Allison Alexander

What to Ask Your Beta Readers | Jane Friedman Giving your beta readers structure makes it easier for them, and helps ensure that your specific concerns will be addressed.

Helpful ideas on what to ask your beta readers. #Writing #BetaReading

I love reading imaginative first sentences and helping writers grab readers' attention, but honestly, don't stress about it. It doesn't need to be Shakespeare; it just needs to make readers curious enough to read the next sentence. #Writing #WritingTip

Cover for Translation State by Ann Leckie

Cover for Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

Cover for The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

3 sci-fi books I read this year and loved:

- Translation State by Ann Leckie (adult)
- Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (YA)
- The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (middle grade — the movie is also fab)

#Reading #SciFi #ScienceFiction

How to Find a Freelance Editor Who’s Right for You — Allison Alexander What to look for when deciding who to hire to work on your novel, nonfiction book, or other writing project.

My blog post this month is on where to find a freelance editor and what to look for when hiring one. #Editing #IndiePublishing #Writing #Publishing #Editor www.aealexander.com/blog/how-to-...

The ABCs of POV: Second-Person Narration — Allison Alexander Who is telling your story and how are they telling it? Here's an overview of second-person point of view.

Have you ever considered second person for your novel, or for parts of it? #Writing #POV #SecondPerson

3.13 Epic Fantasy: The Will of the Many | The Worldbuilder’s Tavern In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the epic fantasy novel The Will of the Many by James Islington. Proprietor's Pick: Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (Disclosure: we…

It's almost time for season 4 of the podcast! In the meantime, check out one of my favourite episodes of season 3 on The Will of the Many by James Islington. #Podcast #Worldbuilding #TheWorldbuildersTavern #TheWillOfTheMany #Fantasy

a black and white drawing of an octagon with a square inside Alt: a black and white drawing of an octagon with a square inside expanding and contracting.

Posting this for my own use: inhale / exhale.

Resources — Allison Alexander Access resources for writers, including comp-finder databases and a list of books on the writing craft.

What are your favourite #writing craft books? Mine include:

How to Write Dazzling Dialogue - James Scott Bell
Save the Cat! - Jessica Brody
Steering the Craft - Ursula K. Le Guin
Wonderbook - Jeff Vandermeer

For a longer list of recs, check out my Resources page:

"The river is the color of death." —Shana Targosz, River of Spirits #FirstLineFriday

This one looks very fun. #MiddleGrade #Fantasy #GreekMythology @shanatargosz.bsky.social

What point of view is best for your novel? If you're not sure, try one chapter in first person and another in third to see what feels right to you. You can even test out less common options, like second person, for funsies. #Writing #WritingTip #POV

Cross stitch of a winter scene inspired by Stardew Valley.

Finished Winter in the Valley! Just in time to hang up for the first snow. #CrossStitch #StardewValley

Cover for The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko

Cover for Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Cover for The Wandering Inn by Pirateaba

Cover for The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

4 fantasy books I read this year and loved:

The Maid and the Crocodile - Jordan Ifueko
Swordheart - T. Kingfisher
The Wandering Inn - Pirateaba
The House in the Cerulean Sea - TJ Klune

#Reading #Fantasy

All the New Horror Books Coming in December 2025 December 2025’s new horror books, featuring titles from Kristi DeMeester, Johnny Compton, T. Kingfisher, Ally Russell, Brennan LaFaro, and more!

the final horror shopping list of 2025 is here! feat. new books from @comptonwrites.bsky.social, @allyoutthere.bsky.social, @brennanlafaro.bsky.social, @datlow.bsky.social, @tkingfisher.com, and more. 2026 list drops later this week!!

The ABCs of POV: First-Person Narration — Allison Alexander Who is telling your story and how are they telling it? Here's an overview of first-person point of view.

Is your novel written in first-person? www.aealexander.com/blog/first-p... #Writing #POV

Resources — Allison Alexander Access resources for writers, including comp-finder databases and a list of books on the writing craft.

