A few days ago, I shared with you that I had completed the full draft of LET ME BE YOUR GHOST and was looking for some beta readers to give feedback on the current draft.
The outpouring has been enormous — thank you! — and I’ve been busy sending out the draft and also beginning to work on some of the notes that have started coming in.
This is one of the many reasons why serializing your fiction on Substack is helpful. Getting feedback from early readers is essential, and having a way to bring your readers together and share some behind-the-scenes helps to deepen your relationship with your people.
So thank you — I’m excited for you to read what I’ve been creating for you.
And if you missed the first call but still want to apply? I’ll be sending out the draft on a rolling basis in the next few days before I close the form. Feel free to apply below:
🍵 let’s catch up over tea: taking a bit of a break
I took several days off this week to get away from my desk. I went to museums, hiked above the marine layer to get some sunshine (rare in San Francisco), and have been teaching and taking lots of yoga classes at my local studio.
When I finish big milestones (like a draft edit or finalizing a manuscript!) I like to get some new inputs and take some time to rest and reset. As writers, I think it’s important to consider what’s feeding you, what’s bringing your words to life.
So something to meditate on this week: what’s something new or interesting you can experience to help your work feel more layered? Or what kind of fun can you weave into your day that will make things feel fresh?
💌 what I’m watching, reading, and creating
creating
✍️ What should you actually charge? (we built you a rate calculator) at CozyJobs — you can find the rate calculator here. If you’re a freelancer, deciding what to charge is a huge part of the strategy when it comes to deciding what types of clients to work with. Our rate calculator not only helps you determine what you should charge, but it also surfaces jobs at that rate.
From First Draft to Final Polish: Editing Your Book Like a Pro with ProWritingAid over at Make Writing Your Job. I ran a self-editing workshop in collaboration with ProWritingAid, and if you’ve got a draft of a novel or memoir you’re editing, I think you’ll find this workshop useful!
The Forever Freelancer with Author Satta Sarmah Hightower at Make Writing Your Job. This conversation with 7-figure freelancer Satta Sarmah Hightower was filled with great, actionable advice. Satta is a former journalist, and her new book The Forever Freelancer is a great roadmap for building a sustainable career.
reading
The Magic Tricks I Use to Get My Way by Courtney Cho. “Under enough pressure, appetite finds the sides of your fingers.” Courtney is one of the best writers on Substack — especially if you read manifestation/spirituality content. Even if you don’t, I find the depth of her research and the beauty of some of her prose to be incredible — even as she delivers it in a “girly pop” kinda way. Her voice always feels refreshing in my inbox.
