How I Got Started Reading When I Hated It
It might be surprising to learn that a published author, creative writer, and professional editor used to hate reading books. The truth is I wasn’t always an avid reader. To fully understand how my love for books, and more importantly—my love for stories has grown over the years, I have to back up to a time before I appreciated books.
It might be surprising to learn that a published author, creative writer, and professional editor used to hate reading books. The truth is I wasn’t always an avid reader. To fully understand how my love for books, and more importantly—my love for stories has grown over the years, I have to back up to a time before I appreciated books.
I really learned how to read books in the third grade. I hated reading because I wasn’t good at it and thus, I wasn’t good at it because I hated it. It was a vicious cycle that repeated itself anytime my teacher assigned reading for homework. This resulted in me not doing so well in school and having to be held back in the third grade. I’m not ashamed of it now, but it made me feel like a complete failure. As I got older, I realized it was essential to my growth as a student, reader, and writer and I had no idea it would ultimately become my lifelong passion.
So, even though I’d learned how to read around first grade, I really learned to read proficiently during my second round of third grade. I had a kind, caring teacher who was really dedicated to helping me grow as a reader and worked with me to build my skill. Following the third grade, I almost instantly did better in all of my studies, passing tests with accuracy that was once gated by my reading inability.
Woman covering her face with a book. Photo by Siora Photography
I began reading books from the Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne and Barney the Bear-Killer, by Pat Sargent. I was drawn to Sargent’s story because of the cheetah on the cover of book seven in the series and reached for Osborne’s books of which I’d heard contained a magic tree-house that could take Jack and Sally anywhere they wanted to go. Between books that had to do my favorite animal, the cheetah, and endless adventures for kids, I had plenty of reading that I could connect with. These book series helped me to connect with compelling characters over a long stretch of books which kept me reading for a long time.
Games also helped better my reading abilities, which is why I am such a big advocate for giving children access to games. While video games are constantly under fire for promoting violence and toxic environments to children, I have to point out that playing World of Warcraft from the age of nine years old, has significantly benefited my reading skills. When I first started playing the MMO, my reading abilities weren’t too strong, and I had a lot of trouble reading game instructions and quest text. However, playing the games in combination with reading Sargent and Osborne, my reading proficiency increased.
Soon after I’d reached middle school, my family and I moved to Oklahoma and being the new girl, I turned to books until my friends found me. I got into graphic novels from James Paterson’s Maximum Ride Series and after falling in love with the characters from the manga books, I began reading the full-length novels.
In eighth grade, I attended Quartz Mountain Christian Camp for two weeks in the summer, and being new to the camp, I again turned to books. We had a lot of downtime in our cabins and with cell-phones off-limits, I decided to read a random book I’d packed in my suitcase on the off chance I’d get bored and have to read.
That’s exactly what happened, and the book I’d brought was Gillian Shield’s Immortal. This book was pivotal for me because it was the first time I’d read a book that I just couldn’t put down. It taught me a very important lesson in reading—there is a genre for everyone and if you don’t like reading, you just haven’t found the right genre. I didn’t know what genre it was yet, but I realized I had been reading all of the wrong books when I was younger and fantasy, romantic, thrillers, action novels and horror were where I should have been the whole time. (Okay, maybe horror isn’t something third graders should read, but still.)
My favorite genre to date, is the romantic thriller. I don’t know, maybe I really am one of those mushy, hopeless romantics after all, but there’s just something so compelling about supernatural love, forbidden romances, and tall, dark, handsome guys with way too much angst. What can I say? I think I have a type. Following Gillian Shield’s Immortal series, I dove straight into the Hush, Hush Saga, by Becca Fitzpatrick, which is my all-time favorite series to date. I’ve read it about eight times now, and I reach for the series every fall. (Except for 2019, where I got a little too excited a little too early and burned through the series in four days over the summer. Oops!)
By my freshman year of high school, I was so deep in the reading hole, I couldn’t get out. In one year, I’d read all of the Percy Jackson and Olympians series and Heroes of Olympus, both of which were written by Rick Riordan. That same year, I reread Maximum Ride, and read for the first time Gillian Shields new book, Destiny, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby, and the Warcraft: War of the Ancients Archive by Richard A Knaak. This was a new record for me, because not only had I read so many books in one year, I also burned through the last book, which was thicker than my upper arm, with proficiency.
Since I’d fallen in love with the game, it’s lore, and it’s characters, I was more prepared than ever to take on this thick tome of game lore, character backstory, and history of the world of Azeroth, in which the game was set. I’ve read it twice since then and every time, I enjoy it because I remember how enchanted and enthralled I’d felt when I’d first read it.
As a third grader, I’d never imagined I’d ever read at the level I do now, and as an adult I can’t imagine a life without books. They’ve helped shape me into the woman I am today, and through reading, I have cultivated a love for books and stories. I love equally the process of reading and the process of telling a story—two process that go hand in hand since a writer cannot expect to better their craft without reading the works of others.
I highly recommend reading and if it’s not something you’re interested in right now, keep looking, because I assure you, you just haven’t found the right genre yet!
And that’s the end of my hot take on reading when it’s something you hate. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Thumbnail photo by Daria Shevtsova
—Payton
Blank Pages Versus Bad Pages: Overcoming Writer’s Block When The Editor Brain Is At War With The Writer Brain
Writer's block often arises when writers struggle to separate their creative "writer brain" from their critical "editor brain." This internal conflict can hinder the drafting process, as the urge to edit prematurely stifles creativity. It's essential to recognize that rough drafts are inherently imperfect, serving as the foundation for refinement. Embracing the notion that "you can always edit a bad page, but you can't edit a blank page" encourages writers to prioritize getting words on the page without immediate judgment. By allowing the writer and editor roles to function separately and sequentially, one can overcome writer's block and foster a more productive writing process.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this post, we’ll be discussing how writing and editing at the same time can become a writing roadblock. Obviously, the “writer brain” and the “editor brain” aren’t official psychological terms but that’s how I personally like to think of it when I catch myself actively editing and rewriting lines I’ve just drafted. You can also think of it this way: when you’re writing, you’re wearing you writer hat; when you’re editing, you’re wearing your editor hat. You can’t wear both at the same time, though. Well, I suppose you technically can wear two hats at once, but neither will be effective and you’re going to look and feel quite silly doing so. Instead, simply don the writer hat and hang up the editor hat until its time to move on to the editing stage.
“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” —Jodi Picoult
One thing writers will tell you is that writer’s block is alive and well in most of us, but the reality is that those who claim to experience writer’s block haven’t build up to proverbial muscle memory of writing without editing and it is easier to repeatedly fall victim to bad habits than to take time out to build new ones. Everything comes down to this: writer’s block is defeated by writing. Simple as that. So, why am I telling you all of this? Because once you realize that bad pages are better than blank pages, it will get exponentially easier for you to write despite writer’s block, and eventually it won’t be an issue for you anymore.
What Is Writer’s Block?
