self-publishing

Holiday Sale on Editing Services for 2021

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Hi, everyone! 

I already shared this news on my mailing list and social media, but I thought I’d announce it here as well. This month, I’m running another holiday sale on book editing services! So if you want to work with an editor on your book next year, this is the perfect time to inquire about my offerings and save money on the editorial fee. (You can also review my offerings at the Editing page of the Heart of the Story website.)

Here’s how this works: Email me about your 2021 editing project by Thursday, December 31, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on the price estimate. This discount applies to all editing and critique projects, including bundle packages for multiple rounds of editing. And it doesn’t matter if your manuscript would be ready for editing in January or next December. So if you want to work with a freelance book editor next year, then this sale is for you.

Interested? Then send me a message at sara [at] heartofthestoryeditorial [dot] com with the title of your manuscript, a 2- or 3-sentence blurb about your project, the genre and target age range (YA, adult, etc.), the word and page counts, your projected timetable or deadline, the type(s) of editing desired, the holiday sale password (HOLIDAY2020), and where you found it (my blog). If you’d like a sample edit so you can see my editing style, you may attach a 6- to 10-page excerpt from the manuscript (MS Word only) to your email. This will also help me create an accurate pricing and timeline estimate for your project.

Don’t wait too long, though! The sale ends on Thursday, December 31. So if you want to take advantage of this, or if you have other questions about my editing services, email me at sara [at] heartofthestoryeditorial [dot] com so we can start the conversation.

Guest Post at Well-Storied: How to Choose the Right Freelance Editor for Your Manuscript

/ saraletourneau / 3 Comments

Image courtesy of Well-Storied

Finding the right freelance editor for your project can be daunting, especially if you don’t know what questions to ask. So when Kristen Kieffer of Well-Storied asked if I’d like to write a guest post for her blog, I knew exactly what I wanted to create: a comprehensive yet concise guide for writers who are preparing to take that big step. And this is the result!

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Getting Ready for Writer’s Digest Conference 2019! (Plus, Five Quick Tips for Preparing for Your First Writing Conference)

/ saraletourneau / 10 Comments

It’s almost time for Writer’s Digest Conference, and oh my GOODNESS am I bursting with excitement! One week from now, I’ll be in New York City for this amazing literary conference that’s put on every year by Writer’s Digest magazine. And it’s going to be so much fun!

It doesn’t matter that this will be my fourth time at WDC. The thrill of learning more about the craft and business of writing, connecting with writers, reuniting with editor colleagues and my fellow staff writers at DIY MFA, and spending a few days in the Big Apple never gets old. (Oh, and N.K. Jemisin, one of my favorite authors, is delivering the opening keynote speech! Yay!) And coming from an introvert, that says a lot.

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Field Trip: Writer’s Digest Conference 2016

/ saraletourneau / 35 Comments

WDC2016 Banner

Now that all of the late-summer busyness has passed, I finally have some time to tell you about this year’s Writer’s Digest Conference! And what an amazing four days it was. In fact, I think it topped the 2015 edition!

With this post, I’ll give a general overview of WDC 2016, including which sessions I enjoyed most and what I learned. Last year I did a trio of posts for DIY MFA; and while I would have liked to have covered the conference for the site again this year, it wasn’t possible with my friend’s wedding 2 weeks later. The good thing is, waiting to do this post has given me time to digest (no pun intended) everything I absorbed that weekend and feel grateful for continuing to invest in my writing career.
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Interview with Sarah Zama, Author of Give In To The Feeling

/ saraletourneau / 13 Comments

Give Into The Feeling Blog Tour banner

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Sarah Zama here today! We met last year during the A To Z Blogging Challenge, through commenting on Alex Hurst’s Japan photo-essay collection and then on Sarah’s own series about the Roaring Twenties. Now, Sarah, who lives in Italy, is preparing to release her first book. Give In To The Feeling is a fantasy noir / paranormal romance novelette set in Chicago during the height of the Prohibition era. I’ve already read an “advance copy,” and I really enjoyed it! In fact, you’ll see a review of it in next month’s Recent Reads. 😉

For now, I’ll let Sarah tell you more about Give In To The Feeling in her own words. We’ll also talk about fantasy literature, her favorite writers, the Roaring Twenties (of course!), and her advice to writers who aren’t published yet. So, let’s dive in!

(Also, click here if you’re interested in checking out the other dates on Sarah’s Give In To The Feeling blog tour.)

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Field Trip: The Muse And The Marketplace 2015

/ saraletourneau / 21 Comments

Muse2015_logo

What an excellent way of getting back into the literary conference swing! The Muse & The Marketplace 2015 (a.k.a. #Muse15) was this past weekend in Boston, Massachusetts – and though I was only able to attend on Friday, I absolutely loved it! In fact, as I was walking from Park Plaza Hotel (where the conference was held) to the Back Bay train station that evening, the first thought that bubbled into my mind was, “I HAVE to go all three days next year!” 🙂

So, yes, #Muse15 was a fantastic learning, networking, and confidence-building experience. Here’s my report on Friday’s events, from the general conference details, to the presentations I attended, to lessons learned and tips for attending future conferences.
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Published! (Sort Of…)

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The latest anthology by my writers' group is now available!

Good news! The Walpole Writers Group (the writing group I belong to) has just finished its latest anthology, cleverly titled “More Great Writing by People You’ve Never Heard Of.” (The title is a play on the title of the first WWG anthology, “Great Writing by People You’ve Never Heard Of.” 😉 )

This anthology features a wide variety of literary genres: fiction, fantasy/science fiction, essays, poetry, creative nonfiction, etc.  The topics range from the love of writing and the history of storytelling to legends, relationships, life, and science experiments gone wrong.  I have four pieces that appear in this book: three poems (“Solstice,” “Respite,” and “An Unexpected Life Lesson on a Busy Street”) and a longer creative piece called “Lifeblood.”

This anthology is available for purchase at Lulu.com, an easy-to-use and highly reputable self-publishing site.  It’s inexpensive, but it’s certainly not short on quality.  😀

Click here to check out (or even buy) “More Great Writing by People You’ve Never Heard Of.”