let me know! Or let’s connect on Goodreads and recommend to each other. Looking forward to it!

Posted on June 12, 2023June 7, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Goodreads Book List: Father’s Day Recommendations

Drawn image of man and small child silhouette by the sun and the words "Happy Father's Day"

The last-week countdown to Father’s Day begins today! And if you have a dad who loves (or even just “likes”) reading, then I have a book list for you.

Dad doesn’t want another tie or photo frame this year; he wants a book!

At least, I think he might. And since I listen to a lot of audiobooks, I thought I’d compile a shortlist of the best books I’ve listened to in 2023 that might be perfect for a dad in your life. I’ve linked here to the audiobooks, since I know I can personally recommend them, but if the dad you’re shopping for prefers physical or ebooks, get him the format you know he’ll love.

Below, you can find the featured book list of my top recommendations from audiobooks read in 2023, but take a look at my Father’s Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads for a comprehensive and more frequently updated list of books I’d recommend for dads.

Editor Cortni's Father's Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads

The SRD Editing Services Father’s Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads includes books our editor read or audiobooks listened to in 2022 or 2023.

Recommendations include memoirs, self-help and psychology, history, and fiction with “fatherhood” as a theme.

Connect with Cortni on Goodreads!

Editor Cortni's Featured Short Book List

So while my full Goodreads Shelf includes the whole book list I can recommend for dads, I realized that the books I tag as “dad lit” fall into four main categories:

Parenting books
Self-help books
Books on topics dads might like
Fiction that features “fatherhood” as a theme

So whether you know a dad who is looking to grow, to think, or to feel, I compiled a shortlist of books I think your dad might dig. If you don’t see one below that seems quite like him, check out the full Father’s Day Book List Shelf on Goodreads for my other recommendations!

Featured Parenting Books for Dads

Topping my book list are books that help any Dad become the best Dad he can be.

The Opposite of Spoiled dives into excellent advice for how to parent kids of all ages and teach financial literacy, responsibility, charity, and even some basic investment advice. The information may be a bit outdated in some respects (pre-Covid), but overall excellent advice to help parents help their children financially excel.

Good Inside might be my new favorite parenting book. It hits a broad range of topics about relationship development, communication strategies, healthy bonding and attachment, and personal growth that can comebine to make each and every parent better.

Featured Self-Help Books for Dads

Books that Dad can enjoy while learning to improve himself and enhance his family’s lives.

We Over Me takes a deep dive into exploring relationship and parenting advice in a practical way. Although a large section of the book is dedicated to describing the story of this power couple who have been together for more than twenty years and are raising four children, there are equally large sections of the book dedicated to discussing communication and parenting strategies, relationship goals and advice, and how to maintain a healthy work-life balance as a working father.

Cleaning up Your Mental Mess is an in-depth and comprehensive behavioral therapy approach that could help most anyone adjust and reshape a learned behavior through a series of steps. The author has developed an easy-to-follow progressive plan that the reader can use to create a new habit and set of responses or to break out of an established pattern. Adaptive and flexible to nearly every situation, the largest factor that Dad will have to bring to the table is his dedication.

For History-Loving Dads

Books for dads who love the nerd out/do a deep dive on a specific topic.

If Dad loves a well-researched deep dive into a topic, he may enjoy either of these titles.

The Declassification Engine explores the history of protected information and documents in the U.S. From encryption to scandals, from leaks to staged releases, from data management to AI-generated solutions for mismanagement; this title is a wealth of information.

Good for a Girl is perfect for a father of a female athlete. This title explores the areas of girls and women in sports at all levels, from introductory to professional, and the physiological, psychological, and sociological impacts and challenges. While the writer may be a runner, the information contained within applies to women in every sport.

Fiction with Fatherhood as a Theme

Books for Dads who love to be told an interesting story that explores the theme of “fatherhood.”

The Curious Incident is one of the most unique books I’ve read recently, as the narrating character speaks from a neurodivergent perspective. A young teenager/pre-teen, I suspect his voice will feel both achingly familiar and charmingly young to a reader over thirty years old. It is a relatively short read/listen but packs a real punch.

Fairy Tale, on the other hand, is a monster of a tome and well worth the journey at the end. If Dad is already a fan of Stephen King, you may not have to sell him on this too hard, but if not, I think he’ll enjoy all the classic elements he’ll see here. It’s not horror, but there are some frightening moments in the adventure, and a solid and heartfelt lesson learned along the way.

So that’s it! This is my book list of top recommendations for dads, out of the books I’ve read in 2023.

For more suggestions, take a look at this blog with my Top 5 Book List of 2022 or visit Goodreads and peruse my Father’s Day Book List Shelf.

Happy reading, and Happy Father’s Day!

Got Suggestions for this Book List?

Connect with SRD Editing Services

Posted on May 8, 2023May 6, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

ANNOUNCING: SRD Editing Services Joins the International Association of Professional Writers & Editors

SRD Editing Services is excited to announce our membership in the International Association of Professional Writers & Editors (IAPWE) just in time for summer editing to ramp up for the holiday publishing schedule in 2023!

Logo of the International Association of Professional Writers and Editors

IAPWE is a professional organization that provides resources to writers and editors and functions as a networking and freelance contract portal. Creating a professional community focused on outreach, blogging, and thought leadership, the IAPWE provides professionals a site to connect and expand, as well as the ability to promote their business, increase their skills, and grow as a professional.

Currently, Cortni Merritt, editor-in-chief at SRD Editing Services, is drafting a blog to submit to the IAPWE for publication and is excited about the multiple opportunities available through the IAPWE Freelancer Portal. In addition to the webinars and courses offered through the Editorial Freelancer’s Association that are already on the 2023 calendar, Cortni is interested in the IAPWE courses on business copywriting and freelancing best practices.

Posted on April 24, 2023April 24, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Tool for Children’s Book Writers (& Parents!): Accelerated Reader Bookfinder

Children reading a children's book. Boy and girl sitting next to a window.

For more than 20 years, the Accelerated Reader (AR) program has been helping kids read children’s books they enjoy, at their own pace. Readers of all levels can choose an AR book, read their way through it, then take a computerized quiz to assess their understanding and sometimes earn class credit.

Educators across the US use it, and hundreds of thousands of kids across the country read millions of pages every year because of it. If you’re a parent of a child of any age, you’ve probably already heard of AR.

But if you’re a parent who is looking to contribute more to your child’s reading goals and even help them find new books to read, or if you’re a writer of children’s books looking to keep up with trends, find stories comparable with your own work, or identify the reading level of your work, the Accelerated Reader Bookfinder website can be a great resource.

This blog aims to provide both parents and kids lit authors an introduction and overview of how to use the AR Bookfinder site. Let’s take a look!

Using AR Bookfinder Website

Whether you’re a parent or you write children’s books of any level — from elementary to mid-grade, juvenile, or YA books — use the AR Bookfinder website for basic research.

Now, when I was a kid participating in Accelerated Reader, there was no website–there was no internet. If I wanted to know what reading level a book was or how many points it was worth, I had to actually go to the library and examine the sticker on the spine of the book or ask the librarian. How times have changed!

Accelerated Reader Bookfinder welcome page for children's books — On the Welcome page, select the “Parent” option to explore AR Bookfinder without creating an account.

When you first land on the AR Bookfinder welcome page, you need to identify yourself as a student, parent, teacher, or librarian. Whether you’re a parent or a writer of children’s books, you can use the “parent” option to browse the website without creating an account.

For Parents: Confirm AR Children's Books, Reading Levels, & Points

Once you have identified yourself as a parent, use the “Quick Search” option to enter a title that your kid is interested in, to confirm whether it is an AR book, what reading level it is, and how many points it’s worth. You can also search an author name to see which of their works are AR eligible.

I’m lucky, personally. My kid is an excellent reader(!), but I have to constantly remind him to collect his AR points and meet his goal to earn the grade for his language arts class. Luckily, most of the books he’s interested in are in the AR Bookfinder database.

We are sometimes at our favorite local thrift bookstore or the public library, or a friend will offer to let my son borrow a book, and with a quick search, we can find out whether a title he’s interested in is an AR book.

(In fact, one of our favorite books of 2022 — See You in the Cosmos — was one we borrowed from the public library then found out on AR Bookfinder that it was worth 10 points!)

For titles that may have multiple versions in print, it may be important to look more closely at the details of each book on your search results list. Some versions may be abridged, a graphic novel or illustrated version, or an annotated or enhanced version of the book–all of which might affect the reading level and point value.