Writer’s block, as per Merriam Webster, is the problem of not being able to think of something to write about or not being able to finish writing a story, poem, etc. However, in recent years, the noun has become synonymous with the problem of not being motivated to write, or not being in the right head-space to do your best writing. Subsequently, this has been the definition of writer’s block I’ve come to know well, as it was the version that plagued me.
Blonde woman in a grey sweater, looking at blank pages in an unlined notebook. Photo by John Schnobrich.
Rough Drafts
See, here’s the issue with writers that cling to that second definition—everyone’s rough draft is supposed to be ROUGH. There’s a reason that’s why we call them rough drafts. Even New York Times’ bestselling authors and prolific writers create rough drafts. It is foolish to think that your best writing would come from your very first, second or even third drafts. This is why writing is a process and not temporary—it takes time, and usually several iterations to get to the best, most polished version of the work.
Writing and Editing
The reason so many writers struggle with cracking out that crusty rough draft and that’s because they have a hard time separating their writer and editor brains. These two modes of thinking are exactly as they sound—the writer brain is the creative one credited with using the creative process and is the one usually struck by the muse and the editor brain is the corrective one that is often employed during the editing and polishing process. The thing is—these two thought processes can’t coexist. This is why it is important to separate the two when you sit down to write, because it is nearly impossible to be creative when you’re using your editor brain, and it is likewise nearly impossible to effectively edit with your writer brain, since the two are diametrically opposed.
Blank Pages Or Bad Pages—Which Is Worse?
Blank pages are meant for the writer brain and bad pages are meant for the editor brain, specifically in that order. You must write first, then edit later if you want to effectively move through the writing process and better your craft. If you’re only ever stuck on blank pages because the editor brain won’t get out of the way, you won’t grow as a writer and the stories inside you will suffer because of it. However, if you can learn to write despite the writers block, by separating the two modes of thinking, you will find it increasingly easier to pick up the pencil (or keyboard) each time, and your rough drafts will get better over time.
And that’s it for my hot take on Blank vs. Bad pages and how the wearing both the writer hat and editor hat simultaneously can cause writer’s block! What do you think? Have you ever had writer’s block? Do you agree with this argument? Let me know what you think in the comments below!
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 17, 2025
Questions That Readers or Critics Should Ask Themselves
As readers, we often turn to books as a form of relaxation, inspiration, and escape, but it shouldn’t always be completely mindless. When we read, we should ask ourselves some key questions so we can critically assess the story as we read it and evaluate our thoughts once we’ve finished with the story. Instead of just consuming media at face-value, we should actively try to look at what content we consume with a more critical-thinking sort of approach. This will allow us to garner a better understanding of the story’s themes, tones, subject matter, and ultimately, it’s purpose. Likewise, when we are critiquing somone’s work, we want to give them organized, useful, and actionable feedback so as to improve their writing. Some questions to think about as a reader are as follows:
Did this story engage me? Why or Why not?
Is the story composed of compelling characters, an engaging plot, and interesting themes or is it just another fantasy or romance novel? Is this story a page-turner? Have you read it more than once and if so, what keeps you coming back? What makes you put the story down?
Did this hold my attention throughout?
Where was I most engaged and why? Does the writer consistently build and release tension throughout the story? Do you find any parts of the story that are dragging along and other that are moving too quickly? Do you find yourself having to reread sections because of boredom or because the author didn’t take the proper time to describe the situation using all of the senses?
Are any things confusing to me?
Could I follow the piece, or were there gaps, or need for more information? What else did I need to know? Is the writing style or plot confusing? Are there historical elements that require prior knowledge? Does the writer talk down to you as a reader or expect you to know things that they didn’t include supplementary information for?
What about language?
How would you describe it? How does it function in terms of what you feel the writer is trying to do? Is the writing convoluted or beautifully woven together? Does the writer use wordy, awkward, or clunky language that is distracting to the story? Does the writer expertly craft sentences that make you as a reader sigh and think, man I wish I’d come up with that?
What are you getting from the piece?
This could be any number of things, but it’s really helpful for you to feedback to the writer what is coming across for you, including the overall meaning or themes present in the story, emotional impact or enjoyment or anything else that you take from the story. Writers are really hungry to know what is coming across to their readers and what it looks like on the reader’s end.
And that’s it for my list of the 5 questions you should ask yourself as a reader or critic. What do you think of this list? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below!
Thumbnail photo by John-Mark Smith.
—Payton
My Top 5 Must-Read Motivational and Entrepreneurial Books
Motivational, entrepreneurial, or self-help books have grown immensely in population over the past five years and its easy to see why. While these kind of books aren’t all in the same category, they have three things in common and that’s that they’re helpful for everyone in any industry, they help jump-start the process of building better habits, they re-engineer the idea of taking charge of your day, and they show readers how to start going after the life that you want. This is a list of my favorite motivational books from 2019.
“The 5-Second Rule” by Mel Robbins.
Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends, and mentors who have pushed you to be better than your excuses and bigger than your fears. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing how to push yourself?
Using the science habits, riveting stories and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a "push moment." Then, she'll give you one simple tool you can use to become your greatest self. It take just five seconds to use this tool, and every time you do, you'll be in great company.
More than 8 million people have watched Mel's TEDx Talk, and executives inside of the world's largest brands are using the tool to increase productivity, collaboration, and engagement.
“Will it Fly?” by Pat Flynn
Stop rushing into businesses born from half-baked ideas, misguided theories, and other forms of self-delusion. A lack of proper validation kills more businesses than anything else. As Joel Barker says, 'Speed is only useful if you re running in the right direction.' Will It Fly? will help you make sure you are clear for takeoff.
It answers questions like:
Does your business idea have merit?
Will it succeed in the market you re trying to serve, or will it just be a waste of time and resources?
Is it a good idea for YOU?
“Vlog Like A Boss” by Amy Schimmitauer (Now Amy Landino)
Vlog Like a Boss is the complete guide to video blogging. Amy Schmittauer is the Vlog Boss. As a new media triple threat -- YouTuber, keynote speaker, and bestselling author -- she coaches people to go after what they want in life and leverage online video to make it happen. Creator of the popular YouTube series Savvy Sexy Social, her channel boasts a global community and millions of views. Now, in her first book, she will show you how to Vlog Like a Boss and get the attention you deserve.
A collection of strategies and tactics from years of experience in online video, Schmittauer shares time-tested, proven methods to creating brand awareness with vlogging that will build a loyal community for years to come. This complete guide will show you how to:
overcome the 3 major fears that hold many people back from making videos
create your most engaging vlog every time with the Authority Video Formula
achieve your on-camera talent (and no, you don't need to be a natural )
leverage the "secret" to video success that creates fans for life
and much more
“Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis
Do you ever suspect that everyone else has life figured out and you don’t have a clue? If so, Rachel Hollis has something to tell you: that’s a lie.
With painful honesty and fearless humor, Rachel unpacks and examines the falsehoods that once left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy, and reveals the specific practical strategies that helped her move past them. In the process, she encourages, entertains, and even kicks a little butt, all to convince you to do whatever it takes to get real and become the joyous, confident woman you were meant to be.
