Lacey Braziel | Fiction Editor and Writer

What is she truly afraid of in this moment?
Would the tension hit harder if the scene started later?
What if this dialogue stayed unsaid?

What’s a question you’ve received from an editor that stuck with you? Or one that helped your story evolve in a surprising way?

Let’s chat below.

You don’t need a red pen. You need someone who’s curious about your story.

As a fiction editor, I don’t just cut words. I ask questions. The kind that spark depth, clarity, and emotion.

Not “Fix this,” but...

To the authors I've worked with, cheers to the incredible and messy work of writing. Thank you for trusting me with your brilliant stories. It is inspiring to watch you turn your passion into polished fiction. Keep creating and keep writing.

How are you celebrating this National Day of Writing?

To all the authors out there—the published ones, the in-draft ones, and the just-starting ones—keep pushing your boundaries. Your voice matters, and your stories are worth every minute.

As an editor, my job is to help polish a manuscript, but the real magic comes from you—the writers—who take a blank page and fill it with worlds, characters, and emotions that stay with readers long after they’ve finished the final chapter.

Today feels like the perfect time to pause and appreciate the sheer talent and courage of the fiction authors I get to work with every day. There is nothing more inspiring than reading the manuscripts you send me where you've poured your entire soul into the story.

Happy release day, Rachel! I missed it by a day, but I hope you forgive me.

🎄 second chance
🎄 small town
🎄 spicy hallmark
🎄 professional santa
🎄 and his elf
🎄 "its just physical"
🎄 caretaking
🎄 Christmas romance

Make You Mine This Christmas is part of the Holly Ridge series by Rachel Holm.

TAKE A BREAK
READ IT ALOUD
WRITE A SYNOPSIS

Invisible story fractures happen to every writer.
You don’t have to fix them alone. 🦋 7/7

But when these cracks are patched, the story transforms.
The pacing clicks.
The arc resonates.
The characters feel real.

If you're not quite ready for an editor yet, there are still a few tools you can use to start spotting cracks: 🦋 6/7

These aren’t just technical issues; they impact the emotional weight of your story. If a reader senses something’s missing or doesn’t believe in a character’s growth, they disengage. 🦋 5/7

Some of the most common culprits?

DROPPED THREADS
UNEARNED CHARACTER SHIFTS
TONAL INCONSISTENCIES 🦋 4/7

That’s where an editor comes in.

You’re close to the work. I bring a fresh perspective and a strong grasp of story mechanics. I can step in, look under the surface, and identify the moments that are quietly pulling your story off track. 🦋 3/7

That’s usually a sign of invisible story fractures: subtle issues that quietly weaken your narrative without making themselves obvious. And when you’ve been immersed in your story for weeks or months, it’s nearly impossible to spot them alone. 🦋 2/7

Have you ever had that sinking feeling that a scene or maybe your entire manuscript isn’t quite working?

You can’t explain it, but something feels off. 🦋 1/7

Because the right question doesn’t just carry your story forward.
It gives it meaning.

When done well, this question becomes the anchor of your story and the reason readers keep turning the page.

So if something feels off in your draft, start here.
Revisit the question your story is really asking.

Refine it.
Deepen it.

Will the answer matter in a significant way to your character (and your reader)?

The best story questions connect the external plot with the internal journey. They hold tension through the entire narrative and guide both structure and theme.

The difference lies in the why—the internal conflict that deepens the stakes.
If your story feels like it’s wandering, it might be missing a solid question at its core.

Ask yourself:
Is the question clearly tied to your protagonist’s desire?
Do the stakes feel urgent and meaningful?

Think of it like this:
“Will he win the race?” gives you action.
“Can this disgraced runner overcome his past to win and reclaim his honor?” gives you heart.

Behind every unforgettable story is one powerful question.

Not just what happens but why it matters. A strong story question sits at the heart of your narrative. It’s a yes-or-no query that carries both emotional weight and plot momentum, shaping how the story unfolds and how the reader connects.

Unfortunately, I do love...

Think about the books you love most. I bet some of them didn’t check every marketable box when they debuted. They broke the mold—because the author was brave enough to write what felt true.
⠀
So be brave.
Write the story that haunts you.
The one that won’t let you go. 🦋 4/4

The stories that feel the most authentic often have the most power.

A story written from genuine passion—not market pressure—has a voice and a heartbeat that readers can feel.
⠀
Trends will always come and go (hello again, 2000s fashion 👋). But a great story? That lasts. 🦋 3/4

But here’s the thing:
What if the story you're meant to write isn’t what’s popular right now?
What if it’s that slow-burn, character-driven epic fantasy or that witchy romantic comedy you can’t stop thinking about—even if it doesn’t fit what’s flying off the shelves? 🦋 2/4

Ever feel like you're supposed to write what’s trending?

A new fantasy subgenre takes off, a niche romance goes viral, and suddenly you’re thinking, "maybe that’s what I should be writing."
⠀
As a fiction editor, I see it all the time—writers trying to force their voice to fit a mold. 🦋 1/4

I'm so sorry that happened to you. I can honestly say this is minor, but I'm still not a fan.

Finally succumbed to Covid-19, and I think you all need to know that my applesauce tastes like Scotch tape (you know how it smells).

READ IT OUT LOUD:
→ Is the dialogue natural?
→ Is the prose smooth?
→ Are you trying to explain too much too soon?
⠀
All of this can be smoothed out before your manuscript lands in an editor’s inbox. That way, our focus can go where it matters most—structure, pacing, development.
🦋 4/4

✖ Over-description:
A few strong, meaningful details go further than a full room scan.
⠀
INSTEAD FOCUS ON:
✔ Voice: Let your character’s personality leap off the page.
✔ Stakes: What does your main character want—and what’s in the way?
✔ Momentum: Start in the middle of something.
🦋 3/4

COMMON PITFALLS:
✖ Info-dumping:
We don’t need your world’s full history in paragraph two.
Give us something to care about first.

✖ Too much backstory:
Stay in the present moment.
You’ll have time to stitch in the past.
🦋 2/4