AR Bookfinder children's book results list of different versions of Alice in Wonderland — A popular title like “Alice in Wonderland” may have several versions available for your child to enjoy and earn AR points.

Advanced Search Options

If you’re not sure of the title or author name, or if you want to check more details about a book series, use the “Advanced Search” tab for more search options.

By using the Advanced Search tab, you can peruse a specific children’s book series to see which titles earn AR points, or you can choose the “Interest Level” (i.e., reading level) to browse titles that might appeal to your child.

Select from Lower Grade (K-3), Middle Grade (4-8), Middle Grade (6+), and Upper Grades (9-12) to filter a list that meets your child’s unique reading needs.

Use the Additional Criteria options to select a topic that your child is interested in (not just genres, but think of this more similar to tags, like “adventure” or “history”), as well as filter to look at only fiction or nonfiction children’s book titles.

If you have no ideas or starting points for your search, and your kid needs suggestions of children’s books, keep reading! The section below details how to use the “Collections” tab on the AR Bookfinder website to search for new titles, authors, or series your little one may love.

AR Bookfinder Tips For Children's Book Writers

As a new or still-learning children’s book writer, it can be tricky to know exactly what reading level or grade level you’re writing for. These “levels” may differ based on subjective criteria such as word choice, sentence structure, and topic.

Maybe you have an idea for a kid’s book, and you’re not sure who your audience is or exactly what age they are.

Or maybe you’re prepping your query letter and submission info for agents and you need to gather titles of children’s books that are comparable to yours. Either way, using the “Collections” tab in AR Bookfinder can help.

Explore "Collections" for Comps & Reading Level

Writers (and parents!) can use the “Collections” tab to explore two things: recent award-winning children’s books and trending and popular kids books.

AR Bookfinder website showing childrens book writers how to explore the Collections tab. — Use the “Collections” tab to explore award-winning children’s books.

Now, it’s possible that these lists will overlap, but just because something is award winning doesn’t mean it’ll be popular! And just because a title is popular with kids in a certain age group doesn’t mean it was critically acclaimed.

Checking out both options in the Collections tab can give you a full picture of what’s going on in children’s book publishing and how to position your title.

When you select the Collections, tab you will see these two main options to peruse through the database.

By selecting the “plus sign” next to one of the options, you expand the menu for more specific information.

Under “Awards,” for example, you can find links to specific children’s book award lists, such as the Newberry Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award.

AR Bookfinder collections show award-winning children's books — Use “Collections” to browse award-winning children’s books.

On the other hand, selecting the plus sign next to “What Kids Are Reading” opens a sub-menu with the three most recent calendar years. Select a year to open the next sub-menu, which says “Top 20 Fiction/Nonfiction Books of [YEAR]”.

When you select this menu, the next sub-menu opens, separating out each grade with a link. You can then explore the top 20 books for kindergarteners, first graders, etc., all the way through high school seniors.

AR Bookfinder children's books top 20 of 2020 — Use “Collections” to explore top 20 titles for each grade level in most recent 3 calendar years.

For example, the Top 20 for 11th grade in 2020 includes classic titles such as The Catcher in the Rye and Huckleberry Finn, along with contemporary titles such as Divergent and The Hate U Give.

Obviously, many eleventh graders are reading and taking AR quizzes on titles required for a class curriculum, but it’s also obvious that many eleventh graders are continuing to read children’s and YA books in which they’re interested and which are also AR books they can earn points on.

Track Titles & Reading Goals with Goodreads!

Although the AR Bookfinder website does have a “favorites” feature, which they call the AR Bookbag, that allows you to save a list of titles; however, when using a Parent account, the Bookbag empties/clears its history when you close your web browser. That can be inconvenient for long-term tracking and ideas!

Instead, our editor Cortni suggests creating a Goodreads account if you don’t already have one (and connect with Cortni on Goodreads!) Using Goodreads’ “shelf” feature, you can easily track all the books you’ve read, the ones you’re currently reading, and ones you want to read.

Since a Goodreads account will last far beyond your child’s school years, it can be an excellent long-term tool to keep your kid reading far into adulthood.

And for authors of children’s books, a Goodreads membership and active account can help you connect with your readers and keep them informed of your work and upcoming releases.

Ready to discuss your editing needs? Connect with a children's book editor!

Children's Books Edited by SRD Editing Services

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Posted on April 17, 2023November 11, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Self-Editing Tips: Use Ctrl + H to Edit Your Writing

Close up black and white photograph of the keys on a typewriter.

MS Keyboard Shortcuts Are Gold to Edit Your Writing

If you use MS Word on a regular basis to write and edit, you probably already know about the most common keyboard shortcuts. (If you’re not familiar with the long list of Windows keyboard shortcuts out there, check them out now!) In particular, there are several wonderful, useful keyboard shortcuts that will help you level up when you edit your writing. They open for you a world of time-saving tricks.

Admittedly, my favorite keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + Z, which is “undo.” I frequently make mistakes and immediately want to revert the text or document back to the way it was.

(If only there was an Undo button for life, right? But I’ll settle for Ctrl + Z.)

When you’re an author putting your early-draft manuscript through rounds of self-editing (using this checklist can help!), you can save valuable time and perhaps lower the costs of your professional editing by using a few simple tricks that are built into MS Word.

This article will help you navigate and learn to use one of the most helpful, time-saving keyboard shortcuts available when editing your writing: “Ctrl + H” or “Find/Replace All.”

"Replace All" Is Misleading: You Need "More"

It’s not as simple as it first sounds. You may hear “Replace All” and think, “Oh! That’s an easy way to edit my writing. I can fix every mistake of the same kind all at once.”

Well, yes, but even more so: no. When you’re using the function for Ctrl + H, there are a few advanced settings to be aware of, and there are a few tricks to make your search-and-find editing sessions easier.

Finding "More"

When you hold the “Ctrl” key while tapping the “H” key, the Find/Replace All pop-up box should open. Select the “More” button in the lower left-hand corner to see the Advanced Menu options. Using these options will level up your results when editing your writing.

Accidentally Replacing Parts of Words

For example, let’s say that while editing your writing, you noticed that you inconsistently used the number “2” and spelled out “two” throughout your manuscript. Now you want to quickly edit and correct all the numbers, according to the Chicago style standards, to ready it for publication. And you want an easy way to fix your number errors.

However, if you simply Find/Replace All appearances of 2 with two at once, without reviewing the advanced settings, you could have problems.

What happens if you use Find/Replace All universally? Well, when that 2 is part of a larger number, like 22 or 287, you’ll end up only replacing the appropriate numeral, creating new errors like twotwo and two87. Neither of these is what you want.

I’ve seen a popular post online (and you might have too) that tells the story of a British publisher that used Find/Replace All with an American book, specifically replacing pants with trousers. Then, the book went to print with occutrousers in the text because the editor did not adjust the advanced settings. Whoops.

How to Search for Whole Words Only

When you open the Advanced Menu options by clicking on “More,” you’ll see a series of tic boxes in an extended menu.

The second option down in the left-hand column reads, “Find whole words only.” Select this box to search only for whole words in your Find/Replace all edits.

To continue our previous example, if you select this option, then search for 2, you’ll see it only brings up instances of 2 that are not a part of larger numbers like 22 or 287.

You can see how this would help if you’re searching for pants as an individual/whole world; in that case, no occutrousers.

Pro editing tip:

Using “find whole words only” comes in hand when editing your writing for the word “OK.” People commonly spell/punctuate/capitalize this inconsistently (OK, okay, Ok, Ohkay, O.K.), but the series of letters can be part of many other words.

So if you’re doing a search for ok, it’s appropriate to check the back for “whole words only,” to make sure you don’t pull up words like spoke or stroke or book, look, or took.

How many ways have you seen to spell OK? What’s your default?

Fun fact: CMOS prefers OK but defers to author preference as long as there’s consistency. APA Style does not state a preference, as OK is simply seen as nonacademic and inappropriate.

Personally, I prefer okay, but oh well.

Accidentally Missing Capitalization Errors

Capitalization can be a real pain when you’re searching for words that might be capitalized inconsistently, like asap and X-ray.

Again, we have our common offender, OK.

OK is a very commonly used word at the beginning of sentences as well as throughout. So capitalization for it might be all over the place in your manuscript.

Make sure to always check the case if you’re making an edit to a word that the Merriam-Webster dictionary advises specific capitalization. For example, if you want to ensure that any instances of nasa or Nasa become NASA.

But, in the case of OK, if you know you consistently wrote okay throughout and you want to edit them to OK, do two searches–for okay and Okay--with the case sensitive option turned on to ensure you replace them all with OK.

