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Your Next Draft

Alice Sudlow

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Supporting fiction writers doing the hard work of revising unputdownable novels. The novel editing process is the creative crucible where you discover the story you truly want to tell—and it can present some of the most challenging moments on your writing journey. Developmental editor and book coach Alice Sudlow will be your companion through the mess and magic of revision. You’ll get inspired by interviews with authors, editors, and coaches sharing their revision processes; gain practical t ...
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The Author Next Door

Angela Haas & Cassie Newell

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This is real talk for authors, relatable to where they are in their journey and to our journey as self-published authors. We talk about our experiences and have guest chats with experts and other authors about their experiences.
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas discuss the intricacies of editing with Alice Sudlow, a developmental editor and book coach. They explore how writers can find the right editor, the importance of understanding one's own values and needs, and the various communication styles that can impact the editing process. The conversation also de…
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas discuss the challenges of finding the right professionals to support writers on their journey. They share insights on the importance of joining writer's groups, researching testimonials, and the role of self-esteem in the hiring process. The conversation covers various aspects of the writing process, i…
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“It really broke my heart, actually. . . . For the rest of my life, it will break my heart.” A.S. King gets honest about what happened when the publishing industry failed her book. What happens after you edit your book? What happens after you’ve bared the story of your heart, crafted it into an excellent novel, and presented it to the world? What h…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the importance of understanding oneself through personality tests like Clifton Strengths, Myers-Briggs, and the Enneagram. They explore how these tests can aid in the writing process, character development, and collaboration with others. The conversation emphasizes the value of self-awareness i…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell dive deep into the world of romance writing with award-winning author Paula Judith Johnson. They explore the journey of becoming a romance author, the importance of character development, and the nuances of writing historical romance. The conversation also touches on the challenges of writing intimate …
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Do you need to hire a line editor? Or should you line edit your manuscript yourself? After all, you want to write an excellent novel. You know that great writing takes shape in revision, and you don’t want to skimp on any layers of editing. Nor do you want to overestimate your writing skills and leave your book littered with clunky sentences that a…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the intricacies of writing a second book in a series with bestselling author Suzy Vadori. They explore the challenges authors face when transitioning from the first to the second book, including reader expectations, the importance of recaps, and the need for fresh content. Suzy shares her insig…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell delve into the intricacies of point of view in writing. They discuss various perspectives, including first, second, and third person, and the implications of head hopping. The conversation also touches on genre expectations, reader engagement, and personal writing challenges, providing insights for bot…
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“Revising is about making sure that you're saying what you want to say in the way you want to say it. . . . To me, revision is the sport. It's the impact. It's the reason we're writers.” Have you ever read a book and thought, Holy cow, this is amazing. How did this author DO this? Or, maybe you’ve read a book and thought, Wow, I wish I could write …
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas discuss the craft of writing with Jeff Elkins, an award-winning author and dialogue coach. They explore common mistakes authors make in dialogue writing, the balance between prose and dialogue, and how to manage large cast conversations. Jeff shares insights on writing for short stories versus novels, …
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas kick off Craft Fair Month by discussing their favorite resources for improving writing craft. They explore various tools and books that have inspired them, delve into character development and world-building techniques, and share personal writing processes. The conversation also touches on current proj…
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Ever wondered what an editor actually does all day? What it looks like to spend all day supporting writers in their stories? Or what your editor’s doing in all that time when they’re not sharing their feedback with you? If those questions pique your curiosity, you’re in luck. I’m pulling back the curtain to share a week in my life as a developmenta…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the intricacies of list building and marketing strategies for authors with guest Amy Van Sant. They explore the importance of email lists, effective engagement techniques, and the challenges of managing multiple genres. Amy shares her insights on choosing the right mailing clients, automating p…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the challenges and strategies for marketing as indie authors during uncertain times. They explore the impact of boycotts on small businesses, the importance of strategic planning, and the need for flexibility in marketing approaches. The conversation also touches on personal updates regarding t…
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When to use frameworks to solve your story problems—and when to trust yourself and lean on your own story authority. You’ve heard of Save the Cat! Story Grid. Blueprint for a Book. These are all frameworks designed to help you edit a novel. If you don’t know these names, I bet you know others—Hero’s Journey, Freytag’s Pyramid, 7 Point Story Structu…
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas discuss social media marketing with expert Jenn DePaula. They explore common myths about social media for authors, the importance of messaging, and mindset shifts needed for effective marketing. Jenn shares strategies for both new and established authors, emphasizing the significance of community and c…