With unflinching faith and rock-hard tenacity, Girl, Wash Your Face shows you how to live with passion and hustle--and how to give yourself grace without giving up.
“You Are A Badass” by Jen Sincero
In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you've never made before.
By the end of You Are a Badass®, you'll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can't change, how to change what you don't love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.
I hope you enjoyed this list of my top 5 motivational and entrepreneurial books of 2019! I know this is kind of early to be p putting this list together but as of now it is my current top five list. If it changes before the end of the year, I will update as needed.
And that’s it for my top five motivational and entrepreneurial books of 2019! Thanks for reading and let me know your thoughts below!
Thumbnail photo by Josh Felise.
—Payton
My Current Favorite Podcasts
Working long shifts every day means I have plenty of free time to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts. I’ve found a few podcasts that I really enjoy and I’ve left them below so you can enjoy them, too. I also organized them into categories so you can see the different types I’ve been into.
Working long shifts every day means I have plenty of free time to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts. I’ve found a few podcasts that I really enjoy and I’ve left them below so you can enjoy them, too. I also organized them into categories so you can see the different types I’ve been into.
Bookish Podcasts
NO THANKS WE’RE BOOKED
The No Thanks We’re Booked Podcast is hosted by Mollie and Katie, two girls who look at life through a bookish lens. On the show, they discuss all things books, author interviews, and their own reading journeys and how books have helped them grow into the women they are today. The sound of clinking cocktails and sizzling La Croix can be heard in the background of this bookish podcast where Katie and Mollie usually end up gushing over Anne of Green Gables, or referencing the Enneagram. These two bright, inspiring individuals share their favorite books, love for reading, and love for Jesus, in every episode.
BOOKS IN THE FREEZER
Stephanie, host of the Books in the Freezer Podcast lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, son, beagle and cat. She’s an avid horror fiction reader and shares her love for the genre in her podcast and on her YouTube channel. The books in the Freezer Podcast discusses the deliciously disturbing world of horror fiction and actually got its name from Episode 13, Season 3 of Friends, where Joey hid his book, The Shining, by Stephen King, in the Freezer, because it was too scary. Stephanie uses this to rate her books from room temperature reads, to fridge books, and freezer readings.
Entrepreneurial and Motivational Podcasts
THE GARY VEE AUDIO EXPERIENCE PODCAST
The Gary Vee Audio Experience Podcast is hosted by marketing legend, Gary Vaynerchuk, himself. He is an entrepreneur, CEO, investor, vlogger, public speaker and social media wizard. He’s all about authenticity and keeping it real and his podcast definitely shows it. He’s got hundreds of episodes from answering fan questions, keynote speeches, marketing and business DailyVee segments from his video series, interviews, and fireside chats. Gary is inspiring and motivating, but over all, he is unapologetically himself. He gets into the nitty-gritty of what it means to have a great idea and how to bring it to life through actionable advice.
THE GROUND UP SHOW PODCAST
Minimalist, filmmaker, YouTuber, and entrepreneur, Matt D’Avella hosts the Ground Up Show, where he interviews other successful entrepreneurs, and discusses what it means to go from 0-100, from the ground up. Matt provides listeners with the lessons he’s learned over the years from getting out of student debt, starting his business and building a life around what he loves. He and his interviewees explore humble beginnings, business start-up struggles, and inspiring transformation stories. He asks probing questions and dives deep into the real-life journeys of entrepreneurs in many different industries and walks of life. He discusses what it means to be a minimalist and to live with intention.
DETAIL THERAPY PODCAST
Award-winning YouTuber, public speaker, time-management maniac, and published author of her best-selling book, Vlog Like A Boss, Amy Landino hosts the Detail Therapy Podcast, where she discusses her tips and tricks for staying organized, minimizing chaos, fostering time-management skills, and what it means to go after the life that you want. She interviews all kinds of different entrepreneurs and successful people and nerds out over calendar-blocking and her beloved Prosecco. She co-owns Aftermarq with her husband, Vincenzo and cares for her blind beagle, Lucy. Amy always stresses the importance of work/life balance and how crucial self-care can be to a successful, healthy lifestyle.
Lifestyle & Entertainment Podcasts
JENNA + JULIEN PODCAST
Iconic comedy YouTubers and meme-supreme king and queen, Jenna Marbles and Julien Solomita are the hosts of the Jenna + Julien Podcast. They often discuss popular topics and play fun podcast games such as “Nuclear Winter,” or “Don’t Even Get Me Started.” When they’re not guessing song lyrics or discussing who would get the proverbial boot in an apocalyptic scenario, they’re petting their problematic, yet precious pups, or tending to their plethora of plants. They always keep it real on the podcast.
KALYN’S COFFEE TALK PODCAST
Kalyn’s Coffee Talk, is hosted by Kalyn Nicholson, a creative, published author of Catcher, life-style YouTuber, and online blogger. She is noted for being aesthetically pleasing and having an excellent eye for detail. An upbeat (multiple coffees not included) and uplifting podcast to start your morning, or wind down your afternoon with - covering everything from wellness, mental health and learning to live your best life free from self-judgment and doubt.
PREVIOUSLY GIFTED PODCAST WITH TIFFANY FERGUSON
Tiffany Ferguson, known as Tiffany Ferg on YouTube is widely interested in social and political issues and media and uses her platforms to share critical viewpoints of the day-to-day internet news. She also talks about her life as a “cusper” millennial/gen-z kid and what it has been like paying off student loans and credit card debt, studying abroad, and living in the big apple. She also half-analyses and half-jokes about having been ‘previously gifted’ and a member of the GATE program as a child and how that has affected her life thus far.
And that’s it for my favorite podcasts of 2019! Do you listen to any of the podcasts? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Thumbnail photo by George Milton.
—Payton
Starting Artists, Not Starving Artists
Supporting emerging artists can prevent them from facing the common struggle of financial instability. Collaborating with new creatives, like hiring them for design, writing, or marketing tasks, benefits both parties by fostering growth and exchanging valuable services. This approach saves time, provides artists with opportunities, and strengthens the creative community. Offering honest reviews and testimonials further supports their credibility. By choosing collaboration over competition, professionals contribute to a thriving artistic ecosystem.
We’ve all heard of the infamous “starving artist” and those of us who are creative often try to avoid becoming this person. As creators, we all want to see our work succeed, or at least, we want to be able to provide for and live a comfortable life that allows us to continue to work on our passions. This is why it is so important that we support starting artists -so they don’t become starving artists, and so we don’t either.
A photo of a used watercolor palette. Photo by Greta Hoffman.
As a newer blogger and entrepreneur, I am speaking from experience when I say, going it alone can be overwhelming. There’s so many different elements to consider when trying to get your artwork noticed, and to a point where it can start providing for itself and for you, especially in this digital age, where we must also market ourselves, have an online presence, and constantly remain consistent. It can get overwhelming, pretty quickly.
