Most people think editing means someone fixes your grammar. It doesn't. That's proofreading. That's the last step. And if you're doing it first, you're decorating a house that hasn't been built yet. Developmental editing is the step most authors skip — because they didn't know it existed, or because they convinced themselves their manuscript was done. (It's probably not done.)...

Personal writing is a calling, and when I'm not doing it, something in me feels empty. More is not always better. So next time you feel a block or like something's missing, reflect on whether the creativity could come from something you've already produced. It's all inside.