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas delve into the complexities and challenges of marketing for indie authors. They discuss the emotional toll of marketing, share personal experiences, and explore strategies for building an audience while balancing production and marketing efforts. The conversation highlights the importance of mindset, l…
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Escape analysis paralysis with one powerful question. It’s deceptively simple—and yet it unlocks everything. If you’re like most of the writers I work with, you’re pretty savvy about story structure. You know your Story Grid, your Save the Cat!, your Hero’s Journey. You’ve probably analyzed your story six ways to Sunday, and you’ve got the spreadsh…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the importance of building a supportive community for writers, featuring guest KS Barton. They explore the journey of finding one's writing voice, the significance of critique groups, and how to navigate online writing communities. The conversation emphasizes the value of constructive feedback,…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss their experiences at the Superstars Writing Conference, focusing on networking, energy management, and the importance of career counseling. They share insights on how to effectively pitch your work, navigate conflicting advice, and build meaningful connections with other authors. The conversati…
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The best novels combine rock-solid story structure with scenes that are unputdownable on every page. Here’s how one writer and two editors polished a story at every level. If you want to move your reader in every moment, keep them hooked on every page, you need to refine your scenes until each one is unputdownable. And that refinement? It’s SUCH a …
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In this conversation, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas discusses the importance of attending writing conferences with various guests; Heather Jones (aka Jen Fier), David Chenoweth, Jennifer Brinn, Jennifer Rose, Jason Hamilton, and Lyn Worthing. They share their experiences, insights, and the value of networking within the writing community. The discu…
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the importance of networking and building community through conferences with guest Herman Steuernagel. They explore tips for introverted writers, the evolution of goals when attending conferences, and the significance of making connections. The conversation also covers self-care strategies, the…
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It’s the most common developmental editing service you’ll see. Know what to look for and when (or if) you need one. If you google “developmental editor” and start looking through editors’ websites, you’ll see a common service appear again and again: A manuscript evaluation. (Or assessment, or diagnostic, or critique. A rose by any other name, etc.)…
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas engage in a deep conversation with Racquel Henry about the significance of mindset in the writing process. Racquel shares her journey as a writer and editor, emphasizing the importance of showing up for oneself, the concept of 'touching' projects daily, and the challenges of balancing multiple writing …
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In this episode, Angela Haas and Cassie Newell discuss the challenges of maintaining balance in a writer's life while finding inspiration. They share personal experiences and strategies for managing time, setting priorities, and utilizing tools to enhance productivity. The conversation also touches on the importance of recharging to avoid burnout a…
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In this episode, hosts Cassie Newell and Angela Haas discuss the challenges of burnout in the writing community with guest Holly Line. They explore personal definitions of burnout, share experiences, and discuss the importance of recognizing symptoms and taking breaks. The conversation emphasizes the need for self-care, the pressure of self-imposed…
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You get one shot to grab their attention. Don’t waste it with characters staring off into space. You've put all this work into uncovering your character's internal arc. You know them SO WELL. When you step into a scene, you're giving your absolute all to uncovering the deep meaning and purpose behind it, the profound arc of character transformation…
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In this episode, Cassie Newell and Angela Haas delve into the theme of self-doubt, particularly in the context of writing and publishing. They share personal experiences with self-doubt, discuss how it can manifest in creative pursuits, and explore strategies for managing it. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trusting one's voice, the r…
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In the inaugural episode of the Author Next Door podcast, hosts Cassie Newell and Angela Haas introduce themselves and share their backgrounds in writing and retail. They discuss their motivations for starting the podcast, the goals they have for 2025, and strategies for achieving those goals. The episode also features a fun table talk segment wher…
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It’s unpopular, but essential if you’re aiming to craft your best work. Picture this: one year from now, you’re holding your book in your hands. You see the gorgeous cover art, feel the slight resistance when you open the cover for the first time, run your hands over the soft, smooth paper, flip the pages and smell that delicious new book smell. Do…
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Your book is important. But sometimes, worthy interruptions will delay it for a while. For the last few months, this podcast feed has been quiet. It went dark with no notice in mid-June. I didn’t mean to disappear on you. In fact, I didn’t plan to pause the podcast at all. But a family emergency struck, and all my best-laid plans for summer 2024 ch…
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Your reader experiences your story one scene at a time. Make every scene un-put-down-able. Great stories are made of great scenes. Sure, your novel has a clever plot with twists and turns from the first page to the last. But the way your readers will experience that plot is . . . . . . one scene at a time. Which means if you want your readers to fa…