This is where supporting other artists comes in. It can be so much easier for you to get started with the help of another artist. If you’re designing your own website, for instance, you might want to hire an artist to design your logos or images you’re planning to feature on your site. You might want to hire a freelance blog writer to start getting content up as soon as possible. You might want to hire a web-page designer to put the site together, if that’s not your thing either.
Woman writing in journal with coffee cup in hand. Photo by Lisa Fotios.
There’s so many ways for you to support creatives who are just starting out, and this is just an example for the website. Perhaps yo’re a writer and you’ve got the blog post thing covered, but maybe you don’t have all of the marketing handled, so well. Maybe you need someone to design a book cover for your next manuscript. Maybe you need an up and coming filmmaker to put together a book trailer for your lifestyle book. It doesn’t matter the project, you can always find a way to support an artist or freelancer who is just starting out in their field. In some cases, yes you might want a professional, but if you’re just starting out. or if its not a critical service you’re in need of, hiring an amateur artist can be mutually beneficial.
One way this job opportunity can be mutually beneficial is that it allows for a service review or testimonial for both sides. It also gives both parties a new client. Maybe you’re not designing a website, but no matter the job in question, you have a new client and so does your hire.
Another way this can be beneficial to you, is that it gives you the opportunity to get some of the work done without having to master the skills needed to complete it, yourself. Not all of us can be filmmakers, and writers, and editors, and web developers. While it helps to have a wide range of skills in your arsenal, it is also freeing to delegate and have someone else on your team to take care of these tasks so you can focus on your own service or product.
By supporting artists who are just starting out, you’re freeing up time in your schedule to commit to tasks that are the most important to you, you’re fostering a meaningful relationship between a new member of your team, and you’re giving back to the community. By supporting starting artists, you’re helping them to not become starving artists.
And that’s my hot take on supporting starting artists to avoid starving artists. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Recent Blog Posts
Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 19, 2025
Get Immersed in Your Reading: Writing With The Five Senses
In the writing world, we always hear about ‘showing instead of telling’ but what if we, as readers helped bring the stories to life, ourselves. I’ve talked a little about immersion reading, on this blog before, but this takes it to a whole new level.
In the writing world, we always hear about ‘showing instead of telling’ but what if we, as readers helped bring the stories to life, ourselves. I’ve talked a little about immersion reading, on this blog before, but this takes it to a whole new level.
Sight
Of course, first and most impactful sense is that of sight, and it makes sense that we’d use that sense in our reading immersion. However, what might not be so obvious is that readers can create an environment in their minds, in the tangible world around them, and online to bring the stories their reading to life. First, I would create or save an existing pintrest board that is made specifrically for your story. This is something I’ve been doing as a writer and it helps make my fantasy worlds more real and believable when I have something to actually look at.
Sound
The next most important sense is that of sound. You might be listening to an audiobook which definitely employs this sense. But if your reading a hard copy or e-book, you can also enjoy this kind of immersion. You can listen to playlists made for the genre of the story your reading, such as “Celtic Woods” for fantasy or “Dungeon Music” for a thriller. I really enjoy listening to video game soundtracks, and two of my favorites are the Assassin’s Creed Origins Soundtrack and the Ashenvale Soundtrack from World of Warcraft. Likewise, you can also create ambient soundscapes to play in the background while you’re reading. There are tons of ready-made mixes, such as “The Slytherin Common Room” or “Rivendell” on Ambient-Mixer.com!
Smell
The third sense, and one of the easiest to employ is that of smell. When I really want to feel immersed in the story I’m reading or writing, I will light a candle or put oils in my diffuser to give my environment a new scent and pull me deeper into the story. If you want to feel like you’re in a fall environment, you can burn a pumpkin-spiced or apple-cinnamon candle
Touch
This is one of the lesser-used senses for immersion reading but it can be incredibly effective, especially if the story is set in a certain season. (And even more effective if that season is active while you’re reading the story!) Touch sort of ties in with Smell in that if you want to feel like you’re in a certain season, you can manipulate your reading environment to match the conditions of the story! So, the story’s set in a frozen wasteland? You can just turn the A/C all the way up! (…or not.)
Taste
While not altogether impossible, this is easily the most difficult of the five senses to employ when immersing yourself in a story. Consider the setting and characters in the story and what they might eat or drink and try to recreate it. If you enjoy snacking while you read, then make something from or inspired by the story. Consider making fictitious dishes. Perhaps the characters drink tea or coffee? Brew yourself a cup, cozy up and get immersed.
What do you think about immersive reading with the 5 senses? Have you ever tried this? Let me know in the comments below!
Thumbnail photo by lilartsy.
—Payton
My Favorite Poets
Below is my list of my favorite poets and recommendations of a few of their books. These poets have taught me do much about writing thought and feeling-provoking poems as well as many interesting truths about the world and those in it. Their writing is so inspiring and I'd recommend them to anyone looking to get into more modern poetry.
Below is my list of my favorite poets and recommendations of a few of their books. These poets have taught me do much about writing thought and feeling-provoking poems as well as many interesting truths about the world and those in it. Their writing is so inspiring and I'd recommend them to anyone looking to get into more modern poetry.
Christopher Poindexter
Christopher Poindexter is a bohemian poet who began writing poetry on a rebellious trip to California when he was 18. He considers himself more of an observer, trying to make sense of the human condition in all of its grit and glory. He currently has three books, Lavender, Old Soul Love, and Naked Human, all of which I would recommend. He is the poet that first got me into reading and writing poetry and his poems are beautiful and terrifying at the same time. He writes about the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between.
Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur is an Indian-born Canadian poet, writer, illustrator, and performer. She immigrated to Canada as a child and has since settled in Toronto. She writes prose and poetry about beauty, pain and survival. Her poems reveal truth in the human existence and the pain and love that can be found along the way. She is a bestselling author of two books and a beloved poet in the digital age.
Upile Chisala
Born in 1994 and raised in Zomba, Malawi, writer Upile Chisala hopes to tell stories from the margins and, through her work, to help others and herself come to terms with pasts, celebrate presents, and confidently dream beautiful futures. She writes truthful, yet beautiful poetry and prose from the lens of an immigrant, African American woman.
Leah Stone
Leah Stone is a poet and memory recorder popular on Instagram for her punchy, short poems that pull at her readers’ emotions. She has one book called Dig Yourself Up, a collection of poetry and prose; a written form of self discovery. A home for those who believe in magic, and the diversity of what it means to be human in this abstract world.which Her poems always have me thinking, “Man, I wish I would have written that!” because they’re so lovely and provocative. Stone’s poems make you feel something, good or bad.
I also really enjoy the poem, Howl, by American beat poet, Allen Ginsberg. Howl is seen as a game-changer primarily because it expressed for the first time a modern psychological angst, an urban existence fueled by drugs, jazz, sex, travel, and expansion of the mind. Love or hate it, Howl is important because it is of urban birth, the language simultaneously surreal and vulgar, jazzy and foul, yet full of real life, sensitivity and hope. Today Howl is acknowledged as a literary classic in the sense that it broke through cultural barriers, challenged establishment and encapsulated the anger and frustrations of a generation.
