So I read 64 books in 2025, and that’s not even including all the essays I graded or authors I worked with. I think it’s safe to say I love words. But the words I read for fun and the stories I like to develop are often two different beasts.

This month, I’m sharing three of my favorite recent reads. Because THESE are the types of books I want to help bring into the world more in the future!

The Country of the Blind (Andrew Leland)

I am always here for a memoir that is curious in nature. This text is grounded in so many questions as the author explores every facet of blind culture throughout the United States. But ultimately, Leland’s writing circles around this one answer: “This is something blind people have said (but really shouldn't have to), over and over, to the sighted world around us: we're still people. We don't see, or see very well, but aside from that, we're just like you. The failure to appreciate this basic fact, that someone's difference does nothing to alter their humanity, is the wellspring of all discrimination, alienation, and oppression.”

Seriously, everyone should read this book!

After Hours at Dooryard Books (Cat Sebastian)

You probably know Cat Sebastian for You Should Be So Lucky. But she’s been writing queer romance for almost a decade. This latest story is a slow burn in the midst of a politically broken world. As Sebastian writes in this book, “Outside these doors is chaos. Appalling men are elected president. Every day’s headlines are worse than the last. All year, it’s been like that, and it isn’t getting better. But it will. Meanwhile, there are donuts and a pot of coffee and work to be done: maybe not enough to tip the scales, but there anyway.”

More queer love stories always. Especially ones like this!

The Phoenix Pencil Company (Allison King)

People often ask me how I build my TBR list, and Reese’s Book Club rarely lets me down. This specific story explores how memories are passed down among family lines, especially in the midst of cultural barriers and the onset of dementia. Add a little magical realism and trying to figure out how to come out to your grandmother, and voila!

“If our stories will be lost, no matter how hard we try to preserve them, then the only thing that really matters is the people in our lives, and how we treat them in this moment in time.”

This month’s author highlight

If you haven’t yet, please check out Kathy Rowe-Guthrie on Substack or Instagram. Her memoir When We Were Gay is still looking for a publishing home, and it explores Kathy’s own coming out story combined with the journey of supporting her trans husband Marcus. Anyone who wants to learn more about how to be a better ally to our trans family needs to read her work!

If you’ve spent any time with me at all, you’ve probably heard me reference the etymology of at least one word. I’m part of a dying breed of students who were exposed to etymology as part of our vocabulary study in high school (thank you, standardized testing cough cough). But my real love for etymology actually stems from my love of stories.

When I tell my writers to choose their words carefully, it’s because of etymology. Every word (especially in the English language) carries a whole history of conquest and cultural change. And it is through our sensitivity to this that we communicate better with each other—and ultimately practice the work of empathy and relationship-building.

So today, I want to share with you the etymology of three of my favorite bookish words. Because the story behind our stories matters.

Bibliobibuli

If you need to attend Book Readers Anonymous, this is the word for you. The word part “biblio” comes from the Greek word for book, but “bibere” comes from the Latin verb for drinking. This term was first used in 1957 to describe people who were literally drunk on stories and avoided IRL (even before the internet).

But seriously, I wish more of us were bibliobibulis these days…

Bibliosmia

This one comes from the Greek words for “book” and “smell”. What if we lived in a world where we could talk about the bouquet of this specific bibliosmia? You know you love a good book sniff as much as I do!

But there’s also some dark science behind why so many of us love to experience bibliosmia (who knew humans loved the smell of death and decay so much). The British Romantics would have eaten this up!

Verbicide

Ohhh my students commit this act on a daily basis, those word-killers! First used in 1867, verbicidal behavior can occur when a word is overused or underappreciated. I’m thinking everything from “bestie” to “goat” and even “6-7” (which, by the way, has been part of English slang since the 14th century)!

Currently, no one has yet served jail time for committing verbicide. But there’s still time :)

Monthly Writer Highlight

To end this month, I want to celebrate the words of one of my current writers. I’ve had the privilege to work with Liza Shaub on her memoir about growing up with a terminally ill parent. Her work beautifully tackles long-term grief and the chosen family that gets us through. Check her out on Instagram, her website, or follow her on Substack!

