This month's post deviates slightly from my typical musings on life and writing to focus on some updates from my freelance business, Labyrinth Editing.

To put the big news up front, developmental editing is now my full-time job.

You may have seen this announcement in my April newsletter, but you probably won't have noticed the shift if you've only been following me on Instagram. Let's just say that that last time I posted on my Labyrinth Editing page, Instagram had a different post size and format 🫣

Nearly two years after starting Labyrinth Editing as a side gig, I’m learning that I far prefer doing the work of editing to the work of talking and posting about it. But if we're being realistic, businesses don’t work if no one knows they exist, or what they offer🤷‍♀️

It helped to think about marketing as building connections rather than trying to sell a product. Really, what I’m trying to do with my business is not that different from what I’m trying to do with this newsletter, even if the audience may be slightly different:

I want to support and encourage writers doing the hard work of bringing a book or short story to fruition, whether that’s through commiseration and falling back on our why’s when the going gets tough (this newsletter), or through concrete craft advice and actionable feedback (editing).

So, imagine we're chatting in your kitchen or favorite cafe over a beverage (for me, it’s currently the iced strawberry sage latte from Cause Coffee pictured below), and I'll tell you a bit about Labyrinth Editing, what I've been up to since I last posted on Instagram in April of 2024.

There’s also some hints at what’s coming in 2025 and an editing discount for subscribers to this newsletter if you read all the way to the end!

Labyrinth Editing's origin story

I’ve been training as a developmental editor for almost exactly two years now. I’ve always enjoyed reading for my writing groups and critique partners, and at the encouragement of one of them, I looked into some courses from the Editorial Arts Academy two summers ago.

Those classes confirmed to me that my editorial instincts fit pretty solidly in the camp of what developmental editors provide to their clients, and I wasn’t half bad at it, either. I spent time learning from professional editors who have been in the field for years working to hone those instincts (more on that below), and also took a few business classes, because admin to keep a freelance gig running is a necessary piece of the puzzle🧩

After getting those courses and some initial edits under my belt (see what those clients had to say at the bottom of my Services page!) I decided to make the leap to freelancing. In keeping with my recent musings on viewing everything as an experiment, I launched Labyrinth Editing in October 2023.

The rationale behind the business’s name comes from the idea that a labyrinth is a winding road that takes one closer to the heart of things, but isn’t necessarily the shortest path between two points. That has always been my experience of the writing process: that sometimes you feel close to your vision of accomplishing your work, and other times you feel so lost in the mess of things that you’re unsure how to get untangled. Moving forward sometimes looks like meandering without an end in sight.

I wanted to be a companion for other writers on a journey I’ve taken many times myself. And since 2023, I've been able to work with authors in a variety of genres on developmental edits, manuscript evaluations, and short story critiques. This includes both those who hope to self-publish as well as those pursuing traditional publication. At the end of March 2025, I had the opportunity to step away from the data analyst day job I’d held for 11 years. I decided to take another leap and go all-in on helping writers level up their story craft and getting one step closer to publication.

The reasons for making that leap are perhaps a story for another newsletter, but suffice it to say I believe that when the world looks as bleak as it does right now, making art and telling stories that give voice to those who feel like they have none, that claw their way towards hope, and that have at least a chance of making others feel seen and understood is more important now than ever.

What I've been up to

So what have I been doing since I went radio silent on Instagram just over a year ago?

A lot, actually. It’s tempting to feel that if the work you’re doing isn’t visible to others (including those you hope to connect with), it doesn’t count. I’d like to push back against that a bit, especially in an age when I think a lot of us wish we could leave social media behind, or at least be on it less. Invisible work is still work.

Still, I’d like to share a bit about what I’ve been learning, how I’ve been growing as an editor, and why I’m even more committed to helping writers bring their stories to life. Here’s what I’ve been up to!

1. Learning from long-time editors.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with several incredible developmental editors who teach courses through the Editorial Arts Academy and Editorial Freelancers Association. These women have been in the field for many years, and it was invaluable to get their insights and feedback on my work.

In addition to focusing on writing craft and the editor-author relationship, it was extremely valuable to see how different editors approach similar services, and how there is more than one “right” way to build on an author’s strengths and guide them through the revision process.

2. Working with authors in multiple genres and publishing paths.

Just because I was taking classes didn’t mean I took a break from working with authors. I was able to edit for authors working in a variety of genres (mostly under the speculative fiction umbrella), and pursuing both self-publishing and hybrid publishing.