Page 1 from Christopher Anthony Leibow’s LinkedIn Slide Share Slideshow, Gray’s Anatomy: The Poems.
Another favorite poem of mine is actually a found poem from the more than 150 years’ old seminal scientific text, Gray’s Anatomy, by Henry Gray. I stumbled on this poem from a LinkedIn Slide Share slideshow, by Christopher Anthony Leibow, called Grays’ Anatomy: The Poems. I’ve included the screenshot of the poem below as well as the link to the slideshow.
What do you think of these poets? Do you read Poindexter, Chisala, or Kaur? Let me know in the comments below!
Thumbnail photo by Andres Molina.
—Payton
Immersion Reading: Audiobooks and Ambiance
Audiobooks aren’t really books. Or are they? While many argue that listening to an audiobook doesn’t really compare to reading a book, there’s something to be said about immersion reading -or reading text while listening to an audiobook simultaneously. By using two of the five senses, readers gain a richer reading experience and find it easier to get into the story.
Woman wearing headphones while reading. Photo by Karolina Grabowska.
If you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by, and if you’re a returning reader, it’s nice to see you again! In this post we’re discussing the practice of immersive reading with audio. Does listening to music or white noise interfere with properly encoding information? Are audiobooks really books? While many argue that listening to an audiobook doesn’t really compare to reading a book, there’s something to be said about immersion reading—or reading text while listening to an audiobook simultaneously. By using two of the five senses, readers gain a richer reading experience and find it easier to get into the story.
So, if reading covers one sense—sight, and listening tackles a second—sound, then shouldn’t this foster a better reading experience?
Not exactly. Many readers argue that audiobooks are distracting to the story, or their reading pace differs from the reading pace of the voice actor, or the narrators read in strange voices for each character. These are all issues authors face when considering having their manuscripts formatted as an audiobook. While these are real issues for readers and authors alike, they still receive an overwhelmingly positive response, and here’s why:
There’s a new trend in the reading community called immersion reading. As defined above, immersion reading is when a book (or e-book) is read in tandem with an audiobook. This has helped many readers better get into the story and has fostered, for many, a richer reading experience.
Not all voice actors read character voices. If you’ve listened to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire the first book in the Game of Thrones series, you know what it’s like listening to a narrator tell a story with character voices. Sometimes they nail the different character voices perfectly in timbre and tone. And at other times, it can be totally distracting and annoying. This is an issue for some because it doesn’t allow the reader’s imagination to create the characters’ voices, but instead spoon-feeds them a narrator-interpreted-and-performed character voice. However, this isn’t always bad; readers who want to focus on the writing and the content of the story won’t have to waste their time imagining voices if they hear them while they’re reading. Likewise, people who struggle with aphantasia may benefit from immersive reading with audio. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Aphantasia, or image-free thinking, is a cognitive characteristic that makes it difficult or even impossible for individuals visualize images in their mind. (Cleveland Clinic 2023) Since traditional reading often relies on mental imagery to enhance comprehension and engagement, those with aphantasia may struggle to create vivid mental pictures of scenes, characters, or abstract concepts. Readers who experience aphantasia may not be able to fully imagine the events of a story clearly in their mind, much less how each character looks and sounds. Want to learn more about aphantasia? Check out the Aphantasia Network resources in the Further Reading section at the end of this blog post.
By pairing text with audio narration, immersive reading provides additional sensory input, helping readers process and retain information through auditory cues. The tone, pacing, and emphasis in spoken narration can bring stories to life, compensating for the lack of mental visualization. Additionally, sound effects and background music in audiobooks can enhance emotional depth and atmosphere, making narratives more engaging. This multimodal approach can improve comprehension, memory retention, and overall reading enjoyment for individuals with aphantasia. That being said, a quick check in the reviews section of your audiobook will tell you if the narrator used character voices and if their performance overall was positively or negatively received.
The pacing can be changed to fit your natural reading speed. Readers often read at their own pace and many argue that audiobooks don’t read as fast/slow as they’d like. If you’re using an audiobooks app, there is typically a slider that allows you to change the narration speed without butchering the narrator’s voice.
Another way for readers to experience immersion reading is by playing music in the background of your reading space. No, I don’t mean Lady Gaga should be blasting while you’re reading your next high fantasy novel. Instead, you should put on music from the Slytherin Common Room at Hogwarts, or something fantasy-based. This helps drop the reader into the setting of the story and makes for a richer reading experience. A great place to find music like this is Ambient-mixer.com or on the Ambient Mixer app. This app allows the listener to create different sound loops and has a variety of looped tracks for any genre/setting.
The description of the Slytherin Common Room details what it’s like to listen to this audio:
“You are a 5th year at Hogwarts and you're sitting in the Slytherin Common Room trying to stay awake and study. But, you have never been a very studious person so your eyelids are getting heavy and you find yourself falling asleep in a brown recliner while two other Slytherins are able to stay awake with the aid of coffee. There aren't any windows for you to see outside, but since the common room is submerged under the lake you can faintly hear the sound of water just on the other side of the walls.” (QuoteRaven)
A screenshot of the Ambient Mixer Slytherin Common Room volume control panel. Photo by Payton Hayes.
A quote from the Ambient Mixer site describes what the site offers to listeners:
“Ambient-mixer.com is a community driven project offering you some unique quality soundscapes with different atmospheres for chilling, relaxing or your recordings using our endless audio loops. You can further effectively mix and create your own sounds absolutely free, with no software installations required. You can begin listening to our sounds by clicking on the images above, which are based on different themes. All atmospheres are royalty free audio files and you can use them even in your commercial projects, thanks to the Creative Commons Sampling Plus license.” (Ambient Mixer)
While not everyone supports the use of audiobooks over reading tangible books or even e-books, immersion reading is gaining traction and becoming more popular throughout the reading community.
Bibliography
Ambient Mixer. “What is this website all about?” (Homepage footer, paragraph 1).
Pavel Danilyuk (@pavel-danilyuk/). “A young woman with white headphones looking at a planner.” Pexels photo, March 12, 2021. (Thumbnail photo).
“QuoteRaven. “Slytherin Common Room.” Ambient Mixer Audio and Description, accessed May 3, 2019.
Cleveland Clinic. “Aphantasia.” Cleveland Clinic Definition, last reviewed on August 21, 2023.
Further Reading
“What is Immersive Reading and How Can It Help Me to Read Faster?” by Darren Van Soye, Nov 8, 2023.
“Listen Up! Why Audiobooks Count as Reading.” by Pernille Ripp, June 17, 2024.
“Is Audiobook Listening Considered “Reading”?” by Dianne Coan, accessed March 14, 2025.
“4 Powerful Pros and 4 Cons of Immersion Reading.” by Mark El-Ayat, May 16, 2024.
“What Is Aphantasia?” by The Aphantasia Network, accessed March 14, 2025.
