WRITING TIPS & RESOURCES
We’re here to help you take off.
Whether you’re with us in the hangar and tinkering away on a manuscript or just needing a quick tune-up, we’re happy to share tips and tools.
Use the quick links below to jump to what sounds just right for what you need:
Self-editing checklist for writers looking to level up their copyediting skills
Searchable craft articles for every level of edit, writing/publishing advice, occasional soapboxes
Writing tips and industry news straight to your inbox every other week
The Story Mechanics Newsletter
Not sure what kind of edit you need?
Resource library
Editing Checklist
Use this free writer’s checklist for a sentence-level polish that will make your prose shine.
Level up your self-editing skills with this downloadable guide that will give you everything you need for a close editing pass that ensures consistency and clarity. Inside, you’ll find:
shortcuts and wording for “find and replace” tasks that make changes quick and easy
formatting instructions that follow industry standards
basic copyediting checks
extensive copyediting suggestions to tighten, clarify, and smooth
Newsletter
Join a community of writers who take their work seriously (and themselves a little less so).
We keep authors flying by sharing
publishing industry advice
insights from our combined twenty years of editorial experience
top-notch resources tailor-made to help you get on with the good work of telling your best stories.
When you sign up, you’ll also get our latest blogs sent right to your inbox.
Choose Your Own Edventure
A free guide to help you discover what you need to reach the next level
Download this choose-your-own-adventure-style walkthrough for an edit recommendation tailored to your story.
If you’re thinking about getting your book out there, you might be wondering what’s next. You might have heard you need an editor, or critique partners, or beta readers. But how do you know what kind of edit you need? How do you know where to start? Going for traditional publishing or self-publishing? Not sure yet?
We’ve got you covered with editorial recommendations that meet you where you are in your writing journey. Just fill in your email address below, and we’ll send the guide straight to your inbox!
E-books
Sometimes a deeper dive suits the subject better than a blog post.
Here you’ll find our current e-book selection and links to our Etsy shop where you can purchase them.
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Looking for Something Specific?
We’re always interested in hearing from you about what could be helpful!
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As (Not) Seen on TV: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Cinematic Writing
More than ever, we are saturated with stories, especially in the form of TV shows and movies. While this is a wonderful thing in some ways, it can have a profound effect on how we tell our own stories. In this ebook, we discuss some of the TV crossovers for writers to avoid—such as heavy blocking and POV shifts—as well as the powerful elements unique to written stories all authors can weave into their work.
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Writing Anime Style: Taking Inspiration from Anime to Write What You Love
Anime is rich with enthralling stories, so it’s no wonder that we’re inspired by our favorite shows and movies when we’re writing our own books. But anime is a visual medium—how do we translate it into words? Learn the essential writing elements that will help you craft stories that harness the wonder, power, creativity, and emotion of anime in your own writing.