Carly Hayward
LightNews LightNews
banner
fromcarly.bsky.social
Carly Hayward
@fromcarly.bsky.social
790 followers 200 following 980 posts
Book Light Editorial & #RevPit editor, Story Chat Radio co-host. Disabled. You'll usually find me cuddling w/ a cup of tea and a great book. She/her

Editing: https://booklighteditorial.com/
Podcast: https://www.storychatradio.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
fromcarly.bsky.social
Carly Hayward @fromcarly.bsky.social · Oct 31
If you could pick one of these familiars to be with you always, which would you pick?

#WritingCommunity #WritersLife #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #EditingFamiliars
The image has a solid dark jade color background. In the bottom left corner, the company symbol is there which is an open book with a lightbulb in the center. The main text says, “Editing Familiars: The three aspects of our editorial approach.” There are three items in the middle; a golden raven, a black cat, and a jade dragon. Underneath each character, there is some text that reads, “The Raven: Knowledge and creativity, The Cat: Supportive and long-lasting partnerships, The Dragon: Protection of your voice and vision.”
fromcarly.bsky.social
If you could pick one of these familiars to be with you always, which would you pick?

Every author should have a compassionate & insightful editorial team as part of their crew. From dev editing to copyediting, we work with both indie and traditional authors to help forge their story.

#BookSky
The image has a solid dark jade color background. In the bottom left corner, the company symbol is there which is an open book with a lightbulb in the center. The main text says, “Editing Familiars: The three aspects of our editorial approach.” There are three items in the middle; a golden raven, a black cat, and a jade dragon. Underneath each character, there is some text that reads, “The Raven: Knowledge and creativity, The Cat: Supportive and long-lasting partnerships, The Dragon: Protection of your voice and vision.”
January 5, 2026 at 7:02 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
How to use your character relationships effectively

#WritingTips #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #RevPit
The majority of the background is a solid white. On the top left corner of the graphic, there is some dark blue background and in front of that is a golden robotic raven with jade accents. The company logo is on the bottom right corner and it's a lightbulb standing on top of an open book. The text reads, “Show who your characters are through their relationships. How we interact with the people in our lives, who we dislike, why we dislike them, who we love, why we love them, all define who we are.” Solid dark teal background. The main text says, “Disclaimer.” The body text says, “As always, general advice is complicated and hard. There are always exceptions and times when it isn’t applicable. This is why getting individual feedback can be so important. Remember: use the advice that works best for you and your writing!”
January 1, 2026 at 9:12 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Here’s hoping for a better 2026!

#NewYears #Cats #BookLightEditorial
Yawning calico cat
December 31, 2025 at 6:25 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Testimonial from Felicia Grossman, author of Appetites & Vices 🎉

#WritingCommunity #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #Testimonial
Solid dark green background. Turquoise texts on the top that says, “Testimonials.” On the bottom right corner, the company name, “Book Light Editorial” is there in green font next to a dark jade colored flower. On the left side of the graphic, there is a golden raven sitting on a branch that is covered in flowers. The main text reads, ““Carly was able to see my vision and pinpoint exactly what was falling flat, what needed more development, what needed more consistency, and what needed more balance. She explained each of the issues in a clear way that made sense and inspired me to make changes in a smart way, to expand some threads and cut others and dig deeper into certain characters. Her notes were so thorough and helpful and well organized and well thought-out, that I was super excited to edit—those are the best sort of notes. Carly is super professional, prompt, organized, concise, and so smart! I learned so much working with her, all of which has carried me through to later projects.” -Felicia Grossman, Author of Appetites & Vices”
December 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Percy and I are settled in to start work on a manuscript with a fresh cup of tea

#WritingCommunity #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity
Focus of the picture is a calico cat on a lap, a white mug in someone’s hand, and a teal kindle case sitting the lap.
December 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Reposted by Carly Hayward
aealexander.bsky.social
Are we getting excited about #RevPit 2026 yet?
December 20, 2025 at 8:45 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Do you need a prologue?