Let’s connect!

Want to talk more about your personal love of words? Let’s talk today!

One of the most exciting parts of my work with writers is moving their work forward into the world for others to see. I tell my writers all the time - I only work with people whose stories I believe are worth hearing.

But what does publishing look like in our current book economy? And how do you get your words in front of the right people? That’s where a query letter comes in!

Avenues of publishing

Maybe you’ve heard about different avenues for publishing. Let’s start by making sure we’re all on the same page about what we mean by each of these:

• Self-publishing: This means you’re responsible for developing your book's content, providing the cover art, and properly formatting your text for publication. You’ll be in charge of marketing your book on your own, but you get to keep more of your sales profits.

• Hybrid publishing: You pay some money up front, but then you are given access to in-house editing, promotion, and printing. Hybrid publishers still vet their authors, but the process is traditionally faster than traditional publishing.

• Traditional publishing: If you love You’ve Got Mail or Stranger than Fiction like me, you’ve also fallen for the romanticized process of traditional publishing. This is when rejection letters and signing deals and book royalties are all part of the game - but it’s also how your book is most traditionally made into a movie someday :)

What is a query letter?

Think of a query letter as your elevator pitch. If you plan to take your book down the traditional path of publishing (or even submit to some hybrid publishers), this is your first opportunity to tell people about your book and why they should invest in it.

Typically, any formal submission to a literary agent or book publisher will require a query letter. Every channel might ask for something a little different - but the main components of query letters are usually the same.

Elements of a query letter

So how do you get started? Check these three boxes (with some optional add-ins), and you’ll have a great query letter on your hands:

• Why this audience? Anyone can search up genre-specific literary agents or send a manuscript to someone on QueryTracker. But when you’re writing to a specific sponsor, make sure they know why YOU want to work with THEM.

• What about this book? Dream about the book blurb you want to show someone on the dust jacket or back cover of your book someday. If you had to summarize your story in two to three paragraphs, what would it say?

• Who are you? Now for your author bio! Name where you’re from, what you do when you’re not writing, and what drew you to write this specific story.

• OPTIONAL additions

  • Name the word count of your current draft. This helps potential sponsors think about time investment to get your book in front of future readers.

  • Start your letter with a one-sentence book synopsis that you can build off of later. Think of it as the hook at the beginning of your letter if you want.

  • Include details about your preferred audience and comparable titles to your work. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to show an agent or publisher that you enjoy reading too!

I hope you find the right home for your words someday soon. And if you want to chat about how I can help? Let’s talk today!

I’m not going to be the person who gets annoyed by your use of homonyms in your writing. I’ve never been the one to critique my friends’ language in texts or emails. But anyone who works with developing writers still has some pet peeves that will impact the way they guide your writing.

Here are my top 3 editing pet peeves:

Use of “that”

I fully blame one of my graduate studies teachers for this. She once handed me back one of my 10-page essays with EVERY use of “that” crossed out. It’s one of those parts of speech that can do so much (it can function as a conjunction, pronoun, or adverb) that we tend to put it wherever it might sound good.

Seriously, look back at one of the latest paragraphs you’ve written. I bet your writing would sound cleaner and more personable if you just removed your “that”s.

Run-on sentences

Maybe this is because I work with teenagers in my day job, but I can tell you right now…you probably don’t know how to use punctuation to properly divide up your ideas. Commas seem easy. Periods aren’t used enough. And semicolons are just terrifying. This, I believe, is why comma splices in run-on sentences are far too common.

But I have a personal vendetta against whatever teacher in your past told you longer sentences make you seem smarter (yes, Grammarly wants me to add a “that” before “longer”…Boo! Hiss!). Shorter, pithier sentences more naturally fit the way we talk. Punctuation only exists in writing to help your reader understand when they can breathe in between your ideas (Don’t believe me? Check out Victor Borge’s take on phonetic punctuation). And no one should have to go blue in the face trying to follow the path of your brain.