“5 Ways to Enjoy Reading with Aphantasia.” by Bartholowmew Lander, May 15, 2021.
“Writing Fantasy Without a Mind’s Eye.” by Frank Shultz, June 11, 2024.
“How to Write with Aphantasia.” by Dustin Grinnell, June 30, 2021.
“Being a Writer When You Literally Cannot Visualize Scenes.” by Alexandra Oliva, April 8, 2021.
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 14, 2025
Oversaturation In A World of Overconsumption (There's No Such Thing)
In today's digital age, the notion of market oversaturation is challenged by the rapid consumption of media content. Consumers eagerly await new material from their favorite creators, often consuming content faster than it can be produced. This high demand indicates that opportunities abound for new creators to enter the scene. As Gary Vee noted in Matt D’Avella’s podcast, the fragmentation of attention across various platforms prevents overexposure. Therefore, aspiring content creators should recognize that the ever-growing appetite for fresh content diminishes the concept of oversaturation, making it an opportune time to share their unique voices.
Laptop displaying site analytics. Photo by
Carlos Muza.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this blog post we’re discussing oversaturation in the digital era, especially as it relates to content creation and social media. If you’re a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or content creator, you may have heard someone utter this quote before, or maybe you’ve even said it yourself: “The market is over-saturated.”
This statement has been discussed widely in many entrepreneur circles and how its a major roadblock in many people’s road to success. However, its just not true. Yes, the idea of over-saturation is a roadblock, but over-saturation doesn’t really exist, especially not in the digital era where over-consumption of media is a prominent part of society.
One great example of this is easily found in your own YouTube subscriptions. Most, if not, all of us have been in the scenario where we’re left waiting for our favorite YouTube creator to come out with a new video. If they stick to a regular posting schedule, then we know when to expect to see their videos out, but it doesn’t mean that in the meantime, we’re not eager for those notifications. This is also true for other social media platforms, primarily Twitter and Instagram.
Here’s the tea. There’s no such thing as over-saturation in a world where viewers and subscribers are consuming content faster than it is being created. Creators often describe the process for videos, podcasts and even blog posts such as this and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into crafting content that will only be viewed for a few short moments. It’s hard to think about pouring all of that time and energy into a project that might not even capture someone’s attention for more than a few seconds.
This isn’t entirely a bad thing, though. While it can be a challenge to create compelling content that will engage an audience in a world filled with hand-held distractions, it can also be an advantage. In this digital age, people are consuming content faster than ever. It only takes a few minutes to watch a YouTube video and even less time to read a new Twitter post, which means that consumers are devouring content so rapidly, that the demand for new content is at an all time high. If you’re going to start your YouTube channel or your motivational podcast, there’s no better time than now, to do it. Social media markets may seem over-saturated due to the vast amount of creators posting on platforms, but this industry is still in its infancy. Over-Saturation doesn’t exist.
Gary Vee even supported this argument on Matt D’Avella’s podcast, saying, “…fragmentation of attention across all of these mediums has created a scenario where you can't have overexposure." Gary Vee on content over-exposure in Matt D’Avella’s Ground Up Show, episode 101. Click here to hear the full episode.
Let me know what you thought about this hot take on oversaturation! Do you think it exists? Why? Have you ever experienced the dread that comes with oversaturation? Let me know in the comments below!
Bibliography
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 18, 2025
Disability and Spectrum Representation in Books
One incredibly world-changing element of reading is the ability for readers to connect with and imagine themselves in the shoes of the main character. Readers absolutely must make these crucial connections to the main characters to find a deeper immersion and foster a more enriched reading experience.Unfortunately, not everyone can make these connections so easily. Accurate and respectful representation of both physical and mental disabilities in books is not nearly as prominent as it should be.
Girl standing next to a person in a wheelchair. Photo by Josh Appel.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this blog post we’re taking a peek into the world of representation in the publishing industry. One incredibly world-changing element of reading is the ability for readers to connect with and imagine themselves in the shoes of the main character. Readers absolutely must make these crucial connections to the main characters to find a deeper immersion and foster a more enriched reading experience.
Unfortunately, not everyone can make these connections so easily. Accurate and respectful representation of both physical and mental disabilities in books is not nearly as prominent as it should be. In fact, that’s an understatement. The majority of books out there, are usually set in the viewpoint of a non-disabled individual, so, readers with disabilities may not find these characters easy to build a bond with. This should be concerning for everyone, because not only do accurate and respectful portrayals of disabled people help educate and inform the readers, it also helps to teach them about compassion.
We begin teaching kindness and sharing at a very, very young age and nurture those values all the way into adulthood, so, why shouldn’t we also be teaching compassion and understanding, especially for those with disabilities. Inclusive stories provide an incredible sense of joy and providing children with these works is critical in fostering an empathetic, compassionate and understanding new generation.
While inclusiveness is incredibly important, it is likewise important to look beyond the disability and see the person. This way of thinking is often referred to person-first, where people don’t simply identify disabled individuals with their disability. Disabled people are people too, and should be treated with respect and dignity, no matter the situation.
This isn’t all to say that accurate and respectful representation of disabilities don’t exist, but in the vast amount of books that we have, there should be way more representation and way more inclusion. As I mentioned before, inclusion provides a great sense of joy and is vital to the way readers experience a story. It’s imperative that these representations find their way into more books.
Likewise, most of these representations are found in non-fiction or informative books, but those books aren’t for everyone, and don’t provide readers with a main character to connect with. We need to see more fictional stories where disabilities are accurately and respectfully portrayed. A few that come to mind are listed below. Please comment any that you feel should be added to the list.
Books that have successfully and accurately portrayed disabled individuals in a way where readers can connect with the characters:
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
An Oath of Dogs by Wendy N. Wagner
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Lupine Road by Cal Matthews
Further Reading
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 17, 2025
Editing Misconceptions: Editors Aren’t Monsters
Editors are often perceived as overly critical individuals fixated on finding every possible error in a manuscript. However, this portrayal is misleading. Editors play a crucial role in refining a writer's work, offering constructive feedback to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall quality. Their goal is not to criticize but to collaborate with writers, helping them realize their vision and produce the best possible version of their work. Understanding this collaborative dynamic can alleviate apprehensions writers may have about the editing process and foster a more productive author-editor relationship.
Black eyeglasses beside a notebook and candle. Photo by Marissa Grootes.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this shorter blog post I’m explaining some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the world of manuscript editing. Many people tend to think of editors as the snobby grammar police with their red pens, monsters bent over their keyboards ravenously devouring manuscripts in search of every possible formatting or grammatical error.
Okay, maybe that’s not quite the image that comes to mind or everyone, but editors are often painted in a less-than-flattering light, because many aspiring authors just don’t know how to take constructive criticism. However, these depictions are just simply not true. I was a writer before I ever became an editor, so I am distinctly aware of how hard it can be to share your work. It’s your passion project, your lifelong dream—your book baby. It’s precious to you, and the idea that you’d entrust it to someone else’s eyes is nearly unthinkable. It’s also brave and an essential step in the writing process and your growth as a writer.