It always impresses me to see the vast variety of works in progress authors are putting their heart and soul into behind the scenes, and how much work there is out there that puts fresh spins and unique voices into established genres. I’m so grateful to be part of the process of getting that work completed and in front of readers in whatever way best fits with these authors’ versions of success.

3. Leveling up my writing craft.

It's true that writing and editing are different skills, but you can't be a good editor without understanding the fundamentals of writing craft. I've been writing seriously for over a decade, but this is a set of skills you can always continue to improve. The editing courses I've taken have helped me identify which skills I already excel at and can help writers develop, as well as which areas I struggle with in my own work (hello, dialogue) and might need to spend some time studying.

The good news is that this levels up my own writing game as well as better enables me to help writers identify the fixes that would most improve their current drafts. A Writer’s Guide to Active Setting is focused on bringing your setting to life and having characters interact with their world; it’s as much a tool for writers as it is for editors.

4. Making it easier to get in touch with me.

I realized that the contact form on my website was far too detailed, and thought it might be deterring people who didn’t feel like answering so many questions before requesting a sample edit or getting in touch for other reasons. I simplified the form to just a few questions, leaving it general enough for inquiries beyond asking for a sample edit.

I also adding the option to chat with me via video about a project before deciding to work with me. I’m always happy to perform a free sample edit for any writer who wants to see what my feedback is like before booking, but I realize that it can be just as helpful to sit down and chat about your work: what’s most important about the story to you, where you’re currently stuck, what you’d like to get out of working with an editor, etc.

Not only does this allow me to get a sense of what the author is looking for in an edit, but it gives the author clarity about what the editing process looks like and what my feedback will include without a lengthy back-and-forth via e-mail.

5. Learning to be a more collaborative editor.

There’s something to Bill Hader’s advice that “when people give you notes on something, when they tell you it’s wrong, they’re usually right. When they tell you how to fix it, they’re wrong.”

That’s not to say that I think you should try to publish something without having it edited (or at least getting another set of eyes on it in some way)! However, it’s never my intent to tell the writers I work with what their stories should be, either. They come in with a creative vision of their own, but have perhaps run into some roadblocks in executing it.

In the past, this kept me from giving much prescriptive advice on how to fix the issues I’d identified in a story. I figured that once the areas that needed work had been identified, the writers could figure out how they wanted to make changes on their own.

That may still be some writers’ preferred approach to revisions. However, my editing classes showed me that it can also be supportive to model how potential changes might look in a manuscript, as long as the author knows that these examples serve as a jumping-off point to brainstorm their own solution - one that feels true to their vision and voice.

This is a skill I’ll continue to develop so that I can work with writers according to their individual preferences for how hands-on they’d like the revision process to be.

6. Finding new ways to connect with authors.

As I mentioned at the top of this newsletter, the social media grind is not my preferred method of finding writers to work with. I’d much prefer a face-to-face chat. But because it’s unlikely that potential clients will appear out of the ether in my office, I need to brainstorm ways to reach out and let them know that I’m here.

The good news is that there are ways to do this outside of social media. I’m seeing more and more people talk about keeping a business afloat without it, and podcasts like Writing Off Social and Off the Grid have become pretty popular in my circles. (How people start a business without an existing social media audience is a topic I don’t see addressed as often as leaving socials and taking your audience with you, but I digress!)

That said, one of the editors I worked with this spring said that she gets most of her clients via in-person or online workshops that she hosts in places like public libraries, sometimes with another editor. This is a route I’d love to pursue as I have the opportunity. It’s one that feels authentic to me personally, and one in which I’m better able to address an author’s point of need in the moment.

What to look for in coming months

I have some exciting things planned for the remainder of 2025, and as subscribers to this newsletter, you’re getting a peek at them before anyone else! Here are two things I’ve been working on, one of which you can take advantage of now:

A booking discount

If you’re reading this, you are eligible for a 10% discount of any 2025 service booked through Labyrinth Editing during the months of June or July.

This means that any service you book during those months will be 10% off, whether the edit is performed ASAP, or later in 2025. So if you have a manuscript you’ve been working on that you know will be completed this fall or next spring, you can get an edit on the calendar and take advantage of this discount now! This also applies to short story critiques, which I can generally fit in within a couple of weeks on a first-come, first-served basis.

I’ve updated and posted my rates on my Services page, which is where you can find a breakdown of what each deliverable (developmental edit, manuscript evaluation, and short story critique) includes. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line!