“Who” vs. “That”

Speaking of “that,” we’ve lost track of the difference between “who” and “that.” I write on student papers every year, “People who. Things that.” But this isn’t how our colloquial language uses these words anymore.

This is a hill I will die on. If you trust me with your story, I will make sure your people who and things that.

What I’ve been up to

I know it’s been a minute. And I know on my end it’s obvious why my blog hasn’t become a priority in this current season of Fly Dry Editing. But in case you’re wondering what I’ve been up to, let me tell you about some of the exciting writing projects I’ve been working on over the past calendar year:

• George Wilson has finished the first draft of his second book. You can purchase his first novel Owen 9 at this link.

• Kathy Rowe-Guthrie is an up-and-coming writer who’s currently finishing up her memoir, When We Were Gay. Follow her here!

• Marquis Alexander’s self-help book I Am Trying is finishing up and should be sent out to publishers soon.

• Samantha Irwin, business consultant and coach, is currently finishing up her memoir/business guide called The Warm Cookie Effect. You can check out more about Samantha’s work at her website.

• Tom Johnson is currently working on a book called My Spring Rejoices: Mary’s Wisdom for Contemplative Life & Prayer. You can read more of Tom’s writing here.

Check out a few words from one of my writing clients, George Wilson:

“Working with Alicia Drier as my writing coach and editor empowered me to work more efficiently and with more confidence as a writer than I have ever experienced before. Before working with Alicia, I had written one prior novel. The process took a long time (several years), and putting together the final product required far more than a year before I was ready to submit it for publication. Alicia’s guidance as a writing coach and her chapter-by-chapter editing as I launched into my second attempt streamlined my process so efficiently that I was able to focus my creative energy on the story in a way I had never experienced before. From start to finish, the first edited draft of my book Two Trains From Scottville took a mere eight months. The word count in the novel exceeds 90,000. It is 20 chapters long, and as I seek to find an agent and publisher, Alicia’s coaching continues.

“So much of a writer’s creative experience is one of solitude, and it is too often fraught with missteps and false starts. On-the-go editing and coaching focuses your efforts. It is motivating. And the constant feeling of support cuts down greatly on the worry and angst writers experience as they try to maintain a productive writing schedule. Alicia is very adept at coaxing better writing out of you. She has a teacher’s eye for supportive guidance and motivation. Her command of the writing process and the mechanics of producing good, cogent prose is unfailing.

“Alicia Drier made me want to be a better writer. And then she followed through with the guidance to make it possible. She has my highest possible recommendation.”

You can find George Wilson’s first book Owen 9 at this link.

I met with a new writing client recently over coffee. When I asked them about their favorite book, they immediately looked at the table between us.

“I’m not much of a reader,” they said. I could feel the shame in their confession.

Immediately, I knew I had a new blog topic in hand. Because I know from our first conversation which of my writers are avid readers, before I even look at word they’ve written. And I know as a high school English teacher, it’s never too late to learn from other’s stories (As my podcast cohost and I discuss all the time on Lit Think, the love of stories is innate to humans - be it video game, movie, audiobook, or printed story).

So if you’re still on the fence about telling your own story, start with these books. Let them help give you permission to write your own words soon.

On Writing, by Stephen King

“Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don’t have to make speeches. Just believing is usually enough”

Confession: I’ve never finished a full Stephen King novel. I know he’s brilliant. I also know horror is not my genre.

As a result, On Writing gave me an opportunity to engage with King in a reading space where I’m a bit more content. I found myself relating to him as both an English teacher and a writer. This book also helped mold me as an editor - as it reminds me to kill as many adverbs as possible.

Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

"Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something - anything - down on paper. A friend of mine says that the first draft is the down draft - you just get it down. The second draft is the up draft - you fix it up."

This book was referenced in Ted Lasso, so it has to be legit, right?

Anne Lamott is another writer who’s formed me as an editor. I start every school year talking to my students about shitty first drafts - and this bleeds over into my work with book writers as well. You have to get your words out of your system and onto the page before we can clean them up.

Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert

“I think perfectionism is just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat, pretending to be elegant when actually it’s just terrified. Because underneath that shiny veneer, perfectionism is nothing more that a deep existential angst the says, again and again, ‘I am not good enough and I will never be good enough.’”