Editors are not in the biz to tear your manuscript and your dreams to shreds. Yes, there might be some uncomfortable things that need to be addressed in the process of editing your manuscript, but editors aren’t here to just shoot you down, they’re here to help you.
Think of it this way, for an effective editorial process, writers must view their editors as their partners. Editors are like those friends that tell you about the lipstick on your teeth rather than letting you walk around with a red smudge on your pearly whites all day. Those friends are looking out for your best interests and your editor is doing the same for you and your writing.
You may not always want to hear the comments editors make, but ultimately, we’re here to help you. We want to see you succeed. We want you to be able to connect with your readers. We want to watch a beautiful creation emerge and to see your passion project come to fruition.
Editors are often perceived as overly critical individuals fixated on finding every possible error in a manuscript. However, this portrayal is misleading. Editors play a crucial role in refining a writer's work, offering constructive feedback to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall quality. Their goal is not to criticize but to collaborate with writers, helping them realize their vision and produce the best possible version of their work. Understanding this collaborative dynamic can alleviate apprehensions writers may have about the editing process and foster a more productive author-editor relationship.
What did you think about this hot take on editors? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments below!
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 17, 2025
Alternative Book Buying: Build Your Home Library With These Affordable Options
Libraries are always great. Well, except for when they don't have that one book you've been looking all over for! Someone has had it checked out for weeks, or maybe your library just doesn't have the book anyways. Sometimes you have to pick up the book, yourself, but books can rack up quite a bill if you're a prolific reader. If you're looking to get great reading material at low cost or maybe you're building your personal library, here's a few places to go book shopping for less.
Woman standing on a ladder in a vintage bookstore. Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back to the blog! And if you’re new here, thanks for stopping by! In this post, we’re taking a look at a few different ways to acquire books secondhand so you don’t have to pay full price to fill your bookshelves. Libraries are always great. Well, except for when they don't have that one book you've been looking all over for! Someone has had it checked out for weeks, or maybe your library just doesn't have the book anyways. Sometimes you have to pick up the book, yourself, but books can rack up quite a bill if you're a prolific reader.
If you're looking to get great reading material at low cost or maybe you're building your personal library, here's a few places to go book shopping for less:
Dollar Tree. This one might not seem like much, but depending on the Dollar Tree near you, it could have a wide selection of books. I've found books from best selling authors, and decorative books as well. And for a dollar, these books for certainly worth checking out!
Half-Priced Books. There's tons of these kind of stores around. The best part is at most of them, you can trade your old books in for a value towards new books!
Amazon & eBay. Sites like these carry a huge selection of books. They come in both new and used conditions. On Amazon, you can even find books for less than a dollar!
E-books. These aren't tangible copies of books, no, but they're still readable, nonetheless. Usually e-books are considerably cheaper than their physical counterparts.
Thrift Stores. This isn't always reliable if you're looking for something specific, but you can bet they'll be cheap. You can find filler books for decoration in your growing library, or find used books you've never heard of before. I once found the entire Warrior Cat series, most of the Harry Potter series, and several Alyson Noel books in one trip to my local thrift store!
The Library. Sometimes libraries do book giveaways when they’ve have books that sit on the shelf for too long without being check out on occasion. Check with your local library to find out if they do free book giveaways and when their next one is expected! Some of these ideas may seem obvious but are often highly underrated. Not only are these great ways to purchase books for a fraction of the cost, but stores such as half-priced books, libraries and thrift stores are a more sustainable way to collect books. If you know of any other alternative means for collecting books, comment below!
Let me know what your thoughts are on this list! I’d love to know any new tips or tricks that I didn’t mention! Comment below and let’s chat!
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 18, 2025
Freelancing Basics
Embarking on a freelance editing career requires strategic preparation and continuous development. Aspiring editors should seek internships during or after their studies to gain practical experience with industry-standard tools and techniques. Pursuing specialized courses in various editing facets, grammar, and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is essential, as is obtaining relevant certifications to validate one's expertise. Joining editorial associations can facilitate networking and provide valuable resources. A commitment to extensive reading—including industry literature, style guides, and genre-specific novels—enhances critical thinking and editorial skills. To secure clients, collaborating with fellow editors, connecting with literary agents, and offering services both online and within local communities are effective strategies. Specializing in specific editing types allows for skill refinement and niche expertise. Efficient time management, such as batching similar tasks, is crucial for productivity. Maintaining a steady workflow involves continually seeking new projects to mitigate potential lulls. Additionally, setting realistic working hours and establishing boundaries ensures a sustainable work-life balance.
Hello readers and writerly friends!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! In this blog post we’re discussing what it takes to get started as a freelance editor in the publishing industry. Freelance editing can be just as rewarding and fulfilling as editing for a traditional publisher, but likewise, it can be just as difficult getting started. I’ve put together a few lists to help you get started with your freelance editing business. If you’re not into freelance editing, that’s okay! Many of these tips can be applied to freelancers in other industries!
Getting Started As A Freelance Editor
Apply to internships while still in school and even after, to build your real-world experience in the industry, as well as your experience working with industry-standard programs and editing techniques.
Take masterclasses specializing in the different degrees of manuscript editing, grammar, and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS.)
Aim for editing certifications to show your education and qualifications.
Join editorial associations to build connections with other editors in these networks and build your repertoire of resources in the editing industry.
Read all the books you can—on industry, writing, style and everything in between. Seriously. (And novels in your specific genre too, of course!) I have an ever-growing list of my favorite craft books. These are so helpful, not only for becoming more familiar with the editorial industry, but they will help you read and think more critically as an editor as well. Click here to view the list.
Notebook next to black eyeglasses and a cup of pens. Photo by Suzy Hazelwood
Finding Work As A Freelance Editor
Collaborate with other editors online and in-person to gain new perspectives, techniques and successful practices of others.
Connect with literary agents and other editors for their “reject” clients to build experience and make connections with artists who are just getting started. (reject clients may include clients the other editors and agents simply didn’t vibe with our didn’t have time to take on the projects of and does not necessarily;y refer to clients that are incompetent or lacking.)
Offer services both online and in your community to increase your experience.
Apply to any business or person with an online presence. Writing online copy is just as important as manuscript editing, especially in the digital age.
Specialize. Don’t try to do everything when you’re just starting out. Try a couple of different types of editing to see what you like and stick with that for a while. You’ll hone your skills and be more experienced in that niche.
Brown suede couch draped in leopard print throw blankets. Photo by Erik Mclean
Working From Home As A Freelancer
Time batch similar tasks. Freelance Editor, Mollie Turbeville, from Molliereads on YouTube, and bestselling author, award-winning speaker and entrepreneur, Amy Landino are both uber-successful boss ladies, living their best lives and managing their time with time-batching. The key to this is to schedule similar events and tasks on the same days, to eliminate wasted time. One way they use this practice is on days when they film for their channels, they will film several videos in one day while their “film-ready” or they’ll schedule several meetups in one day at the same coffee shop to cut down on time spent getting ready and travelling.
