Are you looking for a freelance fiction editor? - I’m trained, CIEP-registered, and an ALLi partner member - Free sample edits - Discounts for newsletter subscribers & members of marginalised communities - I’m a writer myself! - I love working with authors & helping them make their stories shine ✨

Writer problems: choosing names for your characters that don’t match anyone you know - or used to know - in real life 😅

One kid is ill and off school. The other cried all morning because there’s no Christmas dinner today. (I’m actually with him on this.) So now my tired self is editing a client’s manuscript while looking after a sick child. The exhausting reality of juggling parenting, and editing, and writing 😅

Me: Do that thing I like Husband: *Turns the coffee machine on*

Would you like to sign up for my free newsletter? You get: - 10% off my editorial services - My free ‘common mistakes I see in manuscripts’ checklist - Monthly updates on writing and editing life www.clairebentley.co.uk/newsletter

My husband keeps me caffeinated while I ruin my workplace 🙂 He’s a good egg.

It’s Monday morning, and I’m dutifully ruining my workplace 🙂 I’m self-employed, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

Are you looking for a freelance fiction editor? 🙂 - Trained, CIEP-registered, and ALLi partner member - Free sample edits - Discounts for newsletter subscribers and members of marginalised communities Please get in touch if you’re interested 🙂

Racists in the US and UK bleating about Sharia Law. Meanwhile, the New York Times:

Mindset is literally everything. People get psyched out before they begin because of what they think: "It's going to be too complicated" "People (that don't know me) will judge me" "I don't even know anything about that" "IT WON'T WORK" "I don't have time" "I can't do that because..."

Any other writers and editors find yourselves googling words that you instinctively know how to use? But you do the search anyway, just in case you’ve been using it ‘incorrectly’ all these years? 😅

I can’t remember the last time I had a full writing day! 🙂 But here I am with coffee, a candle, snacks, and my laptop. The kids are elsewhere. The house is peaceful. And I’m sinking back into my world of superpowers, feminine rage, and a society which actually looks after everyone within it 💜

Today I sent October’s newsletter to my subscribers, but I forgot to change the title (it showed the September one!) 🤦‍♀️ I’m telling you this because: a. We all make mistakes: even those of us who are perfectionists 🙃 b. We should listen to our minds when they’re exhausted and crying out for rest 🥴

My 5yo: Mummy! Pretend you’re my mummy. Me: …right. 5: And pretend I’m your child. Me: …okay… 5: And pretend you’re reeeeaaaally tired… Me: 5: And pretend you’re taking me to the park… Me: 5: Me: Do you want to go to the park? 5: Yes, please!

As a writer and editor, it’s my professional opinion that humanity would be in a much better position if certain members of humanity had taken up reading for a hobby, instead of, you know, racism.

Read dystopian fiction. Then you can find out what it would be like if the world was burning, there was massive inequality, and people were brainwashed, oppressed, and murdered to uphold the status quo. 👀

Are you looking for a freelance fiction editor? I’m fully booked for 2025 but still have slots in early 2026 🙂 - Trained - CIEP registered - ALLi partner - Free sample edits - Extra discounts for newsletter subscribers and marginalised authors www.clairebentley.co.uk/work-with-me

Managed to grab an hour of writing time in between childcare and the day job 😅 Hope your Tuesday goes as well as it can!

My 8yo: Why are you asking me to tidy my room? Do you have any idea how busy I am? Me:

I know the world is a fiery hellscape… But if you’re a writer looking for a freelance fiction editor then my website is in my bio 🤓 Regardless, please keep writing! (In between speaking out against global oppression and screaming into the void 😅) The world needs our stories - now more than ever!

Taking my new booktrovert t-shirt out for a spin today 🙂

Dear Authors It can be scary sending your manuscript to an editor! You might not know this, but editors get nervous too 🙂 ‘What if they don’t like my suggestions?’ ‘What if they don’t like my editing style?’ Just thought it might help to know this. Signed, a fiction editor 🙂

Things I never thought I’d say before having kids (zero context). ‘No, you can’t lick the freezer.’ ‘Go and play with your poo.’ ‘Will you take the zebra out of your trousers, please.’ ‘Don’t kill your brother’s imaginary pet.’ ‘No more zombies in the house!’ ‘Can I smell your chin?’