I think the best summary of Big Magic would be “permission.” Elizabeth Gilbert reminds us through this text that every human on the planet is hard-wired for creativity. And when we don’t give ourselves an outlet for this energy, it can only destroy us.

Tell your story. Bake that bread. Go on that hike. It’s what you need to survive.

Other resources

I can’t stop thinking about this TED talk by Jacqueline Woodson or this Instagram reel.

Want to talk about what’s inspiring you right now? Let’s schedule a conversation today!

“I don’t get why teachers make such a big deal about reading out loud,” one student whispered to another in my class today.

Comments like these happen all the time in my classroom. It’s an important reminder to me that I understand why we’re doing the thing, but my students usually need more of a roadmap.

Teaching is a lot like editing in that regard. Both require direction and honesty - and someone willing to steer the ship toward shore.

In this specific situation, I walked over to the student and reminded them we read out loud because it’s the most primal experience we have with the written word. All humans first experience words out loud. Someone reads or talks to us, until we learn to talk and read ourselves. Then it’s another step of growth and development when we learn to read silently. But that doesn’t mean we ever outgrow the need to hear important words on our tongue, in our ears, around and through the air beside us.

I give the same advice to any writers I work with outside my classroom. Read your own work out loud. Let the sound of each syllable you’re savoring in your ideas serve as music to your ears.

And if you don’t get the why behind my tips on your writing, it never hurts to ask. You’re the one in the driver's seat. I’m just here to help you read the road signs along the way.

Fly Dry Editing has been such a joy to invest in over the past year - and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings for all of us.

As a small, nostalgic post to enter this new calendar, I thought I’d share a few core memories that made me into the author I am today.

Enjoy this trip down memory lane with me!

Storyteller on Demand

Let’s start with second grade, when my mother would assign me stories to write in my spare time. But I took the whole project a step further when I offered to write stories about my classmates - at no actual cost to anyone.

In my early journals, you could read stories about Princess Kelsey marrying Prince Brian. I described their wedding in detail and added bonus details like the names of all their future children.

Word Nerd

Fast forward to my senior year of high school, when I’d stay up late online to talk to my crush when he got home from baseball practice. After we both sleepily chatted through our homework from the day, we’d then swap poems and short stories for the other to edit.

I actually went out and bought colored pens so I could add written comments to whatever he sent me…

Teacher in Training

Senior year again. For our last essay in AP Literature, we were asked to read a choice classic novel and then come up with an original analytical question to answer about the text. Not only did I decide to be extra and develop a thesis about two classic novels, but I also expanded my editing business to include any of my classmates in AP Lit with me.

Word spread quickly…and I ended up reading and editing every essay written by every student in AP Lit before they were turned in to be graded by our teacher. Even sillier, I loved every second of the work.

Mrs. Smith was the first one to call it when I told her; I guess I was meant to be an English teacher all along.

Through the Years

One of the biggest highlights of my undergrad career was when I was offered a student worker position in our campus writing center.

And now I’ve worked as a high school English teacher for over a decade.

I’ve taught creative writing courses to students and facilitated elective creative writing clubs after school.

Plus, I can now proudly say I’ve ghostwritten two novels and edited two whole book projects that are out in the world.

In short, I’ve loved words for as long as I’ve been able to read and write them.

If you ever want to talk about how I can help yours shine, I’d love to schedule a conversation with you.

Here’s to a great 2025 with Fly Dry Editing!

Maybe you’ve heard an editor mention to you before that you should start with a first-chapter critique. As is true with so much in the writing business, that can mean a lot of different things to different people.

So let me take a moment to clarify what exactly it means to me!

But what is a first-chapter critique?

The goal of a good first-chapter critique is to help with the following:

• Get a taste of an editor’s style and suggestions as they respond to your work.

• Give you a realistic timeline and to-do list to get your book ready for publication.

• Offer a list of actionable critiques for you to start working on a second draft of your book.

