C. S. Lakin: Professional Help

While in the process of writing my first novel, I followed an agent’s blog who warned those wishing to query her not to, unless the manuscript had been professionally edited. She offered a list of recommended copy editors. From this list, I chose C. S. Lakin.

From her website, Live, Write, Thrive, Lakin offers a number off valuable services for writers. Before paying for an edit, I opted for her professional critique.

I received my 80k Word document back in two days, with copious red comment notes on every page.

Yikes! Maybe I can’t do this.

Lakin also included a personal note of encouragement saying, “you have a good draft to work with.” She recommended I study story structure and development.

So I did.

After a complete re-write, I re-sent.  From this draft she suggested I divide the book into a young adult series and develop each one as a stand-alone.

With the same determination I had as a kid, I buckled down and studied everything I could find about character arch, structure, and scene development.

During this study time, C. S. Lakin wrote her wonderful Writers Tool Box Series for serious fiction writers who truly want to nail writing a quality novel. I studied every one of these and applied her techniques the best I could, along with the challenging worksheets. I read and subscribed to her blog, Live, Write, Thrive, for more explanations, and examples.

With my newest book draft complete, I sent it to Lakin again and waited.  I was elated when it returned edited with enthusiastic accolades from Lakin that my book should do well.

Defiance on Indian Creek (My “Precious”) has been published with White Bird Publications!

Recently, Lakin sent an email to her subscribers for a chance to be featured on her blog. The challenge: fill out her chart showing the 10 key scenes from one’s novel with a bonus to those adding the additional 10 key subplot scenes.

I’m excited to say, my book is featured on her blog: Understanding Plots and Subplots When Layering Scenes in Novels.

I highly recommend C. S. Lakin’s services.