How to "Match Case" to Self-Edit Your Writing

When you open the Advanced Menu options in the Find/Replace box, you’ll see a tic box next to “Match case.” Check off this box to search for the same capitalization as what you enter in “Find what.”

Edit Your Writing with A Self-Editing Exercise

Want to practice using these advanced editing options to edit your writing? One good way is to do a thorough round of edits focusing on some of your most overused, easily cut verbiage.

Not that anything you wrote “must go”…but…probably.

Two of these overused words/phrases that I am particularly sensitive to are just and a lot of.

*sigh*

I challenge you, specifically, to perform advanced searches on your manuscript for these two top offenders. Some people overuse these more than others. *wink*

To take this exercise even further and give a thorough edit to your writing, check out our blog and the linked video on 29 words you can cut from your novel.

Good luck and happy writing!

Your Professional Editor

A round of self-editing for your writing is essential, but when you’re ready for a professional touch, contact SRD Editing Services.

Posted on January 30, 2023October 26, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 4 Comments

Top 5 Books of 2022

Neon sign in purple, pink, and blue that reads "top 5" indicating top 5 books read and reviewed in 2022

The SRD Editor List of Favorite Books Read in 2022

As an avid reader, I’ve been on Goodreads for years. I love being able to track what books I read and share with others the ones I feel most strongly about. In 2022, I began listening to audiobooks that I borrow from my local library on the Libby by Overdrive app. I love it! I have a commute. I have to cook dinner. I can’t always be sitting with my nose in a book, but I can (almost) always be listening to a book while doing something else. I’m hooked!

So in 2022, I borrowed 68 audiobooks from my library. Although Goodreads shows I read 88 books, it counted some story or essay collections separately (Sherlock Holmes and Karl Marx, in particular). Plus, I also read a couple physical books that made their way into Goodreads. So I probably read about 75-ish total.

Don’t ask me to pick a single favorite! I might blow a circuit trying to figure it out.

But I have narrowed it down to a *few* of my top recommendations.

After I finished these audiobooks last year, I posted about them to my personal Facebook circle. So below, you’ll find that original, casual review. But, as a bonus, because I professionally write book reviews as well, I’ve included a bit more of a comprehensive review in this blog. I also tag the books I read to keep track of genres, so I’ve included those below as well.

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

These book reviews may contain some details that could affect your reading of the book. I’ve tried not to give away too much, however.

Oh! And connect with me on Goodreads! I love to add to my “Want to Read” list when I see my connections recommend a book!

This page contains affiliate links. SRD Editing Services may receive a commission if you purchase a product through one of our affiliate links. Thank you!

Little Fires Everywhere

By: Celeste Ng

This started as a slow burn for me. Probably wasn’t really until the end of Chapter 2 before I was interested but I was hooked by the end of Chapter 10. I kind of always wanted to be Mia, but I was probably actually Izzy. But at least I never burned the house down.

This story is especially pertinent now, in the wake of over turning Roe v. Wade.

It’s about mothering, motherhood, and who “qualifies” as a mother — which, mothering was central to my Master’s thesis, btw. If this book has been published when i was writing my thesis, i would have used it. It has so much to say.

It’s set in the 90s, just a couple years ahead of my own life and social development.

I remember pretty much everything mentioned but i remember it as a child. Reading about the events as an adult is different. Strikingly, painfully different now that i know what happened after 2001. The world can never be the way it was in the 90s. You can never go home again.

Especially after you’ve burned it to the ground.

Great job, Izzy. Well done.

Extended Review...

“Motherhood” is composed of many decisions, daily, and it presents in many different ways. This story gave an interesting analysis of different types of mothers, what “mothering” can look like, and what makes a truly excellent mother. There’s a contrast between the suburban, idyllic mother, who embodies many of the stereotypes sold on TV as ideal mothering, a birth-mother who gives up her daughter for adoption due to temporary struggles and the adoptive mother who doesn’t want to give the daughter back when the birth-mother asks for her, and a surrogate mother who, during pregnancy, realized she did not want to give up the chance to be a mother and who steals the baby from the couple she is surrogating for. All of these women are flawed; all of these women define themselves as mothers, although their priorities and approaches are vastly different.

The definition and portrayals of mothers changed vastly in the 1990s, the time period for the story, and the book faces those challenges with grit and heart. In a decade when women were fighting to institute a more fair and truly family-friendly approach to motherhood, women seemed to also be fighting each other over who was entitled to those motherhood rights. Which is unfortunate, and perhaps the women of today’s generation can examine if, and how, gendered treatment of one another has changed. From “mean girls” to “mean moms,” how is today’s generation approaching the community of sorority differently? I’m not sure the book answers these questions, but to pose them for examination is one of the first challenges, and the story certainly makes a display of the importance of these ponderings.

Tagged: women’s lit, 21st century lit, mom lit, movie

Readers should be aware of sensitive content including sexual activity in teenagers, destruction of property, and discussions of abortion.

Kitchen Confidential

By: Anthony Bourdain
Read by the author

Everyone should read this book. Everyone. If you’ve ever worked at a restaraunt, known someone who works in a kitchen, eaten at a restauraunt, or plan to eat at a restaurant. EVERYONE.

Foul-mouthed. Fast-paced. Full of life.

Sure he talks a bit about his life. But what he regails in elegant prose and sharp-tongued truth is kitchen life. Who you’ll meet in a kitchen. How you’ll grow. And the grit it really takes to run a great restaurant.

Now, this book is old. Pre-food network glory days. But it’s destined to be a classic of nonfiction prose. One for the ages.

RIP.

Extended Review...

As someone who worked in kitchens (fast food and delis) as a teenager, I felt a deep connection and identification with Bourdain’s content. And as a frequent reader of memoir, I found this to be a unique description more about the actions and lessons learned in his life than the events of it, which was not only refreshing but insightful and helpful thanks to his practical advice and world-wise perspective.

Tagged: memoir, funny, 21st century lit, science

Readers should be aware of sensitive content including adult language and drug use.

The Giver of Stars

By: Jojo Moyes

5 glowing stars.

Excellent. A place I’ve never been before (Depression-era Kentucky), full of characters with unique voices, and a story I’ve never heard before. One in which gritty librarians are the heroes. Full of #girlpower. Honestly, I’m not sure if it gets better than this.

There’s a lot of debate in writer communities about prologues. Are they good? Bad? Necessary? Annoying?

To offer a little *spoiler*: I think the prologue in this book is crucial.

You couldn’t cut it. It’d be an entirely different story. That’s all I’ll say about that.

I’ll be checking out more from this author.

Extended Review...

There’s always something I appreciate when reading about characters who are dirt poor. I mean, stuffing holes in the cracks in the wall to keep out the cold, no shoes in frozen ground, bathes once a year in a hot bath, seasons broth with tree bark, live off the land, dirt poor. It feels more real somehow, more urgent, than reading about characters whose lives are full of diamonds and satins and warm fires in gilded fireplaces. Maybe it just makes me appreciate living in moderate comfort in modern times, but it feels more approachable.

In particular, I love to read about the lives of “everyday” or common women in the past. Even if they are fictitious. The lives of the rich and famous, the lives of aristocrats and social figures is nice and all — queens are certainly fabulous — but there’s something simultaneously sweet and raw in reading about peasant women whose lives didn’t have a huge impact but whose stories are larger than life.

So maybe that’s why I loved this book so much. Because I love when I get to connect with women from the past and see all the ways in which their lives might be similar to my own.

Tagged: historical lit, women’s lit, romance

Readers may need to be made aware of sensitive content including adult language, death/murder, and physical abuse of women/children.

Atomic Habits

By: James Clear

I could give this 10 stars. Remarkable. Genuinely a book that I think everyone could benefit from. Clear breaks down some of the most useful and successful concepts in cognitive behavioral therapy into practical, applicable advice. Want to implement a good habit? There’s a trick for that. Want to break or replace a bad habit? There’s advice for that. Not too technical or full of jargon. An approachable self-help manual to improve any area of your life. I cannot recommend this book enough. I may actually buy a physical copy for myself and everyone i know.

Extended Review...

As someone who has read extensively into psychology topics, I love the idea of behavior modification through proven/easy-to-implement techniques. In particular, I love how simple Clear makes this. He doesn’t say it will be easy, but he does help readers make it as easy as possible.

Some of these concepts I was familiar with and have used before, such as “habit stacking,” which is when you build on one habit by attaching another to it. For example, if you have a medication you need to take every morning, you attach it to something that’s part of your existing routine, like brushing your teeth. Brush your teeth. Take the medicine. Stack one habit on another to make your routine easier and optimize your habit building.