With that in mind, I aim to give first-chapter feedback in four main categories:

Clarity

I’m going to first and foremost read your work to make sure it makes sense. We all need editors to look at our words because we can’t accurately edit our own work.

Even if you follow the Stephen King method and step away from your book for a chunk of time, I as an editor can help show you where your ideas could be clearer.

Don’t know what I mean by the Stephen King method? In his book On Writing, he shares:

“How long you let your book rest—sort of like bread dough between kneading—is entirely up to you, but I think it should be a minimum of six weeks . . .

“With six weeks’ worth of recuperation time, you’ll also be able to see any glaring holes in the plot or character development . . . It’s amazing how some of these things can elude the writer while he or she is occupied with the daily work of composition.”

Concept & Plot

I also make sure I understand your plan of how you’ll execute the main ideas of your story. This usually starts with our first live conversation, and then I apply that directly to what I’m seeing unfold on the page in front of me.

For a memoir or prose fiction, this usually means I’m paying attention to your piece's themes and time management. Text like poetry or a how-to manual might instead require me to focus more on word choice.

Presentation

It may sound funny, but the use of space in your beginning chapter is a huge part of the first impression you leave with a reader.

My notes on presentation will help address if maybe your story needs footnotes, if this first chapter should actually be three chapters, what I’m already imagining as options for the cover art of your book - and so much more!

The Big Picture

I always try to end a first-chapter critique with some questions for you to consider about your writing project. That way, even if you don’t think we’re a good fit to work together moving forward, you still have some new ideas to try out after working with me.

Want to learn more about how I can help your words? Let’s talk today!

I’ve talked about this before on my podcast with teacher bestie Sarah.

The writing biz uses the word “voice” to capture everything that makes your story distinctly yours. And unfortunately, too often that’s the thing writers feel is under attack when they work with an editor.

Let’s be clear about one thing: you should never stick with an editor if you feel like they’re the wrong fit for you as a person or the success of your words.

But just in case you need a bigger reminder, here are 3 tips for preserving the “you” factor of your writing. Because the voice in your story matters!

Pay attention to your word choice

There’s a difference between a house and a shack for a reason. If you end up with an editor who’s focused most on making your story sound right, the first thing to go is usually your words.

I challenge any writer to look for an editor who helps you find the holes in your story. Make sure they’re encouraging your work to grow, not to be correct.

Pay attention to your structure

YA author Jason Reynolds is a great example of just how much an author can play with structure while telling a story. I should know - I just taught one of his novels to a whole bunch of high school sophomores.

But everything from the font to the spacing to the use of time in your story can be crucial to the voice of your work. Be intentional with the layout of your writing - and don’t back down when an editor tries to project their vision onto you.

Pay attention to your themes

Sarah and I talked about this one a lot when we addressed voice in the 2023 film Wonka.

Especially once you’ve found your lane as a writer, you tend to revisit the same lessons and core ideas in your work. And if an editor is trying to change the message of your story to better fit their ideas, they’re not worth your time.

You are your story’s first advocate. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you know is right for your words.

Want to learn more about how we could work together? Check out Fly Dry Editing today!

So you finally finished your book. Or you have the perfect starter for your story at last. Whether you plan to self-publish or submit your work to publishing houses when it’s done, the next step is finding an editor to work on your project.

Let’s be honest, it takes a lot of vulnerability to first put your work in someone else’s hands. That’s why I’m giving you my top 3 tips to help you find the right editor for you.

Ask for a sample edit

I’ve heard this a lot from the writers I work with recently. They’ve worked with editors in the past who spend more time making them fit a mold than honoring their creative voice as an author.

The best way to avoid this before signing contracts is to ask for a sample of an editor’s feedback. Prepare a 5-10 page excerpt from your writing project, and let this be the chunk anyone can edit.

Editors will usually charge a flat fee for a sample edit. And then you have the freedom to walk away if you feel the vibe isn’t right after this initial interaction.

Pay attention to your budget

It’s also extremely helpful for you to prepare for how much money you want to invest in your book.

As an editor, I can tell you my per-page or per-project rates. But you might end up feeling some sticker shock if you haven’t completed this step on your end first.

