Why Every Author Needs an Editor (and How to Choose the Right One)

From Edie: A.C. Williams share why every author needs an editor, how editors improve your manuscript, and practical tips for choosing the right editor for your book.

Why Every Author Needs an Editor (and How to Choose the Right One)

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

I am terrible at jigsaw puzzles. It’s something about how all the different little shapes fit together that makes it a challenge for me to identify what pieces go where. I’m also stubborn enough that I will try to force a piece into a place, whether it actually goes there or not. But it never fails, after I’ve been working on a puzzle for ages and ages, when someone who has never seen it before comes up and looks at it, they can instantly spot where pieces go. 

Why is that? Any theories? I’ve got a few. 

How Writers Can Handle Criticism Without Losing Confidence

From Edie: A.C. Williams shares how writers can handle criticism without losing confidence, process tough feedback wisely, and use critiques as opportunities for growth, improvement, and long-term success.

How Writers Can Handle Criticism Without Losing Confidence

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Conference season is in full swing, and if you are like many other conference attendees, you have braved the terror of an editor or an agent and presented your manuscript for review. Maybe you even took advantage of an editorial critique. If that’s you, I’ve got a question: How’d it go?

Why Worldbuilding Fails Without Strong Characters (and How to Fix It as a Writer)

From Edie: Struggling with worldbuilding? Discover why strong characters are the key to making your story come alive—and how to create settings readers truly care about.

Why Worldbuilding Fails Without Strong Characters (and How to Fix It as a Writer)

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Every author needs worldbuilding, no matter what genre you write. Sure, the most extensive worldbuilding shows up in speculative stories, but a strong grasp of setting detail will serve every storyteller. But where do you start? 

Creating a world that readers can experience on a page is a very different prospect than imagining a world in your mind. If you are an author of science fiction or fantasy or some other speculative genre, you have undoubtedly discovered this. You can dream up a vast, alien world with multiple cultures and various languages and expansive existing histories, but how do you portray it in a way that an audience can experience? 

It doesn’t work like visual media. Movies and television shows have cinematography at their disposal, and the art of visual communication has aspects that make storytelling much more straightforward than with the written word.

Of course, there are always exceptions. The instant I tell you that you can’t start your story with a paragraph of description, some other author will do it and become a bestseller. But even in that instance, the exception isn’t the rule. 

Generally speaking, starting with a descriptive paragraph detailing what a setting or a landscape looks like is a surefire way to bore a reader. If you invite readers into the story and then use the limited time you have their attention to talk about the wind blowing a leaf around or cheerful little woodland creatures scolding each other from the treetops, you’re going to lose them. Even starting with something exciting like the magma chamber of a volcano grumbling or the sudden eerie quiet before a tornado touches down will fall flat for one simple reason. 

You haven’t showed them why they should care. 

How to Write Epic Fantasy Without Overcomplicating Your Story

From Edie: Want to write epic fantasy without overwhelming your readers? Discover why the biggest stories succeed because of simple, clear emotional journeys—and how keeping your core story focused makes your world unforgettable.

How to Write Epic Fantasy Without Overcomplicating Your Story

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

What is the last book you read? I just finished feasting among fantasy woodland creatures in the classic children's epic Redwall by Brian Jacques. Currently I am adventuring through epic battles, intricate cultures, and gorgeous setting details within an alternative ancient Celtic world thanks to Stephen Lawhead's brilliant work, The Paradise War. After I finish it, I may return to my all-encompassing journey through the extraordinary world of The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson. Next on my list is book three in the series, Oathbringer.

Being an Author Isn’t Easy—But It’s Worth It

From Edie: Being an author is harder than most people expect. Discover why the writing journey is challenging, why it still matters, and how to keep going.

Being an Author Isn’t Easy—But It’s Worth It

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

I dreamed of being a writer from the time I realized it was actually a potential career. I think I was in third or fourth grade. Being a writer sounded so sophisticated, so important, like it was the kind of job that mattered. But it also sounded like a great time, easy, fun.

Imagine. Writing words for a living. Creating stories as your day job. Talking about books for a paycheck. Is there any other job that sounds like more fun than that? Is there anything easier you could do with your life?

But maybe that’s just me. I started scribbling stories when I was in kindergarten. I was the kid who wrote little short stories for my teachers even when they weren’t assigned to me. I remember sitting in my second grade class room during my “free time” and writing a little adventure story about a girl trying to solve mysteries. 

Is Being an Author Still Worth It in 2026? A Hopeful Perspective for Writers

From Edie: Is pursuing a writing career still worth it in 2026? A thoughtful, hope-filled reflection for authors navigating industry change, setbacks, and the choice to keep moving forward.

