Misha Carlstedt

A purple background with a graphic of a lady in a circle and two question marks. A white box with a question mark above it asks if you have ever read a book without reading the blurb.

Yep. How about you?

So cute!

A purple background with a white leaf ring. It says, What to Ask When Hiring an Editor.

What to ask when hiring an editor.

Absolutely not.

A purple background with a white speech bubble that reads, It was the strangest house they had ever seen. They couldn't believe it was made of...

Just don't say gingerbread!

A celestial background. The quote reads, Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. - Les Brown

So true!

The title is Fast Facts. The facts listed are as follows: I specialize in editing several genres of fiction. I'm a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing. Professional development is important to me. I work with both indie and traditional authors. I have a certificate in editing from the University of Washington. I opened my editing business in early 2019.

A few facts about my business.

A white background with a gray frame. There is an open purple and white book in the middle with a bookmark. It says to recommend a book in this genre. The indicated genre is fantasy.

Fantasy is such a fun genre.

A white background with a gray frame. It says quick tip at the top. The tip reads, your main characters always need to have a goal, motivation, and conflict. Goal: What do they want? Motivation: Why do they want it? Conflict: What's stopping them from getting it?

I call this the character trifecta—all vital elements.

A purple background with two white squares. It says, Podcast Share.

Struggling with marketing? Have a listen to this episode of The Creative Penn podcast: www.thecreativepenn.com/2023/04/24/b....

A roller coaster in the background. The quote reads, "Being a writer is not just about typing. It's about surviving the roller coaster of the creative journey." -Joanna Penn

Hang on tight!

Editing romance makes my heart happy. Sappy but true.

The background is bookshelves filled with red, blue, white, and gold books and strings of lights. It says, What is your favorite book to read during the holidays?

I don't think I have one. You?

A purple background with a white square in the middle. The heading says, Developmental Editing vs. Manuscript Evaluation. Below, it says, What's the difference? Developmental editing: Focuses on big-picture areas such as plot, characterization, structure, and genre. Includes comments and edits on the manuscript. Along with the strengths, tells you what isn't working, why, and how to fix it. Manuscript Evaluation: Focuses on big-picture areas such as plot, characterization, structure, and genre. May or may not include comments and edits on the manuscript. Along with the strengths, tells you what isn't working.

Developmental editing and manuscript evaluations are similar. The main difference is the level of feedback.

A purple frame with a cartoon inside. On the left of the cartoon is a girl with glasses saying, well, I better go to sleep 'cause I'm really tired. Night, everyone. On the right, she is reading in bed.

I mean, it's not untrue.

A stack of rocks with a key on the top in the background. The quote says, "Your intuition knows what to write, so get out of the way." - Ray Bradbury

There’s a reason first drafts are called “rough” drafts.

A blue background with snowflakes. There is a menorah in a blue circle on the bottom. It says, Happy Hanukkah.

Happy Festival of Lights!

So pretty!

A purple background with a white leaf ring. It says, Verity Ink Editorial. Developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, manuscript evaluations, beta reading, and coaching.

Calling all authors looking for an editor! I'm currently booking for winter. Remember, I offer a free sample edit to make sure we are a good fit. Grab your spot today!

A purple background with two white squares. It says, Blog Share.

Whether you love or hate writing it, good dialogue is an essential part of a story:
foxprinteditorial.com/2023/04/20/w....

A purple background with a white frame and stars in the middle. It reads, Tell me how to write a mystery, but with bad advice only!

The badder, the better!

A cork board in the background. The quote reads, A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit. -Richard Bach

We all have to start somewhere.

A solid purple background with five black stars on top and a purple book with a bundle of flowers at the bottom. It says, "Misha cares as much about your characters and story as you do. To find someone who is thoughtful and cares about your project even when it needs improvement is something special. She helped me polish the rough edges." - Author Jemma Guinn

I love working with debut authors like Jemma.

True. He has aged well. LOL

What? I can't believe there are people who don't know this.

A background of snowy trees and pink stars. It says, Hello December.

Happy December!

A purple frame with gray corners and a white box in the center. It says, Tips for Taking Care of Yourself While Writing. • Build in time to eat, sleep, and recharge. A healthy mind and body are essential for creativity. • Create a reward system to celebrate smaller milestones on your way to your goal. • Plan ahead. Identify days when you won't have time to write and days when you can spend extra time writing. • Be kind to yourself. It's okay to get stuck or have off days. Sometimes things are out of your control. • Remember why you are writing and have fun!

Remembering to take good care of yourself is essential to writing productivity.

A purple background with cartoon people partying on the left. Above the picture it says, "How some people get crazy on the weekend." On the right is a cartoon woman reading a book in bed. It says above the picture, "How I get crazy on the weekend." The woman says, "11 pm already? Screw it. I'm reading another chapter!"

This is so me. You too?

Shelves with a woman in front of a laptop raising her arms. The quote reads, "Done is better than perfect." - Sheryl Sandberg

Yes, yes, yes!

A purple background with a white Post-it note type square in the middle. It says, Do you need help...? Then it lists, Plotting your story or character arcs, spotting spelling and grammar errors, understanding the stages of editing/revision, conquering imposter syndrome, identifying plot inconsistencies, improving your story's flow and pacing, and critiquing your query letter and synopsis.

Spoiler alert: I can help you with all these things and more!