To get a better idea of how much you should ethically expect from an author for how much you can afford, check out the Editorial Freelancers Association rates. They’re updated annually to reflect the book market as a whole. And paying attention to this info can also help guarantee you aren’t price-gauged by an unsuspecting author.

Consider your ideal timeline

From an editor’s perspective, most books will go through 6 different rounds of edits before they’re ready to be published:

• manuscript evaluation

• developmental editing

• line editing

• copyediting

• layout & design

• proofreading

I’ll talk more about the differences between each of these steps in a later blog. And a few of the steps can be merged together. But especially if your project is still in the ideas phase, you need to prepare to work with an author who can help you get your manuscript done.

As a general rule, I ask writers to guarantee me a year with their project. Then we can always evaluate how much we’ve actually accomplished together after that.

In short, be prepared to advocate for what YOU and YOUR project need most. If a potential author isn’t receptive to that, it’s okay to keep shopping until you find the right fit.

Want to learn more about how we could work together? Check out Fly Dry Editing today!

I’ve hit this wall with my high school students a million times. They ask to meet with me about a paper they’re writing, and then they want to spend our whole conversation discussing where commas go in a specific sentence.

Of course I believe punctuation is important (Don’t believe me? Ask Victor Borge). But even more than that, I believe the structure of the writing has to be stable first.

Focus on the ideas. The line editing is always done last. And honestly, if the writing’s good enough, it’s okay if you still leave a little mess among your paragraphs.

Revision looks at the big picture

This is part of why I love the revision process so much. I get to look at your writing as a puzzle, and then I work to rearrange every piece of your story until the true picture you’re making is revealed. When I revise someone else’s writing, I’m working to parce out WHAT message you want to share with your audience.

Good revision might encourage you to move around paragraphs (or even chapters). It will encourage you to cut whole passages when you go on a tangent. This is how we focus on the true north star of your voice and how it can best shine in your writing.

Editing helps clean up the crumbs

Editing and proofreading are where I pay attention to HOW specific ideas are conveyed in your writing. And I get how this type of feedback feels easier to receive.

When I tell you this sentence could be worded more clearly or you’re misusing a semicolon, you’re trusting me to be the English language expert in our relationship. But if that’s the only work you want to do on your story, I know of some great online tools (like Grammarly) that you can access for free online.

There’s no real need to pay for a developmental editor if this is all you want.

Together, we make a masterpiece

As a writer myself, I know editing and revision feedback of any kind can feel scary. You have the story in your head that you want to tell, and you want to tell it your way. The work of writing (in any form) is tender and intimate and raw.

That’s why it’s so important for you to find an editor you trust and whose feedback you are willing to receive. That’s also why I work to make every step of the editing process feel like a conversation. I want you to feel like you have agency in the feedback I give you. Ask me questions. Tell me what does and doesn’t work for you. It’s how we both make each other better.

Want to learn more about how we could work together? Check out Fly Dry Editing today!

I know it feels so easy to rely on AI to do our talking for us right now.

AI can create images. AI can develop outlines. AI can now even offer licensed mental health support.

But I’ve been working as an editor in some form for decades now. And the one thing AI can never do is mimic our creative spirit. It can’t get bored or daydream. It’s completely dependent on OUR stories, on the ideas in OUR heads.

And as your editor, I can help you harness this superpower.

I help your voice

I remember the first time I sat down with a student who’d gotten caught plagiarizing from Wikipedia. Two things became clear very quickly.

First, the kid wasn’t lazy. They just didn’t understand the assignment.

Second, the kid didn’t believe they had anything worth saying - or that anyone was listening if they did.

As an editor, I already believe in your story. I already know you have something worth saying. And I promise to work with your words to help them SOUND like you on every page.

I know your audience

There’s this scene in You’ve Got Mail that still gets to me. In between the bouquets of sharpened pencils and friendly daisy flowers, Kathleen Kelly speaks of the Internet as a void:

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void.

The word “void” originally comes from a Latin term referring to emptiness. And that’s where I get stuck every time.

