Do you know your writing crutches? Your placeholders? Everyone has some. These are the “defaults” that come automatically to you when you’re on a roll, writing away in a flow state, just getting the words on the page. They can be pet adjectives, or gestures or facial expressions that your characters use over and over, or dialogue patterns that you always use.

It’s fine. The purpose of first drafts is to get your story into a form that’s observable, rather than just drifting around in your imagination. But when you set out to refine your story, that’s when these habits need to get a good sharp look. Then you ask yourself (or your editor will put it to you) “Are these devices enhancing the experience of the story, or will their presence be distracting for the reader?”

‍ Let’s take a look.

What if?

The premises of a lot of memorable stories can reduced to a question that starts with “what if…” Read on to see how you can generate a story with this device.

When was the last time you looked through a dictionary? I mean an actual, honest-to-goodness, paper, physical dictionary?

The helpful citizens of the world gave Bright Owl Edits a record year in 2025. Can they be prevailed upon, once again, in 2026?

Looking for gift ideas for the readers in your life? Here are the books my client authors have released this year.

Following up on January’s post, here’s a summary of how the year has gone for Bright Owl Edits. And a bit at the end about Canadian autumn.

Summer sale!

For the month of July, new bookings are eligible for 25% off standard editing rates. Read on for details

What brings you peace of mind?

More than once, authors have lamented not being able to come back for another round of editing because their timeline or budget didn’t permit. It also makes me sad, because I want all authors to publish the best version of their book possible. And yes, seeing errors in published work makes me twitchy. It’s one of my many quirks.

As of July 2025, Bright Owl Edits is offering the Peace of Mind package, a second round of editing, booked directly after the first, at a discounted price.

How fashionable is your writing? Have you researched the fashions of your genres, and the fashions that cross genres in the writing industry? Read on for how fashions can help your book.

Nothing like a week of proofreading to ease into the new year as the kids go back to school.

But now, helpful citizens of the world, I need your help:

Happy New Year!

Advertising Duck suggests that finding an editor can help you achieve your writing goals for the year.

Before you engage an editor though, self-editing is your next step after completing your manuscript!

Looking for gift ideas for the readers in your life? Here are some of the books my client authors have released recently.

Due to outside forces and scheduling changes, I have an unexpected block of time available for new editing projects. If you want a job done between now and Christmas 2024, get in touch!

Hallowe’en is coming up, and all things spooky are popular once more! Of course, spookiness is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes, if you change your point of view, a whole new picture emerges…

What if the witches in MacBeth weren’t supernatural horrors, but were instead wise women: herbalists, perhaps?

Here’s a thought exercise about what they might be trying to achieve.

People often ask me what the difference is between a manuscript evaluation and a developmental edit. It finally occurred to me that a direct comparison of what you get from each service might be a good idea.

On the fence about booking an editor? Between now and September 30th, firm bookings will be discounted 15% off standard rates.

A 2024 update of the popular blog post. Here's what I've been reading for fun of late.

When writing from close points of view, particularly first-person narration, it’s important to distinguish (in the author’s head) the differences between conscious motions and unconscious or involuntary movements.

An individual’s perspective is the result of a combination of factors: personal experience, age, knowledge and education, cultural expectations, and mood. Consider the solar eclipse.

It was Groundhog Day last week. I don’t have any editing stories about groundhogs, but I do want to talk about an arguably verminous aspect of writing: weasel words and waffling. Haven’t heard of these terms? Read on to find out.