Clear focuses on behaviors, and although he touches a bit on the “cognitive” part of cognitive behavioral therapy, he keeps the focus on the manageable actions. I think that’s best for most people. Some people need a deeper dive into their thoughts and changing their thought patterns to have better control over their behaviors, but most people mainly need the awareness of the behavior in the first place in order to initiate change.

Clear makes the topic easy and guilt-free. It’s a solutions-first approach rather than heavy on analytical techniques or digging into the “why,” and that’s why I think it’s so successful and approachable for so many people.

Tagged: self-help, psychology

There is no sensitive content readers should be aware of.

Damned

By Chuck Palahniuk

Alrighty then. Picture this if you will: A 13 year old girl with the personality of Tyler Durden has died of a marijuana overdose and gone to hell. She becomes the weirdo freak character in a twisted version of the Breakfast Club and together, she and a group of fellow misfits relive a rendition of Dante’s Inferno, where she works a call center reminiscent of the Sorry to Bother You movie, then squares off against the most evil characters in world history to live the most wacky and triumphant afterlife imaginable.

This might be my favorite book I’ve listened to this year. Wild. Self-righteous. Zany. Completely unhinged. Disgusting. Hilarious. Sharp and sardonic. I don’t know how else to describe Palahniuk.

If you’ve never read any Palahniuk before, this isn’t the worst place to start. But just know, you may think you’re losing your mind, and you may also love every damned minute of it.

Extended Review...

Chuck Palahniuk has become synonymous with weird, building a legacy on his twisted tales that take the reader places they’ve likely never been before. And although male writers often err when writing female characters, Palahniuk has found a way to channel the sarcasm, biting critiques, and attitude of outraged angst so typical in his characters into a perfectly believable teenage girl.

One of the elements that contributes to Palahniuk’s success in his craft is his ability to handle unreliable narrators. Here, the narrator either is insecure and embarrassed, lying to give a better impression while knowing she’s unreliable. Or, she starts off in denial of her situation, and it is only after she faces the unique and tragic circumstances that got her to hell can she be relied upon (either by the reader or other characters). I’ll let you be the judge.

However, once she empowers herself with the truth, her redemption/revenge arc is an extraordinary adventure.

Tagged: 21st century lit, adventure, women’s lit, fantasy, funny, horror

Readers should be warned about sensitive content including adult language, self-harm and suicide, drug use, and sexual activity among teenagers.

Honorable Mention

The Book Eaters
By Sunyi Dean

Tagged: adventure, women’s lit, 21st century lit, Mom lit, LGBTQ, horror, sci-fi

4.5 stars. In a world where some people consume and grow from literature and some people consume and grow from others’ minds, how does a mother protect and care for children who are seen as monsters and who can quickly become monsters?

I loved this. Every minute of it. The prose is gripping and the plot takes several unexpected twists. Including how Lgbtqia+ this book is (it’s the first book I’ve read this year with a character who self-identifies as ace.)

Part Handmaid’s Tale, part Frankenstein, mixed into a new nightmare.

The ending isn’t what i expected either. And i liked that. It *doesnt* tie up with a nice bow, and what could be more true-to-life?

The audiobook ended with a lovely conversation between the author and the audiobook narrator, which was so interesting and different. As a publishing professional, i love that kind of industry insider content.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
By Taylor Jenkins Reid

Tagged: women’s lit, 21st century lit, LGBTQ, romance, funny, movie

If you’ve heard anything about this book, I think it will come as no surprise that I found it extraordinary. What a romance! I cried real tears. Simply heart wrenching and inspiring with an excellent twist at the end.

I know Evelyn is blonde, but I kept picturing her as Katherine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall. Maybe with a dash of Marilyn Monroe mixed in. Elegant and lovely. Sharp witted. Classy and poised like golden Hollywood always presented itself. A true icon.

I can’t say i “liked” Evelyn. But i really loved her. And i won’t say that Celia was perfect, but she was damn sure close. And Harry! Who wouldn’t love Harry?

I loved the alternating between past and present timelines, with the occassional insert from the gossip columns so we could see how things looked from the outside.

I was on the wait list for this book. Twice. For a total of 5 months. And i devoured it in 2 days. It was well worth the wait and impossible to put down.

Netflix is making a movie, and I see people online concerned that Netflix will “sterilize” the story and focus on only Evelyn’s seven husbands and not her wife. I agree. I really, really hope they don’t do that.

Run, don’t walk, to check this out for yourself.

The Last House on Needless Street
By Catriona Ward

Tagged: 21st century lit, LGBTQ, psychology, horror

It should be no surprise that a thriller with a blurb from Stephen King on the cover is very good. And this book is.

Although i want horror and spooky all month, what i *didnt* want was serial killers torturing victims, and I was a bit afraid when this story seemed to be heading in that direction. But it took a powerful and well-executed turn, and i think this will stick with me for a long time.

What really stuck with me is the idea that “monsters” very rarely look like what we expect them to. The weird guy you pass on the street? probably not a monster. But beware the nice looking, the people who seem to have no cracks in their outer presentation.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like inside the mind of someone with disassociative identity disorder (aka, multiple personalities) i’d bet this book will give you a pretty clear picture. DID is pretty well always prompted by severe childhood trauma, so be forewarned that’s something that comes with the territory in this story.

See You in the Cosmos

By Jack Cheng

Tagged: kid lit, adventure, mom lit, psychology, 21st century lit, funny, sci-fi

This funny, heartwarming adventure was an outstanding audiobook that my son and I enjoyed together. Almost-12-year-old Alex wants to launch his home built rocket into space and ends up launching himself into his own future. Alex is making a series of recordings for the aliens he thinks his rocket will encounter – a golden iPod to update alien life and build on what is contained in the golden record.

Charming. Smart. Thought-provoking. I loved it.

My 9 year old son’s review: “Stunning. It got really deep. The author did a really good job on this one. Five and a half stars.”

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer
By Fredrik Backman

Tagged: 21st century lit, short story, psychology

It’s only an hour-long audiobook, and I bawled beginning at about minute 4 and continued throughout.

A man with Alzheimers recalls and recounts the precious moments of his life with his son, the ghost of his wife, and his grandson, Noah-Noah, whose name he likes twice as much as anyone else’s so he always says it twice ( ).

It’s beautifully written and performed. It’ll hit home hard.

I do not recommend listening to it at work, where people can walk in your office and you have to explain that you’re fine but just listening to a sad book. Lol.

But i do recommend listening to it.

Interested in a Professional Book Review?

Posted on January 2, 2023May 3, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 2 Comments

ANNOUNCING: SRD Editing Services Joins the Editorial Freelancers Association

The team at SRD Editing Services is delighted to announce our membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) just in time for the new year and our planned growth in 2023.

Since 1970 the EFA has provided training, networking, and contract opportunities to freelance editors in all areas of publishing. The association is dedicated to enhancing the quality of editorial standards and supporting highest quality publishing in all areas.

So far in 2022, Cortni Merritt, founder and editor in chief at SRD Editing Services, has attended EFA virtual seminars on contracting and streamlining business processes, as well as authenticity reader training, geared at providing a higher quality and more dedicated sensitivity reader services. Cortni plans to continue this trend in 2023, with attendance to workshops on editing memoirs, trans allyship and representation, and enhanced copy editing techniques.

The next in-person conference of the EFA is scheduled for August of 2023, in Virginia. SRD Editing Services would be delighted to attend, if circumstances allow.

Posted on July 6, 2020October 26, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Creative Thinking & Writer’s Block: Oblique Strategies App

There’s a bunch of apps out there to help you be a better writer. If you’re struggling with writer’s block, you may want to try a few to see what works for you.

May I recommend Oblique Strategies? It’s available for both Android (here) and Apple (here)

This sleek, straightforward app is designed to give you simple food for thought and a new perspective. At times, the quirky or out-of-the-box solutions might help you work through the peskiness of writer’s block. Maybe you’re struggling against a thorny plot point, maybe it’s some problem of character motivation, maybe it’s the general inability to string words together cohesively.

The Oblique Strategies app sort of reminds me of a Magic 8 ball. If you become frustrated, stop and open the app. Think of a question that encapsulates your current struggle. Swipe to see what happens.

As you scroll, (you can go either left or right), the randomized cards present you with single sentences that may come in from an angle you weren’t expecting.