Looking for comp titles for you query letter? If you write fantasy, sci-fi, or horror, check out my Resources page for searchable databases of traditionally published, standalone, and first-in-series novels from the past five years. #Querying #Comps

"Once they made sacrifices here, to appease the Eight." —Antonia Hodgson, The Raven Scholar #FirstLineFriday

I keep hearing good things about The Raven Scholar and am looking forward to reading it! #FirstLineFriday #Fantasy #DarkAcademia

Finishing up an edit for a wonderful client (and in a genre I love!) is the best feeling. #Editing

Aww thank you! That is so kind! I am happy to know you.

"Can I do X thing in my novel?" You can do anything you want! If doing X won't hurt anyone (for example, by promoting harmful stereotypes), the real question to ask is whether it's effective. Is the story engaging readers? Does it fit the genre and age category? Are YOU enjoying it? #WritingTip

List 5 hobbies:

🎮 video games
🖌️ painting
🧶 crochet
🪡 cross stitch
🎲 D&D

YouTube video by Revise & Resub Fall Into Fiction with RevPit: Editor Q&A Panel

Our editor Q&A panel is LIVE! You asked, we answered! Get some answers to questions from our community about editing, querying, and more: #FiFRevPit #amwriting #amquerying #writersky www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwXP...

Magic: The Gathering Card. Planetarium of Wan Shi Tong. For one mana and tap, scry 2. Whenever you scry or surveil, look at the top card of your library. You may cast that card without paying its mana cost. Do this only once each turn.

This is my new favourite card. #MagicTheGathering #AvatarTheLastAirbender

What Does a Query Critique Look Like? — Allison Alexander Get a sneak peek into what editorial feedback on a query looks like and questions to ask yourself about whether your query is ready to go.

If you want to hire an editor for your novel but aren't sure what KIND of editing it needs, here's some advice on how to decide. www.aealexander.com/blog/what-ty... #Writing #Editing #Revisions

3.11 YA Sci-Fi: Skyward | The Worldbuilder’s Tavern In this episode, we're talking about genre, the state of YA sci-fi in publishing, and the writing and worldbuilding in the young adult science fiction novel Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Proprietor's…

Skyward seems to be a lesser known series of Sanderson's, but it's my favourite of his. #YA #SciFi #Worldbuilding #BrandonSanderson #Skyward #Podcast #TheWorldbuildersTavern

Services — Allison Alexander Allison offers manuscript critiques, developmental editing, line editing, and query package critiques for writers of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror.

If your novel needs professional eyes, but you're on a budget, I recommend a manuscript critique. It's a great place to start for big-picture feedback; you'll end up with an edit letter that includes actionable advice on how to tackle revisions. #Editing

"Azul del Arroyo didn't fully know what would happen when she set out to bring her older sister back to life, but since she was ten, she didn't much care." —Maria Z. Medina, Mistress of Bones #FirstLineFriday

This one's on my TBR! #FirstLineFriday #Fantasy #YA @mzmauthor.bsky.social

How POV Affects Character Inner Life | Jane Friedman Tips from a career editor on how the type of POV you choose affects the way you give readers access to your characters’ thoughts and feelings.

Helpful explanation of interiority (it's not just the inner thoughts of a character, but how they experience the world through a unique lens). janefriedman.com/how-pov-affe... #Writing #POV #Interiority

All You Need To Know About the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC) — Allison Alexander Key details about the contest for self-published sci-fi novels founded by Hugh Howey.

SPSFC 5 judge @aealexander.bsky.social has an informative post up about the contest that includes all of the past winners and finalists. #SPSFC

www.aealexander.com/blog/spsfc

The problem with chronic illnesses is that the root causes are usually unknown. 🥲 I WISH I knew what the cause was!

I definitely need to get some compression socks. I find exercise very difficult but I'm trying to it more regularly!