#WritingTips #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #RevPit
December 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Finding the perfect gift for a #writer is hard. After you’ve run out of pens, books, & notebooks, it might be time to give them an editor!
With a coaching call they can customize it to fit whatever they need w/out committing to a full edit. $150 for 1 hour & reading 2.5k words (No Gen AI)

#GiftIdea
Solid dark jade color background. The text reads, “Need a present for a writer? Find the perfect gift for your writerly loved one! Coaching Call: with a coaching call your author will be able to customize it to fit whatever they need.”
December 22, 2025 at 10:05 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Testimonial from Anthony DeCapite, author of Fireline and Outlaw 🎉

#WritingCommunity #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #Testimonial
Solid dark green background. Turquoise texts on the top that says, “Testimonials.” On the bottom right corner, the company name, “Book Light Editorial” is there in green font next to a dark jade colored flower. On the left side of the graphic, there is a golden raven sitting on a branch that is covered in flowers. The main text reads, “Carly was not only essential to getting my manuscript in shape, but she was a pleasure to work with. She was flexible and communicative regarding her schedule, and most importantly, delivered a great developmental edit! Her insightful feedback was instrumental in bringing my protagonist to life. Readers are really connecting with the emotional ride of my story, and I have Carly to thank for getting me to bring all those emotions to the fore in a compelling way. I’m a screenwriter by training, and she also gave me guidance that helped me flesh out my prose and wrap my head around the needs of a novel. I couldn’t be happier with Carly and the process, and I’m definitely hiring her to help me with my next novel.” -Anthony DeCapite, author of Fireline and Outlaw”
December 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
So what is GMC?

Goal, Motivation, & Conflict. Your character’s goal is what they want in life, their motivations are what happened in their past that’s left them with a lack of something, and the conflicts are what gets in their way.

#WritingTips #AuthorServices #Editor #BookLightEditorial
Solid dark jade background. There is a big black cat sitting on the left side corner with red, white, and gold flowers on its body. The company logo is on the bottom right corner and it's an open book with a lightbulb in the center. There’s an arrow pointing right underneath the main text. The main text says, “So what is GMC? (Goal, Motivation, & Conflict)” Solid dark jade background. There is a big black cat sitting on the left side corner with red, white, and gold flowers on its body. The company logo is on the bottom right corner and it's an open book with a lightbulb in the center. The main text says, “Your character’s goal is what they want in life, their motivations are what happened in their past that’s left them with a lack of something, and the conflicts are what gets in their way.” Solid dark teal background. The main text says, “Disclaimer.” The body text says, “As always, general advice is complicated and hard. There are always exceptions and times when it isn’t applicable. This is why getting individual feedback can be so important. Remember: use the advice that works best for you and your writing!”
December 18, 2025 at 6:29 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Warming up with some hot cocoa. Our friends gave us a hot chocolate advent calendar and it's making the season so cozy... and extra sweet

#HolidaySeason #CozyVibes
A mug on a coffee table in front of a christmas tree
December 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Finding the perfect gift for a #writer is hard. After you’ve run out of pens, books, & notebooks, it might be time to give them an editor!

With a coaching call they can customize it to fit whatever they need w/out committing to a full edit. $150 for 1 hour & reading 2.5k words (No Gen AI)
Solid dark jade color background. The text reads, “Need a present for a writer? Find the perfect gift for your writerly loved one! Coaching Call: with a coaching call your author will be able to customize it to fit whatever they need.”
December 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Are you someone who prefers multi-color lights or single color lights on your Christmas tree?

#Christmas #BookLightEditiorial #Editor
Holiday decors throughout an office that is filled with plants and books.
December 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
fromcarly.bsky.social
In your writing, what do you do when the romance is lagging?

#WritingTips #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity
The left side of the graphic all the way to the bottom is a dark blue color and the rest of the background is white. There is a big black cat sitting on the bottom left corner with red, white, and gold flowers on its body. The company logo is on the bottom right corner and it's an open book with a lightbulb in the center. The main text says, “The romantic tension in a romance must increase with frequency and intensity as the novel progresses until they let go of their external goal or obstacle temporarily for the sake of the relationship.” Solid dark teal background. The main text says, “Disclaimer.” The body text says, “As always, general advice is complicated and hard. There are always exceptions and times when it isn’t applicable. This is why getting individual feedback can be so important. Remember: use the advice that works best for you and your writing!”
December 12, 2025 at 2:21 AM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Testimonial from author Darby Cox! 🎉

#WritingCommunity #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #Testimonial #Bookish
Solid dark green background. Turquoise texts on the top that says, “Testimonials.” On the bottom right corner, the company name, “Book Light Editorial” is there in green font next to a dark jade colored flower. On the left side of the graphic, there is a golden raven sitting on a branch that is covered in flowers. The main text reads, “I had lost the bird’s eye view of my story after a while and Carly really helped me become excited about my story again. I learned parts that weren’t working and how to simplify an adult fantasy. She asked me some great questions and made comments that made my story so much stronger! -Darby Cox, author”
December 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
It's always a good day when I’m blessed with toe beans.