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Show and tell your readers why time matters to your characters. Time matters. When you look up and it’s dark outside, time matters to you. When your characters look around and summer is turning into fall, time matters to them. When your readers are reading a novel and they can’t figure out how time is passing? Well, time matters to them, too—mostly…
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Don’t lose your readers. Just tell them what time it is. The passage of time seems intuitive. It just happens, right? (Like, whether you want it to or not. Time and tide wait for no man, etc.) Here’s the thing, though. If you don’t tell your readers that time is passing in your novel . . . . . . they won’t know. It seems wild, I know. It feels like…
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This is often overlooked, but it’s essential for great stories. How do you make time pass? Well, when you’re living your regular life in the real world, you don’t have to do anything. Time is constantly passing, no matter what you do. And when a timer goes off, or you look outside and see the sun’s gone down, or you feel your stomach growl with hun…
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Write your best stories—and know when to let go and publish them. In order to write great books, you first have to learn how to write great books. But when it comes to writing, there’s always something more to learn. So how do you know when to practice your writing skills—and more importantly, when to publish the stories you’re creating? That’s wha…
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Before you can master writing great stories, you have to learn to craft great stories. When I was fifteen, I got my learner’s permit and began learning how to drive a car. This made me very unhappy. See, I wanted to know how to drive a car. I didn’t want to learn to drive a car. Knowing how to drive a car was fun, freeing, and exciting. Learning to…
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Because working with an editor should be delightful, not scary. Let's be honest. When you start working with an editor for the first time, it can feel a little scary. You’re sharing your manuscript, the project you’ve worked so hard on, with a stranger on the internet. You’re inviting another person into a process that up until now has been entirel…
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What you need to know BEFORE you start working with an editor—and how to tell if they’re the right fit for your novel. Working with a developmental editor can be the most rewarding part of your editing process. But if you’ve never worked with an editor before, it can also be . . . intimidating. Confusing. Scary. After all, you’ve got to hand your m…
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What we get wrong about creativity—and the truth that will make your writing and editing so much more effective. Do you know how great stories work? Scratch that. Let’s start with an easier question. Do you know how your stories work? Not all writers do. Even published authors often struggle to articulate how they created the books their readers lo…
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Why group coaching might be the perfect way to get feedback on your writing. When I was first getting started, I pictured editing like this: A writer writes a manuscript and sends it to their editor. The editor writes feedback and sends it back. The writer takes that feedback and uses it to edit their manuscript. That’s the classic form of editing.…
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The simple editing process to turn your messy first draft into a second draft you love. “I’ve written first drafts before, but I’ve never edited a second draft. How do you actually do it?” A writer asked me this a few days ago. And they’re not alone—it’s a question I hear a lot. How do you actually edit a novel? Is there a process? A system? A stra…
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It sounds scary, but it’s actually MAJOR editing progress. What if the best way to make progress on your novel . . . . . . is to go back to the beginning? Sometimes, the most effective editing strategy is a page one rewrite. Yes, that means exactly what it sounds like. You open a blank document and begin writing an entirely fresh manuscript. It mig…
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Editing progress doesn’t always look like you’d expect. Here’s how to recognize it. If your editing is going great, you’ll enjoy this episode. Honestly, though, if editing feels like the worst thing in the world right now, you’ll love this episode even more. Here’s what’s in store: How do you know whether you’re really making progress editing your …
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Here’s what happens when you absolutely NAIL IT in your story. Sometimes, you just nail it. The ideas click. The words flow. The revision works. Those days are my favorite days to give my clients feedback. When the pieces finally fall into place and the story is transformed for the better. On those days, I get to share my most joyful editing feedba…
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Your editing process has more in common with building a business than you might think. Editing a novel and building a business . . . well, they’re actually not all that different. That’s something I’ve been thinking about all year. As I’ve coached writers through the editing process, I’ve been struck again and again by how similar novel editing and…
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The year’s most popular editing tip, plus four more strategies I don’t want you to miss. What’s the best editing tip you’ve learned this year? If you’ve been listening to Your Next Draft all year, there are quite a few to pick from—fifty, in fact. So in this episode, I’m taking a look back at this year on Your Next Draft. I’ve selected the top five…
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What dozens of manuscripts and dozens of writers all have in common. This weekend, I celebrated the one year anniversary of launching my editing business. And since the one year mark is a pretty major milestone, and we’re nearing the end of 2023, I’ve been looking back. I’ve edited dozens of novels and coached dozens of writers this year. And while…
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Four questions to make every scene of your novel un-put-down-able. Some of your scenes are really exciting. They’re the big ones, the reasons why your readers picked up your book: the first kiss, the epic battle, the discovery of the body. And some of your scenes . . . well, they’re the stuff that happens in between the exciting scenes. In those sc…
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