Keep looking for work. While your schedule may dance between being busy and slow work days, it’s important to keep multiple projects lined up. In this industry, its best to prepare for situations out of our control, such as when a writer backs out of a project.
Plan realistic hours for your work. It’s important to keep busy, but it is likewise important to create a meaningful and sustainable schedule for yourself. As an editor, burnout comes more often and destructive than for other occupations. Similarly, it is important to remember that when it is time to work, you must be responsible for yourself and your time. Editors cannot wait for motivation or creativity to strike because most projects are time-sensitive. Set realistic hours and stick to your schedule.
Create a workspace conducive to successful business practice. Environment is everything for freelance editors. For the same reason it is important that students don’t sleep where the study or study where they sleep, freelancers need a workspace that can be differentiated from their home environment. In the student example, it’s easy to see where the mental lines become blurred if one studies in their bed. This has been proven to decrease study effectiveness and degrade students ability to stay on task and alert in an area they associate with sleep. Similar to this example, freelances must be able to separate work life and home life to avoid burnout and to avoid blurring the lines between work and play. This may mean implementing a physical distinction, such as a divider or even setting up a home office separate from sources of entertainment. This distinction should make it so that when you’re in your workspace, you aren’t distracted or tempted to procrastinate and when you’re in your home, you don’t feel the pressure of work when it’s time to wind down.
Bibliography
Related Topics
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How To Organize Your Digital Life: 5 Tips For Staying Organized As A Writer Or Freelancer
Recent Blog Posts
Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 17, 2025
Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour : Oklahoma City Concert Recap
On December 9, 2017, Lady Gaga performed at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena as part of her Joanne World Tour. Despite a delayed start, the concert opened with an electrifying rendition of "Diamond Heart," setting the tone for an evening filled with dynamic performances, powerful vocals, and elaborate costumes. The setlist included fan favorites like "Poker Face," "Just Dance," and "Bad Romance," engaging the audience in sing-alongs and dance routines. Midway through the show, Gaga addressed the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing unity and acceptance before performing "Come to Mama." She also delivered an emotional piano version of "The Edge of Glory," dedicating it to those affected by the California wildfires. In a heartfelt moment, Gaga donned a fan-made jean jacket tossed onstage and read a letter from the fan before performing "The Cure." The concert concluded with an emotional performance of "Million Reasons," leaving the audience deeply moved.
Gaga performing “Dancing In Circles” at the start of the show. Photo by Guin Holland.
Hello readers and writerly friends—and fellow Monsters!
If you’re a returning reader, welcome back and if you’re new to the blog, thanks for stopping by! This was an article I wrote for The 6420 Magazine back in 2017, following Gaga’s Joanne World Tour. I went to the concert with my sister and we had an absolute ball. Of course this article is completely biased because I am a HUGE fan of Gaga, but I tried to be as level-headed as possible when looking back over my concert footage. This article did not make it into the magazine due to time-sensitivity and the nature of the article being more of a review than newsworthy. Regardless, this is my blog so I’m posting it here for my fellow Monsters to enjoy! If you attended Oklahoma City tour date, leave me a comment below!
Third to last, in the long lineup of world-wide shows for the Joanne World Tour, Oklahoma City welcomed Lady Gaga with open arms. Although the show started over an entire hour later than originally scheduled, Gaga did not disappoint. She opened the show with “Diamond Heart,” a stunning performance filled with rocking theatrics, killer vocals and fabulous costumes that could only scratch the surface of the night to come.
The Joanne World Tour Concert featured throwbacks from “Pokerface,” to “Just Dance,” to “Bad Romance,” and many more. Fans danced, cried, screamed and sang their hearts out with Gaga, on December 9th at the concert which, like many others in the lineup, was sold out.
Towards the middle of the concert, Gaga took a slight political turn by asking the audience who was and wasn’t part of the LGBTQ+ community. She told concertgoers that they may have been dragged to her concert by someone and that they might lean over and whisper, “hey, Dad, I’m gay, this is Lady Gaga,” or “hey, Mom, I’m gay, this is Lady Gaga.” This earned her a collective chuckle from the audience.
Lady Gaga performing "Come to Mama" at Joanne World Tour in Tacoma. Photo by Ronald Woan.
She said that it was okay because “we’re all family here.” She began reciting the lyrics to “Come to Mama,” the 9th track on Joanne and fans chimed in, supporting her and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Before she jumped into the song, however, she paused and added, “to all of those here, who don’t believe in equality, I’ve got something to say. Come to Mama.”
After the upbeat tune, Gaga took a moment to say a few kind words about the families suffering the rampaging fires devastating southern California. Following her speech, she sang and played the piano, treating fans to a special performance of “Edge of Glory.” Fans cried and sang along as the star poured her heart out in song. “Put on your shades, ‘cause I’ll be dancing in the flames,” she sang, then paused. “Man, does that have a different meaning, tonight?” she said, referring to the California wildfires.
Lady Gage donned Jayce Green’s hand-painted jean jacket while onstage. Photo by Katie Pennington.
Later on, fans tossed gifts onto the stage and the star shrugged on a fan-made, custom jean jacket with her face painted on the back and read a heartfelt fan letter before treating fans to a spectacular performance of “The Cure.” She danced it out, belting even the highest notes of the song, whilst continuously moving to the music. “Million Reasons” was one of the most emotional and heartfelt songs of the entire show, not only because fans knew as soon as the song came to a close, so did their time with the singer, but also because of the meaning behind the song, itself, and Gaga’s phenomenal piano playing and extraordinary vocals. Even at the end of a show, she was able to hit each and every single note in the song, seemingly effortlessly.
Lady Gaga singing “Million Reasons” at the end of the Joanne World Tour concert in OKC. Photo by Jasmine Turner.
Lady Gaga is nothing short of an entertainer and she did just that -she entertained among many other things including speaking out on issues such as the status of the LGBTQ+ community and the amount of hatred in the world. She also spoke about loving each other and spread an overall positive message to fans and non-fans, alike. She flawlessly interwove old and new songs, costume changes, pyrotechnics, electronic, rock and western music and put on an incredible show that concert-goers will remember for the rest of their lives.
THANK YOU to everyone who allowed me to use your photos for this article. I know this concert was a pretty spiritual experience for everyone who could attend and it means everything that you not only capture some of the most iconic moments of the show, but that you’d let me use them to show others what a wonderful time we all had. I hope to see some of you at her next tour! #chromatica
And that’s it for my recap of Lady Gaga’s Joanne World Tour Concert in OKC. Didn’t get enough of Gaga? Well, good news for you, I have another article where I reviewed Gaga’s Five Foot Two Netflix documentary for The 15th Street News, which you can find in the Further Reading section below. If you enjoyed this blog post, please like and consider leaving a comment!
Bibliography
Pennington, Katie. “Lady Gage donned Jayce Green’s hand-painted jean jacket while onstage.” Photo by Katie Pennington.
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Written by Payton Hayes | Last Updated: March 17, 2025.