#Cats #ToeBeans #BookLightEditorial
A calico cat is laying on their side and showing off their toe beans
December 6, 2025 at 8:51 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Without grounding, we lose the ability to fully immerse ourselves in your world. Show your characters interacting with your setting to allow us to experience it in a natural way.

#WritingTips #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity
The left side of the graphic all the way to the bottom is a dark blue color and the rest of the background is white. There is a big black cat sitting on the bottom left corner with red, white, and gold flowers on its body. The company logo is on the bottom right corner and it's an open book with a lightbulb in the center. The main text says, “Without grounding, we lose the ability to fully immerse ourselves in your world. Show you characters interacting with your setting to allow us to experience it in a natural way.” Solid dark teal background. The main text says, “Disclaimer.” The body text says, “As always, general advice is complicated and hard. There are always exceptions and times when it isn’t applicable. This is why getting individual feedback can be so important. Remember: use the advice that works best for you and your writing!”
December 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Testimonial from Laura Catherine, author of Enemies to Booksellers 🎉

#WritingCommunity #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #Testimonial
Solid dark green background. Turquoise texts on the top that says, “Testimonials.” On the bottom right corner, the company name, “Book Light Editorial” is there in green font next to a dark jade colored flower. On the left side of the graphic, there is a golden raven sitting on a branch that is covered in flowers. The main text reads, “Carly is absolutely amazing and I can't recommend her enough. It was my first time doing a developmental edit for a book and I wasn't sure how useful it would be, but the thorough read and input from Carly was invaluable to making my story better. I used the Neon Indie Bundle and having the edits looked at twice really gave me peace of mind that the changes I'd made were the right ones. Carly gives the perfect balance of praise and constructive feedback through detailed assessments. I can't wait to work with her again.”
December 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Finding the perfect gift for a #writer is hard. After you’ve run out of pens, books, & notebooks, it might be time to give them an editor!

With a coaching call they can customize it to fit whatever they need w/out committing to a full edit. $150 for 1 hour & reading 2.5k words (No Gen AI)
Solid dark jade color background. The text reads, “Need a present for a writer? Find the perfect gift for your writerly loved one! Coaching Call: with a coaching call your author will be able to customize it to fit whatever they need.”
December 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Testimonial from Deana Birch, author of Faster and Slower! 🎉

#WritingCommunity #AuthorServices #AuthorCommunity #Editor #BookLightEditorial #BookCommunity #Testimonial
Solid dark green background. Turquoise texts on the top that says, “Testimonials.” On the bottom right corner, the company name, “Book Light Editorial” is there in green font next to a dark jade colored flower. On the left side of the graphic, there is a golden raven sitting on a branch that is covered in flowers. The main text reads, “When I first approached Carly, I wasn’t sure my manuscript would ever be published. But with her gentle manner and supportive feedback, she helped me organize and re-write my story. She’s phenomenal at suggesting solutions, not just pointing out problems. With Carly, you know she is immediately on your team and your biggest cheerleader. After working with her on two books, I honestly felt like she knew my characters as well as I did. Carly is professional, positive and kind.” -Deana Birch, author of Faster and Slower”
November 25, 2025 at 11:17 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
I’m quickly running out of shelf space. Should I do an unhaul OR just buy another shelf?

#Shelfie #BookLightEditiorial #Editor #Bookshelves #BookCollection
Very full book shelves, full of books and plants.
November 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Carly Hayward
natashahanova.bsky.social
In case anyone missed this #RevPitFiF editor panel about editing, self-editing, and dealing with publishing.

I enjoyed chatting with @fromcarly.bsky.social, @ashpreads.bsky.social, @azali-avenger.bsky.social, and @demimschwartz.bsky.social

Let us know if you have any other Qs! #RevPit #RevPitFiF
reviseresub.bsky.social Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · Nov 21
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...
Fall Into Fiction with RevPit: Editor Q&A Panel
YouTube video by Revise & Resub
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
I had so much fun chatting with @natashahanova.bsky.social, @ashpreads.bsky.social, @azali-avenger.bsky.social, and @demimschwartz.bsky.social about editing, self-editing, and dealing with publishing. Let us know if you have any other Qs! #RevPit #RevPitFiF
reviseresub.bsky.social Revise & Resub @reviseresub.bsky.social · Nov 21
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...
Fall Into Fiction with RevPit: Editor Q&A Panel
YouTube video by Revise & Resub
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Carly Hayward
reviseresub.bsky.social
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...
Fall Into Fiction with RevPit: Editor Q&A Panel
YouTube video by Revise & Resub
www.youtube.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
fromcarly.bsky.social
Beautiful sunset on Long Island Sound In CT
Picture of a sunset at a beach
November 20, 2025 at 9:39 PM