Is Being an Author Still Worth It in 2026? A Hopeful Perspective for Writers

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

What are you looking forward to in 2026? 

It’s no secret that the whole world has been in a state of chaos for a long time. It was rough before 2020, but nobody was prepared for how chaotic and long-lasting the upheaval would be after the lockdowns ended. 

The whole world and market and industry has turned on its head. Nothing in the world of books is the same today as it was six years ago. Frankly, today it’s even more of a challenge to make it as a career author, and more obstacles keep presenting themselves. Visibility is more and more difficult. Prices keep going up. And audiences seem to care more about videos on their phones than books in their hands. 

Is it still worth it? Wouldn’t it be better to just throw in the towel and let artificial intelligence write for us? Is pursuing a career as a professional storyteller still viable in 2026?

How Writers Can Build a Sustainable Writing Life in 2026: Reflection, Renewal, and Practical Steps Forward

From Edie: Discover how to build a sustainable writing life in 2026 through reflection, renewal, and practical daily steps. Learn how to set creative goals, work through hard seasons, strengthen your writing muscle, and partner with God to create a healthy, consistent writing rhythm for the year ahead.

How Writers Can Build a Sustainable Writing Life in 2026: Reflection, Renewal, and Practical Steps Forward

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

We have reached the last month of 2025. How has that happened so quickly? Weren’t we just in January? 

I don’t know about you, but 2025 has been a hard year in a lot of different ways. Lots of change. Lots of loss and grief personally. Major adjustments professionally. 

Due to the personal loss and grief I’ve faced this year, I didn’t write as much as I normally would have. I was able to keep writing devotions, and I wrote all my various blog posts. I wrote my regular daily devotions over at AlwaysPeachy.com because that helped me process what was happening in my heart.

Self-Publishing Success: Two Keys to Effective Marketing as a Self-Published Author

From Edie: Learn how to market your self-published book with confidence. Discover relational, authentic ways to share your stories without feeling pushy.

Self-Publishing Success: Two Keys to Effective Marketing as a Self-Published Author 

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

When was the last time you got excited about something? 

I mean, really excited. Maybe it was about a movie or a television show or a new restaurant or even maybe a recipe you prepared at home. We can get excited about all sorts of things, can’t we? And when you are excited, what’s the first thing you do?

I guess it’s different for everyone, but for me, when I’m really excited about something, I tell people. 

That, in its most basic sense, is marketing. Marketing is sharing what you’re excited about with someone else who might benefit from it too. 

Self-Publishing Success: How to Format Your Book for Print and Ebook (Vellum, Atticus, Kindle Create & More)

From Edie: Learn how to format your self-published book for print and ebook. Explore tools like Vellum, Atticus, Kindle Create, and Word to create professional layouts.

Self-Publishing Success: How to Format Your Book for Print and Ebook (Vellum, Atticus, Kindle Create & More)

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

When you open a paperback book with a beautiful cover, what do you expect to see inside? If the cover is gorgeous, surely the interior will be gorgeous too. But that’s not always the case. 

So far in this series on self-publishing, we’ve talked about setting your goals, understanding your legal rights as a self-published author, ISBNs, distribution channels, market research, and book cover design, and the different types of editing. This month, we’re going to look at an element of self-publishing that not many people discuss: Formatting both for physical books and ebooks.

Editing for Self-Published Authors: Types of Edits and How to Find the Right Editor

From Edie: From copyediting to developmental, editing is vital for self-published authors. Find out from Amy which edit you need and how to choose the right editor.

Editing for Self-Published Authors: Types of Edits and How to Find the Right Editor

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Your manuscript is written. You’ve celebrated. You’ve done your research and prepared for every potential scenario, and now it’s time to start working on the finished product. Right? 

Wrong. There is more to producing a competitive quality novel than just writing it and making sure it has a good cover and that you know where it’s being distributed. There’s a very important step that you would be remiss as an author to overlook: Editing. 

Do I Really Need a Professional Book Cover for My Novel?

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

When you walk through a bookstore or a library, how do covers call out to you? Personally, my eyes are drawn first to the title of a book. What is it called? What does it mean? How can you interpret the title multiple ways to mean something different? I love a great title. But from what I have been told, I’m in the minority. A great title matters, yes, but what seems to matter much, much more is an excellent, genre-specific book cover.

So far in this series on self-publishing, we’ve talked about setting your goals, understanding your legal rights as a self-published author, ISBNs, distribution channels, and market research. This month, we’re going to talk about one of the most important investments you can make in your book: your book cover.