‘Livid’ does not even begin to cover how I feel. All I can think about are the children waiting on the beaches, and no boats making it through 💔 Free Palestine 🇵🇸

8yo: Do I have to go out? I want to stay at home and read. Me: Same, son. Same.

Me working on my novel while billionaires and fascists try to destroy humanity.

Instead of ‘curing’ a neurotype that can’t be cured, how about we cure these much more dangerous ‘isms’ instead. - Fascism - Racism - Sexism - Ableism - Capitalism - Colonialism - Nationalism - Trumpism … Which, incidentally, would help people of all neurotypes. Signed, an autistic person.

I’m about to start writing a client’s editorial report 🙂 There are lots of hidden gems in the work, and now I get to help the author polish and arrange them. This is one of my favourite parts of being an editor! 🙂

I have a free author / editor newsletter 🙂 - Monthly updates on author / editor life - Free guide to the most common ‘mistakes’ I see when editing manuscripts - 10% off my editing services! www.clairebentley.co.uk/newsletter

The Tooth Fairy erm… didn’t notice my son’s tooth last night 😅 My son has taken drastic measures to make sure she finds it tonight… In other (completely unrelated) news, I’ve worked out how to use the reminder app on my phone 😅

To all my fellow writers out there… Our words matter. Our stories matter. It might not seem like it in these dark times. But they do. Why else would they ban books? Books are one of our strongest weapons against fascism. Our words MATTER. Please keep writing them.

All I want is good books, good coffee, and for fascists and billionaires to stop destroying the world.

Creating something, even if it's messy at first it still gives you energy, lessons, and momentum. You have to see what you're capable of before you know how much more you're capable of. Give yourself that much. ruthnineke.co/take-a-chanc...

My book haul from Whitby Abbey 🙂 Books keep me going and bring me joy, especially during hard times.

Parent-writer problems no.486 You plan 2hrs of writing time while the kids are at school… …you sit at your desk with your hot coffee… …you put on music… …you light a candle… …and the phone rings… …and the school asks you to pick up your sick child… …who was perfectly healthy that morning. 🫠

A reminder to all my fellow writers out there… Your words matter. Keep writing 💜

Was perved on by a van driver when walking back (alone) from the school run this morning. These dudes really know how to make a woman look forward to her crone era.

Would you like to sign up for my free author/editor newsletter? You get updates on writing life, a free ‘common mistakes I see in manuscripts’ checklist, plus 10% off my editing services! 🙂 www.clairebentley.co.uk/newsletter

My manuscript has been massively neglected over the summer (the joys of being a parent-writer!) So today I have coffee and a quiet house, and I’m diving into the words 🙂

I lost a potential editing client recently for being woke. And I am very much ok with that 🙂

My youngest child just started school 🥹 Suddenly I have more time for my writing and editing business! Yes, I’m emotional. But when you’ve been the primary parent for nearly 10 years, getting your kids to school age feels like a huge milestone 🙂

I’m back from a much-needed break! We took the children on holiday to Whitby, which is one of my favourite places 🙂 (and not just because much of the novel Dracula is set there!) I’ll be back to the usual writing, editing, and screaming into the void shortly 🙃

No one: 4yo (singing): You won’t ever be as smart as meeee Although you might be as smart as my brotherrrr Me: 😐

Actual footage of my neglected novel when my kids are off school for the summer 🥴

Just a quick note to say I only have one editing slot left in 2025! Please let me know asap if you would like the November slot 🙂

My ‘common mistakes I see in editing’ checklist is now available if you sign up for my free newsletter 🙂 I also have a blog with writing and productivity advice. Not everyone can afford professional editing, and I want to make sure there are free resources available for all authors!

Hiding from the Yorkshire heat (and my children!) as best I can while I work on a client’s developmental edit 😅 I hope your Wednesday is going as well as it can 🙂

Me trying to work on my novel while fascists and billionaires try to destroy humanity.

I’ve only got 2 editing slots left in 2025, so please let me know asap if you’d like to book for this year 🙂 I’m also taking bookings for 2026!

My social media self is basically writing, editing, reading, parenting, autism, Free Palestine / Sudan / Congo, and being left-wing and woke, all wrapped up in a trench coat 🧥