I suggest you cut yourself off after three swipes. Of course, the first solutions might not be realistic for whatever reason. So try again, a couple of times. Then, stop yourself. It’s too easy to keep chasing the suggestion you want to hear instead of pushing yourself to try something new. After three swipes, choose one of the ideas or strategies presented to you and execute it to see how it affects your writer’s block.

You may not prefer or like or have ever done the suggestions before, but that’s the idea! Push yourself from your comfort zone, because your comfort zone has given you this writer’s block. Get out from under it. Don’t be blocked. A different perspective or a new strategy is often the only way to find a solution.

Developmental Editing/Book Coaching to Break out of Writer’s Block

If you regularly struggle with writer’s block and are looking for a long-term solution, working with an SRD Editing Services editor for a developmental edit or book coaching might be just the thing.

Posted on July 1, 2020October 26, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

The Importance of Charity

I am learning to love giving. I am learning to love charity.

It’s a difficult thing, a solid thing, a hard thing: to let go. To release. So much emotion tied up in the material. So many attachments to things in and around daily life.

Some people live in one town all their lives; some people even live in a single house. I have no hometown, no house that I “grew up in.” Semi-nomadic for as long as I can remember, my stuff has long been my home. Items that surround me hold in them the memories of where I’ve been and who was there and what we dreamed about.

The most recent times I’ve arranged my life into boxes and taken them to another building to rearrange my life inside new walls, I’ve realized: there is too much stuff. Too much for a single grown person (and a half-person) to justify.

Why hold on to notebooks from college? As if their weight demonstrates, somehow solidifies, all the knowledge contained in them that was once crammed into my skull. Now, the answer to any question is always right at the end of my fingertips. (But! some inner Junk Lady protests, these pages are in your own handwriting. Isn’t that better than Google, dearie?)

No matter where I’ve lived, the truth remains that we are all connected. When I make the decision to consume, someone, somewhere has produced it, and I can and am having an impact on the producer’s life. When I consume what I don’t need, or don’t consume what I do need because I don’t let go of what no longer fits my life, I also affect the producers. My consumption is active, fluid; decisions change the world.

Mindful Consumption + Charity

Mindfulness and self-reflection result in clarity. As I examine my life, my choices and their consequences, it becomes clearer which attachments bring me joy and which don’t contribute any value. Once it’s clear what doesn’t contribute, the possibility of letting go, of breaking those attachments, becomes reality.

Once I realize that I can let go of a particular thing, my perspective changes. When I can say, “I don’t need this thing,” I wonder why I keep what I don’t need, and what I need that I don’t have. I wonder what it will take for me to begin to embrace charity more in my day-to-day life.

Donate, donate, donate ...

“They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.”

This last year, I’ve gathered a few lessons on how to make giving an effortless, fully-integrated aspect of my life.

I’ve learned:

You can (and should!) donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army or your local homeless shelter clothes and shoes that you and your children have outgrown or no longer wear.
Donate to your local animal shelter all the toys, bedding, and accessories that your pets rejected or outgrew.
Donate books to libraries or shelters; donate toys your kids have outgrown to a daycare center or church.

Personal Charity Favorite:

Got an old gaming system that you can’t resell? Donate it to kids who are stuck in the hospital with cancer and other chronic illnesses. Visit Charity Nerds and make a kid’s day. (Good-bye Leap Frog Leap Pad that my son stopped playing with years ago).

Consume Responsibly ...

Thrift stores, consignment stores, used-furniture outlets, used-book stores*, pre-owned anything. There’s an entire world of apps, brick-and-mortar locations, and retail sites where you basically never have to pay full price and buy anything new, ever. This is especially useful when it comes to items like kids’ clothing.

Warning – I have found that buying shoes from thrift stores/pre-owned clothing stores (and websites) is a tricky process, often with disappointing results.

If and when you purchase new, purchase items from companies that represent your ethics (B-corps, certified fair trade, mission-focused businesses) and/or small business when possible. I love Etsy. With a passion. It’s a fantastic marketplace for unique, handmade items you can give as gifts for any occasion.

Personal Favorites:

I love Me to We, an amazing company that is making serious impacts on every continent. I do not remove the two rafikis I wear on my left wrist, as a reminder and reflection of the solidarity I feel with women around the world.

I also love 4Ocean, working to clean up ocean and shoreline pollution around the world. Each bracelet = cleanup of 1 lb. of trash. I wear one (the sea turtle design) on my right ankle.

I am addicted to Diet Coke. (No but like, it’s seriously a problem.) Coke offers the My Coke Rewards program (redeem the codes under the lids/on packaging for points you can trade for cheap merch), but I found that the “rewards” were about as exciting and long-lasting as the junk from the prize counter at Chuck E. Cheese. Well, I wasn’t going to stop drinking Diet Coke, and my points kept expiring. Sad. Then, I found that you can “cash in” your rewards points as a donation to a school of your choice. Easy solution.

* They still exist, I promise. My personal favorite, in the Orlando area, is Best Used Books.

Automate Your Charity Giving

Use technology to do more, more easily. There are apps that make it easy for you to connect with those in need of charity in your area, or around the world. Donate time, donate resources, donate personally or from your business.

Personal Favorites:

Spend too much time on your phone? Ever use the Pomodoro technique to keep yourself focused? Forest is the app that lets you donate time off your phone toward planting a real tree somewhere on Earth. Because we will always need trees.

Run, walk, bike, hike, or swim with Charity Miles to have your mileage sponsored on your behalf. For every mile you clock, a corporate sponsor donates to the charity of your choice on your behalf. (I donate my miles to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, in honor of my brother’s fiance – a two-battle survivor of Leukemia.)

If you are in the food business – maybe you run a restaurant or catering service, maybe you manage a grocery or convenience store – you have dealt with spoilage, surplus, and other inventory issues. Donate extra food. (France made it a law that unspoiled food can’t be thrown out of grocery stores, it required to donate surplus food).

The solution that Philadelphia, Penn., has found is to connect food donors with local businesses, like homeless and domestic violence shelters, that need food. Use the Food Connect app to donate or receive – and leave the Food Connect team a message telling them you want Food Connect in YOUR city!

Charity Begins at Home

No matter how you choose to contribute to your larger community, remember to first and foremost contribute to those in your life who need it. Offer support, love, and compassion to the people you care about. This is an entire topic for conversation (for another blog), but, I firmly believe that if you take care of those you care for, there will literally be more love in the world.

Need an Editor?

Posted on June 24, 2019October 26, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Fullness of Absence: Capturing Silence in Writing

While listening to a video about personality types, something happened which often happens to me: I started thinking. About silence. In writing. Thinking…

Oh no, you say. Not again, you say.

The speaker in the video said something along the line of: Extroverts think silence is space to be filled, and introverts think silence is a space to be cherished.

I see her point. I know what she’s trying to say. As an introvert, I relate. But then I thought, Well, silence is a space that’s already full.

Maybe it’s not how all introverts see it – I can’t speak for anyone but me. But to me, silence seems to be bursting. And, if writers can capture that silence in writing the moment just right, they will capture an ethereal moment of experience that might otherwise be missed.

The Fullness of Silence (in Writing and in Life)

Silence is full with the sensation of crusty boogers in my nose, and it’s full of the colors of the trees, and it’s full of the shape of the clouds. A lack of sound doesn’t mean anything more than a fullness of other senses.

It is because it is empty that the cart is useful.**

Silence and an empty cart are not useful in the same way. The cart is not lacking. It has purpose and is full of potential.

Silence is also not lacking. It is a moment rich with the absence of sound. It has purpose of being non auditory and is full of the richness of life without sounds.

There’s a there there, not emptiness. Silence, in writing and in life, is the time when and the place where we can feel life moving.

**Tao Te Ching, verse 11

Need someone to support your ideas and help you cultivate silence? Consider developmental editing.

Posted on June 17, 2019October 26, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Thoughts On Vampires: Death in Writing

Two things are inevitable: Death and taxes. We know that Death does not discriminate. It does not favor. It does not forgive. And it is an eventuality that we each must face. Death in writing (fiction or nonfiction) is as certain as death in actuality.

“Every one of us will have to die alone.”

As I write this, I think, “Maybe I should save this for my Halloween post. It seems awfully macabre on a random Monday.”

But I can’t wait until some designated dia de los muertos to think about Death. It’s everywhere. It’s the other side of Life, of every moment.

Does this make it something to fear? Many people think so. Many people instinctively fear Death and avoid thinking about it. However, others actively embrace Death, actively embrace the macabre. Despite your attempts to avoid it, there is no escape.

What Do You Think of Life?

