LitRPG Con has been the most fun. My book-loving heart is happy. The amount of talented people in this building this weekend is insane. I'm so excited to start editing some LitRPG projects soon.

I'm getting pretty excited for LitRPG Con in Denver this week! I'd love to meet authors or publishing people, because editing LitRPG is always great. My hair is purple, because my Katia Grimm cosplay is locked and loaded. Are you going to be there?

Fun fact: Most people who say they need a "proofreader" actually need a copyeditor. Proofreading is just the final typo-check. Copyediting is the actual polish of grammar, consistency, flow, word choice. Two very different things. Two very different stages. ardeneditorial.com/blog/what-is...

Thread. I agree that everyone has their own opinion and that's okay, even if that opinion is that my book is terrible. I have amassed a mountain of one-star reviews over 20 years, and I continue to have a career that chugs along nicely. Everyone has bad reviews! It's fine. You'll be fine.

I've got one slot open for a project in September, two in October, and two in November. I'm manifesting some awesome editing projects. Want to work with me? Lock it in! ardeneditorial.com/contact

Whelp, accidentally got distracted from editing by #stetchat and their discussion on distractions while editing! 😆

I am lucky to have a few groups of #edibuddies that enjoy body doubling via video chat, which helps with focus. Instrumental music (themed to match my editing project) helps as well. Pomodoro sprints are a helpful structure! If it's really bad, I usually just embrace the side quest. #StetChat

Absolutely my children, my puppy, and my husband. They rotate so that someone is always ready to distract me. I spend a lot of time wearing headphones just to block out the noise or look like I can't hear them! My children made me these door signs, but they ignore them. #StetChat

I can handle a max of 4 hours in a row of actual editing, but I do need small breaks during that work time. Anything longer than that and I'm absolutely not at full brain capacity. Editing takes a lot of concentrated thinking. I'm personally most productive in the mornings. #StetChat

Introduction post!🤩 name: Betsy pronouns: she/her fav fantasy creature: vampires fav book last year: The Daevabad Trilogy fav book so far this year: Empire of the Vampire current fav movie: I don't know, honestly current fav show: Alone season: summer ... and a gif/meme!

Hot take: most people think they don't need an editor because their writing is "pretty good." I thought the same thing. I was an unedited writer for YEARS before I became an editor. Spoiler: Pretty good isn't the same as publishable. Looking back, I wouldn't publish my college papers without edits.

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Mom. Mom. Mom. Mommomomomomoomom. #booksky

I'm open to queries from June 16-19th, 2026! I'm looking for projects for the adult market in the following genres: fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery and thriller. As well as self published stories in those same genres for audio rights exploration. querytracker.net/query/Michel...

#amwriting #booksky #amediting #indieauthors Writers spend a lot of time on their first chapters, and rightly so. Attention spans are so short these days, and media to consume so profuse. So what's an author to do? Hook your reader with one of these 4 hooks: ardeneditorial.com/blog/how-to-...

#authors, what's the part of your manuscript you are most nervous to have edited?

Authors using AI, this one is for you. Don't use AI to write (or edit) just half of your book. Switching from human writing to single-line paragraphs at chapter 9 and never going back is so confusing for a reader.

I have an editing habit to confess. When editing, I try to find and play an appropriately themed playlist. Last week I was chilling with Christmas music, this week it's the Titanic soundtrack. I'd call it a tradition, but it's only been like a month...so whatever. Highly recommend. #amediting

Taking a day off from editing to participate in a marketing workshop. I'm getting so many ideas for authors and publishing people, but the big message so far seems to still be the email list. I rarely open newsletters or emails from the lists I'm on, so I'm wondering... do you?

Happy Monday! I'm so excited for this week, I've got several projects wrapping up today and two new projects starting tomorrow. I'm loving the variety. Finishing a werewolf historical fantasy and a holiday romance. Starting a witchy fantasy and a family memoir. I'm a happy book editor. #amediting

Currently reading Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop and daydreaming of opening a bookstore.

I'm editing a short story. The phrase "And somehow," appears 23 times in the 15,000-word piece. Author bad habit or a sign of AI-editing, I don't know. But today I'm removing or rephrasing almost all of those. I've hit semantic satiation and "somehow" sounds like a made up word. #amediting

Every June, we spotlight a list of LGBTQIA+ indie bookstores we partner with. Last year, there were 465. This year, there are over 600 🥹 Keep supporting LGBTQIA+ owned indies and authors all year long. Because it really, really makes a difference 💓

Writing advice has it's place, and I do hope to share useful tips for writers here. But the best advice I see for writers is essentially to just sit down and write. To write daily. To write consistently. To make it a habit and actually do it. Then do it again. Before anything else, write.

I'm Betsy, editor and owner at Arden Editorial. I offer editing services for fiction authors, with a specialty in speculative fiction. I love fantasy, sci-fi, romantasy, litRPG, and dystopian fiction in particular. And historical fiction. But mostly, I love working with words.

Hi Bluesky! My book editing rates are very friendly right now, but they will be increasing in 2027. I'm booking into September. If you'd like to secure 2026 rates, please reach out at ardeneditorial.com/contact

Today is launch day for Arden Editorial! To celebrate, I'm offering a free sample edit + 20% off to the first 3 clients to book with me. www.ardeneditorial.com