My son surprised me with a cake that says “12k views” after hearing a video I just posted is going strong on TikTok. What a supportive sweetie🥰🎂

Will publishers frown if you use A.I. for grammar and spell checking?

Looking forward to Saturday's workshop!

Will using A.I. to grammar and spell check your manuscript make publishers frown? We may have an answer. Read this and reader responses on DearEditor.com's post today: bit.ly/4s5e8sw

Good publishing news ⭐️📚

At the San Diego County Library in Vista this month. Fun!

A quick update on chapter book trends

Might co-author someday? Here’s a thing to know.

Cool! I answered 200 questions and found out my Top 5 Strengths. Clearly I was born to be an editor. Guiding writers, supporting their growth & goals & pushing them to improve, digging into the techniques of writing and storytelling. It's all here. No wonder I still love what I do after 30 years.

Just plunked a hot chocolate bomb in my Santa mug of hot milk.

Who else had pie for breakfast today? 🖐

Startled myself when perusing PW Children's Bookshelf newsletter and my face popped up. 🤣 So cool to get a writeup in PW.

Nestlé Coco in hot water v Nestlé Coco in hot milk. Verdict: both make me very happy.

Yay! I get to make a chocolate-chips-in-a-ramekin toast to an author who heard back from the acquisition meeting: it’s a YES! ✨ Persistence ✨

Proud to be on the Way-Word Writers Podcast! The nuances of revising a manuscript from the First draft to Final. youtu.be/Vy0LhenJHxg?...

Ha - Talk about an accountability self-hack! Just saw this quote from Colleen Hoover in an Elle Magazine article that announces new books she's writing. "The more pressure there is on me, the more likely I will get them done," Hoover tells the magazine. "So print that s***t."🤣

This 90-minute, in-depth presentation will cover the latest acquisition trends, current market needs, the launch of several new imprints, plus industry-wide efforts to navigate economic forces, AI, and book banning. Hear key insights essential for anyone looking to sell a book in today’s market!

Writing a scary story? Three pitfalls to avoid, and ways to avoid them.

Jodie Benveniste sent me a candy bar with a copy of her fab new YA novel Everything’s Absolutely Fine. The protagonst told her to send me chocolate. 😅 A perk of editing a book is bonding with the characters!

How to EFFECTIVELY write Multiple POVs. Telling a story through several characters’ viewpoints CAN be tricky but it’s SO worth it when you get it right.

Lovely day for editing on the patio. #peaceful #focused

Editing in the living room while two of my college boys do their homework on either side of me. I am content. 🥰

Free Authors Guild Zoom TODAY Oct 16 3pm PT/ 6pm ET about the Anthropic Settlement. Includes Q & A. If you cannot make it, they will have a recording. You don’t need to be a member: authorsguild.org/event/anthro...

A “No” from one editor is not necessarily a “No” from ALL editors at that imprint, today at DearEditor.com: bit.ly/3KTDedc

A “No” from one editor is not necessarily a “No” from ALL editors at that imprint, today at DearEditor.com: bit.ly/3KTDedc

What to consider when deciding to use your middle name in your author name, today at DearEditor.com: bit.ly/3VQPGwM

Demystify rejection letters: Five common reasons for rejection letters in novels and picture books, with solutions to address these issues in revision. Register: bit.ly/4pFFDIu

Avoid over-explaining in your fiction with these four tips from DearEditor.com: bit.ly/4nFjR5U

Writing Tip: Use your setting to reveal a character’s emotions and to force epiphanies. Choose it strategically and cleverly. #writingtips #writingadvice #amwriting #writing #deareditordotcom #DeborahHalversonBooks #kidlit #YAlit #youngadultfiction #MGlit #middlegradefiction #DearEditor

Deborah Halverson @deborahhalverson.bsky.social , Author and Freelance Editor, talk on Turning a "No" Into a "Yes" on Sept 27 on Zoom 2-4 PM. Replay available. Sign-up scbwi.org/events/San-d... #scbwi #kidlit #childrensbooks #writingtips #kidlitart #WritingCommunity #kidlitcreators #childrensbook

What a delight to receive this postcard from an author I’m working with. Writers make the mail fun!

Authors: You may be part of this class action lawsuit against an AI company that pirates books to train its AI. Read the Author’s Guild explainer.

Use “big words” in YA fiction? The Editor shares her advice in today’s DearEditor.com post at bit.ly/45wkDdV

A bus stop reminder to read, Downtown San Diego ❤️📚

Didn’t know there were geocaches on my favorite neighborhood walk! Nell Cross Beckerman was In town for an event for her book From Park to Playa and turned our walk into a treasure hunt with her geocaching app. I haven’t done that since my boys were little. Fun!

My son‘s patio chicken makes me laugh. Hangs out next to me while I edit in the cool evening.

Getting back to editing outdoors more often. A lovely day to be working on an MG novel in the quad at SDSU. Such a happy, light breeze.

A writer asks if it’s true that you should submit 3 to 4 manuscripts at once to an agent so they know you’re productive. The Editor advises a better strategy in today’s post at bit.ly/3IjkyT5

State of the Children's Book Market presentation done and dusted. Now off to find some chocolate!

Veteran editor and author Deborah Halverson @deborahhalverson.bsky.social provides an up-to-the minute, comprehensive overview of the children's publishing industry and marketplace. Register at scbwi.org This is free for SCBWI Premium Members.

A writer asked how to calculate the word count for a picture book manuscript with back matter and art notes. The Editor explains: bit.ly/446rrhz

A friend gave me this and it makes me SO happy. I declared last year that my new bucket list item is to visit all the national parks. I wanted to do so for a very long time, but declaring it helps manifest it. First sticker: Grand Canyon with my boys over spring break!

State of the Children's Publishing Market with Deborah Halverson Veteran editor and author Deborah Halverson provides an up-to-the minute, comprehensive overview of the children's publishing industry. A free webinar for SCBWI Premium Members!

Having some fun with this sleep mask swag for Selina Violet’s new book WHAT WE CAN’t have in her Heartbreak and Healing series

Pigeon likes to sneak into my Zooms. He would like to take over, but I stand my ground.

Raising a cinnamon hot cocoa in a kitty cat mug toast to the picture book client who just signed with an agent. ☕️📘 Cheering on all my writing colleagues❤️✍️

Learn five reasons that commonly appear in rejection letters for novels and picture books, translated and then followed by solutions for addressing the problem.  Join me!

Super excited for this workshop – bringing my wisdom, heaps of practical advice, and creative energy! Join CBW-LA on Zoom for this session on April 19th ! www.cbw-la.org/event-6099918

Open my door to a gift of homemade sourdough bread. I have the best neighbors!