Death shows what we think of Life. Attitude toward the one reveals the attitude toward the other. The questions that a person asks, the questions that a person avoids, the beliefs that a person considers, rejects, or holds dear — all revealed in the questions:

| What happens after we die? and What happens before life? | When is the exact moment of death? and When is the moment life begins? |

While a person conjectures, they also act in accordance with the beliefs they develop. As the world around them affects them, they develop their true inner character and viewpoints on Life and Death.

How to Write About Death

When writing a character, consider how they approach Death as a way to reveal their true personality. Their attitudes toward Death and their interactions with Death in their world display their deepest beliefs and the personality traits they consider core to their identity.

Considering how your character approaches Death should help you answer that ever-pressing characterization question: “What should this character do?”

There’s no one way, no wrong way, to write about Death.

Writing About Death Strategy 1: Protection Against Vampires

“The dead don’t bury themselves.“

When anthropologists analyze a tomb, burial site, or evidence of human burial rituals, they are able to uncover a great deal about those people’s beliefs and attitudes toward life. We can find out how they lived: what they ate, what they considered valuable, what they thought about vampires.

In every society throughout history, people have wondered what happened after death. And in more than one society (several, in fact, including peoples of ancient India, Colombia, and Greece — so sayeth the great Wikipedia) developed burial rituals to ward against the dead rising from their graves (including this fifth-century Roman grave where a child was buried with a rock in her mouth.)

Your character’s attitudes about Death will come largely from social influences. Who has your character buried, and who will bury your character? Those people are likely to be important, as they will influence your character’s core personality.

But more importantly, consider: How would your character prevent or protect against vampires?

Write a scene, or simply a detailed answer to the question. Consider, seriously, if your character believes that vampires are real, how would they handle that, and what would they do to prevent — or even, to support — vampirism.

Writing About Death Strategy 2: Childhood Memories

Children fear what they’ve been taught to fear, and its nearly impossible to release the fears of childhood once we reach adult status.

The child’s fears of death become the fears that adults struggle with, live through, carry inside each day.

To examine your characters’ attitudes about Death, consider what scares them. To their core. What keeps them awake at night? What do they run from?

Write a scene from your character’s childhood that shows and explains the source of their biggest fear. Whether it’s barking dogs or heights or butterflies. Whatever makes them cower, show yourself why. Then consider, how can this fear help my character feel alive? Is there another character who can embrace this terror and push it from fear of death to love of life?

Examining the deep-seated fears and flipping them into life-affirming opportunities both cracks open your character to reveal the child within, and shows you where the character can grow and heal on their journey.

Writing About Death Strategy 3: Go Goth

“I myself am strange and unusual.”

Is your character unafraid of Death? Unwilling to look away when others shield their eyes. Uninterested in polishing over the unpleasantries.

When I think of characters who won’t look away from Death, I think of Lydia in Beetlejuice. The original 80s goth chick (I love you Winona Ryder!), Lydia is not interested in shielding herself from the “strange and unusual.”

When others don’t notice Death. When others choose to ignore, shake their heads, trivialize, or smile in the face of it, she is investigatory. Her curiosity, which replaces the fear we see or expect in others, is childlike. Refreshing. And it’s honest.

Writing a “goth” character is not about making someone as “dark” as possible. It’s not about making someone be “obsessed” with Death and destruction (although yes, I have seen these people in real life. These characters can work in fiction as well) — it’s about the wholesome, open embrace of the rotten, the frightening, and the abnormal, with a healthy level of fear, respect, adoration, and appreciation.

For a less funny exploration of this same idea, may I recommend Baudelaire’s The Flowers of Evil? Nearly 200 years later, “A Carcass” is still cringe worthy.

If you think otherwise about Lydia: Go ahead. Fight me. 😉

Writing About Death Strategy 4: Death as a Character

So that’s great — an idea of how some people might approach Death, even when they encounter it. “But,” you might think, “what if my character is fairly normal? How do I write their attitude toward Death and life?”

A practical writing tip for writing about death:

Treat Death as you would another character. Give Death a physical manifestation, a voice, a hair color. You don’t have to do a full character sketch, but a basic outline would be good.

Then, put your character in a diner and have Death sit down and strike up a conversation. About the food at the diner, or the weather, or something trivial. As this is the only scene like this, don’t think about keeping Death’s identity secret. Let Death reveal him/herself in the first couple lines of dialogue, if the character doesn’t immediately recognize Death when it sits at their table.

A single conversation here. Death is not here to take your character, just a casual get-to-know-you conversation. No sense of threat.

How does your character act? With reverence? Joy? Awe? Respect? Relief? Sorrow? Fear?

Let them talk for two, maybe three pages. Then, Death has to go. After you see how your character acts toward this ancient, immortal, potentially terrifying presence, you might discover how they react toward the rest of their life.

For some ideas on how different characters interact with different manifestations of Death, may I recommend Neil Gaiman’s American Gods to you? Novel or TV show. Choose your poison.

I fear no manuscript, living or undead. Need editing?

Posted on June 3, 2019November 10, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 2 Comments

The Importance of Footwear in Fiction

footwear shoes fiction -- writing editing

If your fiction has human characters, they likely have feet. And so, footwear, that daily triviality, becomes a massive connecting universal that nearly every reader understands. Footwear in fiction matters.

At the heart of all good writing is the ability to capture details and universal experiences and translate them into the story on an intimately personal level. As creator and controller of your fiction characters’ minds and lives (easy there, Dr. Frankenstein), you are responsible for translating their life details (like clothing!) so that the reader vicariously experiences them.

Shoes are a great way to do this.

Shoes connect people. Throughout time, in most societies, across classes. Footwear in fiction not only signals to other characters (and the reader) a number of details about the wearer’s life, shoes also remind the wearer of their own circumstances.

Shoes affect your day. Comfortable vs. too-tight, inappropriate vs. worn or damaged. Like you, like your reader, your fictional characters’ footwear impacts their health, dexterity, speed, comfort, safety, and overall mobility. Untied sneakers with the soles flapping and popping at every step are not the same as designer flip flops with rhinestone studs, which are a different experience than wearing weathered cowboy boots.

Fiction Writing Tip of the Day: Walk in Your Character's Shoes

Got an idea who a character is? Put on a pair of shoes that reflects that character when you write about him or her.

As a writing exercise, I recommend visiting a department or large shoe store and trying on styles that you think fit different characters. Then, write your experiences of wearing the shoes.

Write the sounds they made, the feel of the fabric, the tender spots they create on your feet. Write them in your character’s voice, if you can. If you don’t have a specific character in mind, then write a detailed, objective account so you can fit the details of your experience into the right voice when it comes along.

Think about the feet’s connection to the rest of the body. Your character might practice reflexology or have a detailed pedicure routine. Or your character might have nail fungus and callouses. Regardless of what they are like, there is a why they are that way.

The why largely has to do with footwear, and in fiction, it can be the key to your characters’ lives that allows your readers into their minds.

For More Tips on Using Footwear in Fiction, Talk to an SRD Editor

Posted on May 20, 2019April 16, 2021 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

Apps to Make You a Better Writer

Writer Apps Beyond Note Taking

If you’re a writer, you probably already have your favorite note taking apps or apps to help you manage your writing process. I’m not talking about those.

I’m talking about apps that, if you’re a day-in-and-day-out, I-work-with-words-every-moment-I’m-awake kind of writer, should improve your daily life.

** Note: these reviews are neither paid nor solicited and are my honest opinions after using these apps for at least one year each. I am not affiliated with the developers or anyone affiliated with them.

Writer App No. 1: Desk Stretch

I have carpal tunnel. It’s a constant thing. I wake up in pain, and I go to bed in pain, and I just try to manage it every moment between.

Desk Stretch helps me do that. Choose from a series of wrist and hand stretches, set a time interval, and let the app help ease the pain in your day. Every so often (I set mine for an hour), you’ll get a notification reminding you to break for 5 minutes. Then, the app leads you through the stretches, which can greatly reduce the tension that builds up throughout the day.

I used to have an app called “Handsaver” that was even better, but I can’t find it in the app store anymore. Moment of silence.

On Google Play

Writer App No. 2: Etymology Explorer

Why do we raise cows but eat beef? And we raise sheep but prepare mutton. But then, Why are fish and goat the same words for both the meat and the animal?

English is weird. Very weird sometimes. And, appropriately, it’s considered the most difficult language to learn, next to Mandarin.

Sometimes, as a writer, it can be helpful to look up the root origins of words. Because English is a Germanic language heavily influenced by French (which is Romantic – coming from ancient Roman, aka Latin) as well as the many localized languages absorbed around the world through trade and colonialism.

