miranda-darrow.bsky.social
Freelance Fiction Editor, Concise Fiction Academy, RevPit volunteer editor and board member. Let me help you bring out the best version of your novel! www.mirandadarrow.com
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I’ve seen a few people asking about comp titles! I have a blog post that can hopefully help: www.madheditorial.com/blog/comp-ti... #RevPit #writingcommunity #amquerying
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Yes, I do like the Word Read Aloud function for this too, and for finding missed and incorrect words when line editing.
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for sure I want to see that history, as long as it's grounded in the scene, some reason for the POV character to be reminded of the past event.
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You can submit the same story again if you aren't a winner. But we do recommend you submit to different editors unless you've made substantial changes since the previous draft.
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Not for me. There's a ton of YA fiction written in first person present, and some women's fiction is too.
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I do enjoy travel romance.
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Thank you for reading along. Happy #RevPit season!
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There are other publishers, but Harlequin is huge and quite strict with their word count.
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Word count for romcom depends on if you are aiming for a specific line with Harlequin, as some lines submission guidelines are around 50,000 (short!) but others up to 80,000 words.
I'd consider it a major overhaul if you are looking to cut a whole subplot, remove a POV, condense characters.
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I do adore Leigh Bardugo, but Ninth House is not exactly my jam, too adjacent to horror to be in my wheelhouse. I haven't read Nevernight but I did like Scythe by Neal Schusterman. Tastes are funny. We do have a bunch of other #RevPit editors interested in horror if that is how you'd pitch yours.
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We run the contest every spring, so it's okay to submit next year. Other editors may be more interested with a less polished draft. I'm looking for a story that is most of the way there, but needs some bigger change or several.
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oh, I'll add this to my TBR (to be read) list, which is massive. But, my Read list is now longer.
I've heard that as long as you have books on your TBR, you are immortal, as you still have books to read. We don't argue with the logic.
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My goal is to edit and teach writing full time.
I am working a day job that pays the bills and has benefits (health insurance).
#RevPit authors can spread the word about the contest so we get a ton of authors submitting who then start following us on social media, etc. helping us build our brands.
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I'm going to read this book multiple times, so I need to love it and feel like it's improving and getting stronger. I love it when my clients' books do wel, but that's outside of my control. I keep my focus on what the author and I can do together.
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Would you and Jeni be in the same camp? She's also reaching out right away w/ edit letter in a few weeks. But does she read the full MS before picking?
I couldn't pick a winner without reading the full manuscript. I need to make sure it doesn't end with "and then main character wakes up."
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Absolutely, sound fun. It's set in the US but I loved Vera Wang's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto and international (but less cozy) Everytime I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Somone by Benjamin Stevenson.
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It's a two step process for me.
First, grab my attention with book concept & strength. Make my short list with your writing & concept.
Then within my short list, I look at willingness to revise and pair with my revision plan.
Interest from agents/pubs don't come into my process.
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We won a Minnesota themed trivia night my knowing that Margaret Hamiliton (The Wizard of Oz' Wicked Witch) was a frequent guest of a local mansion &
The Zamboni song was sung by The Gear Daddies.
We dominated!
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thank you. A strong meme game is essential for the #RevPit annual contest. Whether we're battling for our winners behind the scenes or just watching from the sidelines.
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Jeni is, as always and 100% on brand, the voice of reason.
She keeps everyone on track, and we love her for it.
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I did not intend to name names for all our editors and their camp designations, but go ahead & claim it.
Megan's lead the campfire songs over at Camp 2: "we need more time to marinate in our submissions" for as long as I've known her.
She's an amazing editor and wants to work with everyone!
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Yes, confess your mess!
We can spark joy in that patch job.
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My 2022 winner (Maya) compressed her whole timeline into a single day a la 24.
My 2023 winner (Laura) reworked her time-travel jumps for continuity.
My 2021 winner (Nishita) took apart an infodump and integrated the flashbacks in bits and added a twist. Then this happened:
x.com/NishitaAutho...
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I've interviewed my 2024 winner (Kelly) for my YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDTu...
My 2020 winner (Janet) talks about RevPit in her blog post: janetoppedisano.com/2021/03/20/m...
Kelly got rid of several POV and changed the whole ending. Janet rewrote her whole romantic subplot.
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Oh Madelyn, of course there will be editor fights! It's part of #RevPit behind the scenes fun, and also a rite of spring (in the Northern Hemisphere).
I've already compared my MSWL and am plotting which editors I'll need to edge out to get my fave!
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I almost used the word "agonize" for Camp 2 but didn't want to paint those fine editors as suffering. Maybe they love living in limbo. I don't.
I'd say it's usually a 50/50 split between the 2 camps, but will be curious to see where some of our new for 2025 editors land.
#RevPit #MeetTheEditor
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I swear, this isn't a planted question.
I've published a book on self-revision, The Six-Step Revision Process. It's on Amazon or direct through my website for the book (ebook & paperback) and I also have an online class on this topic:
www.mirandadarrow.com/books/
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For the #RevPit annual contest, when I'm volunteering my time, I am looking for a manuscript where I can make suggestions for large substantive changes. That's my favorite part of editing.
Working with clients in general, I'm happy to work more on line edits and smaller scale recommendations.