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.

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.

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

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.

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