Consider: pyjamas is a Turkish word. But most English speakers never think where the words for their pjs came from. Of course, pjs aren’t the same as lingerie, which is a French word with different context. Although, if you were a non-native speaker, you might think, “Well. They both mean ‘sleep clothes’, right?”

Etymology Explorer is a writer app that helps you find out where words come from, and how they might be related to other words. Connections between pieces of language tell their own stories, and a picky writer learns how to choose words to layer storytelling into each sentence.

On Google Play

On iTunes

Writer App No. 3: Power Thesaurus

If you’ve written or edited more than a few hundred pages, you will have noticed the shortcomings of thesaurus.com.

Don’t get me wrong. It works fine most of the time. But maybe you’re looking for that $5 word, that esoteric, academic word; or maybe you’ve got a phrase that describes something, and you know there’s a single word for it, but you just can’t think of it; or maybe, you’ve got the feeling of the word you want, but nothing is quite hitting home.

(Is it just me? Am I the only person who battles the thesaurus this way? 🤯)

Power Thesaurus is a better app for writers. Especially if you have the time. As an open source software, it has its drawbacks, but overall it’s user friendly and never fails to provide hundreds of options for whatever you type in. The results are alphabetical, which can help you stumble across that “aha” moment if you have the time and patience to scroll through hundreds of synonyms in alphabetical order. (Beware of chasing the dragon: “the perfect one will be on the next page…”)

It also has an antonyms listing, and it’s easy to glide from one concept to the next.

On Google Play

On Apple Store

Writer App No. 4: Orphic

Orphic means fascinating or entrancing. And it is. This app is full of weird and wonderful words. What more can you ask for? This app offers a Word of the Day that is truly off the wall and an easy accessibility to search for quirky, elusively rare, and overly precise words. Say no more.

On Google Play

Boost Writing Power, Boost Productivity

The golden state of productivity is a daily dream. A humming moment of focus, when the muse sits on your shoulder and the words appear on the page with very little effort. It’s sublime.

I hope these suggestions of apps for writers can help you get there.

Editing makes me happy.

Need editing?

Posted on May 13, 2019September 26, 2020 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Writers Are Weird — YouTube Shout Out

writers are weird -- jenna moreci -- writing tips

Writers need to stick together. Like barnacles.

Strange creatures that we are, we mingle best with our own ilk. Well, maybe that’s not even true. Maybe we mingle with many types. Maybe not. But, no matter your exact experience, you have to admit that writers are weird.

YouTube Shout Out: Jenna Moreci

I love Jenna. An animated, quirky, off-the-cuff, lovable genius. Her entire channel is entertaining, helpful, and provides advice on a range of topics that give new writers hope and keep experienced writers motivated.

Check out: The Nine Weird Habits of Writers

This video tells the sordid tale of a writer and her own mind. By the time Jenna got to number two or three, I was crying with the giggles and sharing the link with my boyfriend so we could laugh together about the fact that I wasn’t the only crazy writer out there.

What’s so weird about writers? Well, according to Jenna (and seconded by me), writers can be smelly, coffee-swilling, hungry, night-dwelling, emotional, isolationist, laptop-clinging weirdos. We might like to be left alone — to watch people, but not to interact with them. We treat not-real people like they’re real and real people like they’re an inconvenience. We may push people away while we crave connection.

If you’re a writer, or want to be a writer, or you need a good laugh, check out Jenna. You’ll find that you’re not the only one.

Editing makes me happy. Need editing?

Posted on May 6, 2019September 26, 2020 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 2 Comments

Decision Making & Writing Your Novel

plan and outline your fiction novel by thinking through every decision

Planning your novel

You have an idea for a novel — that’s great. Now, putting together a plan for it can help you actually see it through and make it everything you hope it can be.

Planning a novel requires conscious decision making. You’re creating a world. You’re creating lives. You’re creating realities. It’s serious business. (Better put on your kill-em-dead lipstick now.)

One way to make decisions while outlining, designing characters, and choosing the aspects of your novel’s reality: consider the question that Jeff Bezos asks himself:

Is this a reversible or irreversible decision?

With this straightforward question, you should be able to help prioritize the decision-making and better structure your plot, themes, and symbolism.

If it’s a reversible decision . . .

Simple decisions can be made quickly and changed later if necessary. Can the decision be reversed? or altered, even? Then make it quickly and get on with whatever you’re writing.

For example: You want to write a scene where two lovers are having a spat a restaurant. You ask yourself, “Well, is it an Italian or Mexican restaurant?”

Does it matter to the plot of the story? Is it something you can tweak later? Then don’t trip. Pick one and write the scene with the appropriate details – delicious menu items, atmosphere, pertinent dialogue.

Now, be wary. Don’t begin writing off all questions with, “Well, I can always change this later.” You will begin to overcomplicate your plot, and multiple revisions can and will lead to inconsistencies.

If it’s an irreversible decision . . .

Decisions with lasting effects should be given some consideration and development. Will this decision affect the story in more ways than one? Will it somehow trigger a domino effect in a web of tangled plot threads that you don’t want to see unravel?

For example: You want a character to stand out for her looks because of a scar or birthmark on her face. Then, in one scene, you attempt to put her in disguise without mentioning how that distinguishing characteristic is covered. If no one recognizes her and she isn’t caught, the reader will see the plot hole.

Choosing a physical feature or personality trait for a character (or setting) is irreversible unless you show why that character has changed.

If you portray and describe a father-figure character as nurturing and receptive, that is an irreversible and defining characteristic that the reader will expect to stay consistent, unless given reason to believe in the change.

Choosing a profession, hobby, or area of expertise for a character carries its own burdens of verisimilitude. The reader will lose belief in your characters (and you) if they don’t seem to know much about their own job descriptions, the fashion of their profession, the details of their so-called interests, or the social discussions of topics they mention.

Don’t say a character is a veterinarian merely so your character can have “a job.” If you’re going to make your character a medical doctor of veterinary medicine – someone who has dedicated years of their life to the study and care of a range of animals – you need to show personality characteristics and lifestyle choices that align with that job.

There’s nothing like reading a character who is supposed to be a social worker, or cop, or a teacher, and being able to tell that the writer has no clue what someone in that profession does.

🌹 🌹 🌹

Editors make everything better. Contact me. Get help with your writing decisions.

Posted on April 29, 2019November 11, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 3 Comments

3 Questions to Focus Your Writing Time

3 questions to focus writing & manage time

The Power of Focused Writing Time

Focus. The elusive trait that is tied to success or failure, to production or abandonment, to clarity or confusion.

Focus.

Can you do it? How do you do it? What does focused attention really look like, for you?

These are rhetorical questions. Oprah gets it. A remarkably successful businesswoman, Oprah knows that foucs is a nearly impossible intangible to harness, but when leveraged, there’s nearly nothing more powerful in any endeavor.

Recently, I read that Oprah begins every meeting with 3 questions. This pattern not only provides predictability for everyone — on all of her multiple entrepreneurial, production, and management teams — but it also brings incredible clarity to each of her interactions that support the meetings.

When I read it, I thought, “Well that’s great. For people who have meetings and are bringing together multiple people and projects.” Sounds like it works well in business. But:

What if you’re a writer?
What if you hold regularly scheduled, work-focused meetings with yourself?

The truth is though — it doesn’t matter. The Queen of Media began her reign as a professional communicator, and the questions that she uses to focus her team to maximize their efficiency are the same questions that anyone can use in good communication — even with themselves.

How to Save Time and Write More

There are only-so-many hours in the day. There are only-so-many words you can put down in the limited time you have to write. Since the days of etching into clay and stone tablets, writers have struggled with efficient documentation.

Whether you schedule time to write or write on the fly, write efficiently by asking yourself the same questions at the beginning of your writing session that Oprah asks to kick off her meetings:

What is the intention?
What’s important?
What matters?

1. Focus: What is Your Intention?

What is your intention during this writing interval? Are you intending to plot the action of a specific scene? Do you intend to brainstorm on a particular character description? Do you intend to tackle a particular difficult dialogue exchange? Are you dedicated to revising a previous draft of a chapter for more powerful verb choice?

By choosing a specific outcome to focus on during your writing time, you can drive yourself toward a particular goal — be it stronger poetic description, discussing gender in a chapter, the conclusion of a scene, or if you write until all the ideas are out of your head.

Your intention may change. Your focus may shift. When it does, preset yourself with the same three questions to take on a new goal or topic.