How does a comp title help a self-published book’s marketing plan?

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

You already know you’ve written the best book ever, but the most difficult step is to get everyone else to realize that it’s the best book ever. So how do you do it? How can you convince someone to read your book? That’s the tricky part.

So far in this series on self-publishing, we’ve talked about setting your goals, understanding your legal rights as a self-published author, ISBNs, and distribution channels (Links to all the posts are at the bottom). This month, we’re going to focus on an element of self-publishing that may not even be on your radar: Market Research.

How Do I Deliver My Self-Published Book to a Reader?

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Once you get your novel ready to publish, how do you get it into the hands of your readers? How do you get your book onto bookstore shelves? Do you pay someone to do it for you? Do you do it yourself? 

Self-publishing presents a tremendous opportunity for authors, but it requires you to make major decisions at every milestone of the publishing journey. Not the least of which is your Distribution Plan.

Do I need an ISBN if I self-publish my book?

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

One of the most common areas of confusion among authors who want to self publish is ISBNs. Depending how you want to publish and where you want to publish, ISBNs are a vital part of book production. Fortunately, they’re relatively easy to understand once you get a basic foundation for them.

We are currently in a series about self-publishing. We took a break in April, but so far we’ve already talked about making sure you know your goals for self-publishing as well as understanding your legal rights as a self-published author. This month, we’re talking about ISBNs.

Why Contracts Matter If an Author Plans to Self Publish

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

What happens when your publisher shuts down? More and more authors are turning to self-publishing as a way to resurrect their titles after their press has closed. 

Last month we talked about how important it is to know your career goals before you re-publish a book (Why Do You Want Your Book to Be Re-published). Once you decide to move forward with self-publishing, you’re on your own with your business plans. No one is going to design a marketing strategy for you, so you need to do it. But making the plan is only the first step. You might think that the next step is moving forward with publishing your book, right? 

Why Do You Want Your Book to be Re-published?

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Your book got published! Did you celebrate? Throw a party? Host a signing event? Getting to join the ranks of the traditionally published is a rare and unique gift nowadays. 

So what happens when your traditional publisher shuts down?

Sadly, many small presses are having to close their doors. There are many reasons most of the time. As the former co-owner of a small press that had to close in 2023, I can testify that it’s a heartbreaking situation for both the publishers and the authors. 

How Writers Can Beat Creative Burnout

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025! As we roll into a new year and move forward from the disappointments of last year, it’s a good time to take stock of life. 

Maybe you’ve already set your goals. Maybe you’ve already made your plans. But if you’re anything like me, by now you’re already beginning to question what you thought you could accomplish. 

Writing on Deadline When You Feel Sad

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

The Christmas season is upon us with all its tinsel and lights and general chaos. I love Christmas. It’s my favorite time of year. But the pure joy of the season has changed a bit from when I was younger. Sometimes this whole adulting thing really stinks.

It’s a natural part of life that what brought us joy as children will change as we age, and it’s not even bad that it happens. It’s part of growing up, where your perspective matures and your relationships change. But along with that change often comes sadness. 

Grief and sorrow hit harder during the holiday season. Sometimes it’s missing a person who isn’t with you anymore. Sometimes it’s memories of how things used to be, how you wish they still were. Sometimes it’s just being around other people who are celebrating when you don’t feel like celebrating. 

Genre Expectations: Writing All the Punks

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

When I was a kid, punk culture had really taken hold of the world. However, the idea of punk culture started in music, with punk rock and the idea that great music didn’t need a record label to succeed. I guess you could say it was the anti-establishment movement of the mid 70s and early 80s.

But “punk” in books really only showed up as a genre since 1987, although since then a host of classics and other works have been retroactively labeled with the punk genre. And since 1987, the punk culture of books has exploded. Maybe you’ve only heard of steampunk or cyberpunk, which are arguably the largest segment of the punk genre. But there are countless others, so as we bring this series on genre expectations to a close, I figured it was time to take a brief look at all the punks.

Genre Expectations: Writing Gothic Horror and Standard Horror

by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author

I love October. It’s my favorite month, and that’s not just because it’s my birth month. The air just feels different. At least, that’s the case in Kansas. The days start getting cooler as well, and since I work in an upstairs office with no air conditioning, I care about the temperatures!

But October is also heralded for a different reason. October is the spooky season. The time of year where ghosts and ghouls and other creatures of the night emerge from their shadowy realms and take center stage (and that’s just in the grocery stores).