We’ve proven the internet isn’t empty. And even more important - we’ve proven people will listen when you acknowledge who’s on the other side of the conversation.

As an editor, I help you do more than send questions out into the void. Because when we tighten up the terms of your audience, your writing gets an automatic place to shine.

I’m not a robot

Did I use Grammarly while writing this post? Of course I did!

But Did I ignore at least HALF of Grammarly’s suggestions? Also very true.

There will always be something about human interaction and communication that you won’t get from computer-based feedback. Grammarly hates it when I use the word “just”, and it usually tells me my sentences could be way shorter. The suggestions help me sound better, but ultimately I’m the one who’s doing the writing.

As an editor, I help you better understand that line between what your story NEEDS and what your story WANTS. Then I let you do the rest of the writing exactly how you want.

No red ink needed. Just a conversation and a little encouragement.

Want to learn more about how we could work together? Check out Fly Dry Editing today!

As many of you know, the world of online writing is deeply in flux. And I’m trying to make a career out of it during these changing times.

So I’m trying something new moving forward. This site will remain live as an online portfolio sample of my writing. But I’m going to focus more of my professional energy on my work as an editor.

Interested in learning more? Check out my new website.

Excited to share more soon!

This summer has been continued work with some of my top clients, including:

• JTPR, Inc

  • Check out more BY Training success stories!

• Michigan Church Extension Fund

  • More great feature stories coming soon!

• A Happy Medium

  • We’ve worked on original website content and business promotion together.

• Thred (the new site is now live!)

  • Editing, blogging, curriculum development, social media marketing…and more!

• Lit Think Podcast

  • More blogs and podcast episodes coming soon!

I’ve also started working with a few ghostwriting clients. And I’m always available to talk through how I can best support your business as a writer or editor.

Interested? Contact me today if you want to hear how we can work together to make your word dreams come to life!

The Indianapolis Women's Chorus believes in the power of song. Through music, we bring people together and can make a better world.

That's why we love songs like "The Radium Girl" by Michael Bussewitz-Quarm. It calls both the singers and our audience to remember the young women who fought for equitable working conditions as they died from radium exposure in the 1920s.

That’s also why we love songs like “Be the Change,” an uplifting call to action, which immediately follows “The Radium Girl.” We hope that as you watch and listen, you experience again the power of song to educate, inspire, and move us to transform ourselves and our community. 

As we begin 2023, we want to thank you for all of your support. Whether you've attended one of our concerts, streamed our performances online, or donated to help keep our chorus active, we know we couldn't do any of this without all of you behind us.

Together, we are the change we want to see in the world. Here's to another great year of IWC in 2023!

SAVE THE DATES

March 11, 7:30 p.m. - Joint concert with the Belles Voix treble choir from St. Mary’s College, Marian University

May 20, 7:30 p.m. - Concert at Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, University of Indianapolis
 
May 21, 3 p.m. - Concert at Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, University of Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Women’s Chorus embodies musical excellence and the power of women and song to transform communities.

But in March 2023, I started working with some other clients I’d like to tell you about.

The Michigan Church Extension Fund has hired me to help write their annual report and several staff features.

I know it’s not out in the world yet - but I’ve helped recruit over 30 writers and develop over 100 blogs for Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Thred (I can’t wait for this project to be out in the world!).

I’ve also been working with the Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation to create success stories from their BY Training program (check out Jovan and Lori’s features).

And you can always check out the blogs and podcast episodes I’m helping create for Lit Think!

In short, I’m a writing expert worth connecting with. Contact me today if you want to hear how I can help

with your individual writing needs!

In 2022, I accomplished the following:

• 29 blogs written for Container Home Hub

• 35 blogs written for Construction Info

• 3 blogs on Barndos.com

• 3 blogs for Barndominiums.co

• 15 blogs on Barndominium Life

• Over 100 projects completed for Wild One Writing

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  • Also blogs like this and this

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• Landing pages, blogs, and all original copy written for Skypoint Recovery Ohio

• Over 80 blogs edited and 30 writers recruited for the relaunch of Thred.org

What People are Saying

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