2. Focus: What's Important?

Once you’ve chosen a specific scene, character, dialogue, chapter – even when you want to focus in on a particular sentence – ask yourself what’s important.

If the most important part of your writing time is merely to get the word count on the page, you’re selling yourself short, cutting off your potential, shooting yourself in the foot … etc.

The importance will vary. Sometimes, the scene will need more details. Sometimes, the important thing about the dialogue will be that it needs to convey the right emotions. Sometimes, the paragraphs or sentences in the chapter will need to be reorganized and reordered to better connect ideas in a way that makes sense.

Sometimes, what will be important is making it shorter; other times it will be important to elaborate or clarify and make it longer. But if you focus on “word count” or “length” as your sole focus for the writing period, you’re missing out on attending to what really will improve your craft.

You should focus on the most important thing first. You know your intention for your writing time, and once you choose what’s important, it only makes sense to tackle it first.

3. Focus: What Matters?

While it sounds the same as “What’s important?”, use this third question to focus your writing time by examining your own writing from a slightly different angle.

You’re focused on a particular scene, character, plot point, etc., and you’ve looked at what’s important to move toward the outcome you’ve set as a goal, so now, critically, ask yourself:

If this were removed, how would it change the bigger picture? If the reader never knew this ‘important’ detail, or you hadn’t ordered the scenes in this way, would it make a difference to the overall story? Would it ‘matter’ in the world of your characters?

Your knee-jerk reaction may be to say, “Of course it matters! I’m the writer, and I put it there, so it matters!”

But, dear Writers, I tell you – and not without some regret – that effectively, the author is dead (long live the Author!). When you release your creation into the world, your intention does not matter.

Whatever story you think you’re telling is only as real as what the reader interprets from what you’ve written.

So I ask you again – what matters in the world of your characters?

If you take the time to polish the word choice of a particular section, because you want to show distinctly the characters’ thoughts on class and society, then also consider – why?

Is the character motivated by status? Is the world highly structured, or wildly unstructured according to class or arbitrary social divisions or unity? Is there some reason the dialogue takes places between these characters, at this point in the story, in this particular setting?

(I mean – if the conversation could take place in a hallway or a park and be the same words, is it really the same conversation, though?)

If you can honestly begin to analyze scenes, characters, dialogue, order of ideas, and word choice and answer, “Yes! It matters, and here’s why!“, then Congratulations. You have successfully evaded a number of plot holes and inconsistencies, and you’ve probably established a very believable world with personable characters that readers can relate to.

Job well done.

Now you've got focus. Ready to Edit?

Posted on April 22, 2019November 11, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — Leave a comment

Creative Fiction Writing: The Importance of Animals in World Building

using animals in fiction world building -- fiction and novel writing tips

Most creative fiction writing (and nonfiction books) revolve around and portray human life. Typically, people are a big part of people’s lives and the world we live in.

You know what else makes up your world? Animals. A lot of them.

Write a Realistic, Creative Fiction World

From pets to pigeons in the park to sneaky spiders slinking along behind your refrigerator while you sleep, life is full of creatures. Don’t neglect adding them into your stories for action, rich description, and a change of pace.

Why do animals matter? Where do they fit in your story?

Animals add texture, sounds, tastes, smells, and characterization to a story, and they can fit into nearly any scene.

Writing Animals Exercise 1: Pets

If your character owns a pet, consider not only how the ownership of the pet enhances the human’s characterization, but consider how the animal itself becomes a separate character. Pets have emotions, respond to and interact with their humans, and add something to human life. Not only will your character reveal what type of person they are by how they treat their pet, but the big picture of their life or their society can be shown through the thoughts, actions, choices, or personality of their pet(s).

Consider how the pet will affect the person’s life constantly—dog hair woven into every article of clothing that the character deals with throughout their day, or a cat who marks your character’s suit jacket and although the suit’s been drycleaned, the smell sticks to him. Consider how people with pets often rearrange their schedules, priorities, and finances to accommodate these animals.

Writing Animals Exercise 2: Meals

If your character is an omnivore, consider how animals—the sight, smell, taste, or thought of them—affect their meals. If vegetarian or vegan, your character may be very consciously aware of the presence of animals during mealtime.

Whatever their food preferences, you as the writer can consider how the presence or absence of animals during mealtimes shapes your characters.

Writing Animals Exercise 3: Outdoors

And, depending on location, consider indigenous animals that give zest to places around the world. In some cities, monkeys swing through trees, or parrots fly overhead, or oxen are a common sight. As natural and unassuming as the wind, animals give life to the world.

No matter where your character goes—except maybe in space—there will be animals. In the fields, there are insects chirping, birds flying overhead, and snakes slithering underfoot. In the city, there are rodents that scamper along building walls (remember: squirrels are rodents too!), and neighbors who keep strange exotic pets.

Creative fiction does not need to be in a “real” world, but it does need to be realistic. If realistic, your fiction writing will be believable. A written world is not a believable world if it disregards animals.

Contact SRD Editing Services for line editing on your creative fiction writing

Posted on January 21, 2019November 11, 2023 by Cortni Merritt, M.A. — 1 Comment

On Being a Lifelong Reader

The World of a Child Bookgobbler

When people ask, “How many books have you read in your life?” I laugh. It’s all I can do. I’ve always been a reader.

My favorite book for a few of my childhood years was Black Beauty. The copy I had was 380-ish pages. On long car trips, I challenged myself to finish it in four hours. Then, I’d start it over. More than once, I read that book twice in a day.

“You’re going to need glasses by 25.”

I remember sitting down at a table at the library — probably in 5th grade or so — with a stack of books, which the other children looked at with disdain and confusion. “You’re going to actually read all those? Why?”

How do I answer that? What do you mean, why?

By that point, I had probably read more books than most of the adults I knew. But I didn’t know that.

“If you read any more, your eyes will cross.”

I set my school’s record for the Accelerated Reader program my 6th-grade year. More than 400 points earned. I remember I read Jurassic Park; college freshman level, worth 20 whole points. There was an article about me in the local paper. I got free pizzas at Pizza Hut.

How many books did I read that year? I don’t know. 50?

“Get your nose out of the book, bookworm.”

(Fun fact: bookworms are only kind-of a real thing.)

In 8th grade, I took freshman English, and freshman year I took sophomore English. Then junior-level English, then AP. I took humanities classes and philosophy and art history and sociology. All reading-heavy. I read textbook chapters twice to study for exams. As an undergrad, I taught myself to read a little Foucault in the original French, for funsies.

“Hey, Brainiac! Is there anything you haven’t read?”

As a grad student, I read about 1,000 pages per week. Three or four classes or reading groups or a pile of student essays. Each class went through about a book every week (maybe two weeks for a book sometimes), plus 100 pages or so worth of critical and historical articles. Then, there was the workload from teaching.

As a mother, I’ve read my son between two and ten books at bedtime, pretty much every night of his life. Not to mention, the reading that has happened during the daylight hours.

“Ok, really. Put it down already, word nerd.”

Could I even take a wild guess at how many books I’ve read? Does 5,000 seem unreasonable? A wild guess at how many pages I’ve read in my life?… I don’t know; a cool million? Does that seem like too much? Not enough? … does a reader really ever admit when it’s “too much”?

The World of a Reader Today

It seems that now, when the publishing era has been transformed and there is more content than ever before, I find less and less to actually, well, read. In reference to an old Janeane Garofalo joke, there may be more content these days, but there’s far less substance. (Watch it here. The joke starts around 12:45 and goes to about 16:30.)

Maybe it’s the same amount of substance, buried in the diamond mines owned by the modern content machine. Harder than ever to find, more precious than ever before.

It seems that far more of what I picked up as a child was gold. Perhaps I’ve edited the boring, the banal, the sluggish from my mind. Maybe I’ve simply forgotten the sludge I trudged through, carrying the jeweled memories I keep now in my heart’s inner treasure box.

A life spent as a reader creates a life unlike any other.

Reading — reading well and in large quantities — has supported every other thing in my life for as long as I can remember. Deep reading, truly connecting with words, has always connected me with my true self, with the world around me, and ultimately, with triumph in my endeavors, both on and off the page.

Reading makes an open world effortless. Go. Travel to any continent, through time, and into people, as effortlessly as a wish. Human storytelling and its effect on the individual is limitless. You can partake; it’s as easy as opening your eyes.

See the pages in front of you? They’re there for you. Entering them, embracing the journey as a reader, may change your life. They may become your new favorite destination and companion.

Or, they could be crap. It’s always a risk.

The reward is worth that risk.