New services

When you're looking for big-picture feedback on a completed draft of your book, there's no replacement for a good ol' developmental edit. It covers all the basics like plot, structure, pacing, characterization (things like characters' goals, motivations, and arcs) and theme.

Sometimes, though, you need eyes on your work before you get to that stage. A manuscript you thought you had all plotted out can becomes such a tangled plate of spaghetti that you're not even sure what it needs. (We've all been there.)

In the coming months I’ll be sharing some new offerings that can help guide writers through stuck points in their manuscripts, or provide guidance on which type of editing might be the most helpful at the moment. Keep an eye on Instagram (I know, I know - one step at a time 😅) for updates in that regard!

Thanks for being here!

That’s all for now - thanks for sticking around until the end! I may not get the pleasure of editing for each of you, but I’m glad to have you along for the journey as I learn, grow, and figure out what this business is going to look like. Every little bit of input and encouragement along the way is a boost, and I’m grateful for it (and you.)

Until next time, take care!

If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...

If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!

- Shel Silverstein

In my last newsletter I mentioned that I'd be sharing more about a project I've been hinting about over on Instagram for a while now, and the time has finally come.

More accurately, I've been hinting at three projects I aimed to share this year, and you're reading the first one - this newsletter. Between the ever-changing algorithms on social media and the fact that sometimes platforms meant for photos or short posts don't lend themselves to nuance, I've been seeking a space where I can share about my writing with a little more ownership and space to ramble.

The process of writing a book is long, and the need for community and momentum on that journey is essential. A newsletter is something tangible that accomplishes both - it's much easier to close the loop on writing a twice-monthly publication than it is to write a book. It's also nice to feel the presence of those who care about your work enough to subscribe to a series of updates that more often than not focus on the struggles of the writing journey rather than sharing news about wins, completion, and getting the finished stories into your hands.

But enough about the newsletter - you're reading it, so you’ve followed along already (and for that I thank you!) You're here for the announcement about the other two projects.

The first is my author website, gretavalentine.com. It's another step towards establishing the kind of platform all the real professional writers have, and it's ready for you to view. It's a place for all my storytelling offerings to live - my books, podcast appearances, and short stories, as well as ways for you to see what I’m up to and get in touch.

I could have shared this site a few months back, but I didn't, because peppered throughout it were mentions of the enigmatic third project, and that wasn't ready to unveil yet.

But now it is.

As of this week, I'm officially open for business as owner and developmental editor at Labyrinth Editing LLC, home of my freelance editing services. I now provide developmental editing, manuscript evaluations, short story critiques, and book maps (check out the Services page on my site if you're unfamiliar with these - the nerdy analytical side of my brain finds them so helpful for tracking various story elements throughout a manuscript!)

Getting to the point of being able to offer these services has been really gratifying, and I can't wait to see where it goes. Developmental editing is one of the first types of editing writers will seek after completing a manuscript, and I’m excited for the opportunity to provide encouragement and resources for revision at this often vulnerable stage of the writing process. Sharing early drafts of any work can be tough, and I am excited to be both a cheerleader and a resource during this stage as authors take those magic, messy, early drafts and prepare to hone them so that their creative vision and voice can really shine through.

I opened with Shel Silverstein's poem Invitation because it exudes the same energy I want to extend as an editor. It’s a call of collaboration and camaraderie to sit by that fire and spin tales together. Stories are magic, and as a writer, I know it can be an iterative, mysterious, winding journey to get them out of your head and onto the page. That circuitous path is why I picked a labyrinth as the image for my business. I'm here to be a resource and a support on that journey. This is the place for the dreamers, the wishers, and the liars (insofar as fiction is the lie that tells the truth, as per Neil Gaiman). If you’re already on that journey, you’re in good company.

It's so simple to finally make this announcement after many months of work getting to this point. I had a lot of help - encouragement, feedback, input on my website designs and branding - and I’m immensely grateful to the friends and fellow writers who supported me so I can be in a position to offer these services. Doing the day-to-day work of running this business will be another task, though, that continues long past the excitement of a shiny new website and Instagram.

I'm both excited to be here and sobered by the amount of trust I know it takes for someone to place their manuscript into another person's - maybe even a stranger’s - hands. I take that responsibility seriously while also being excited by the prospect of getting to witness incredible creativity and the opportunity to be both a sounding board and advocate for those writers' unique creative visions.

That's really it. I’ll be announcing the business more broadly to my Instagram followers at the end of the month, but wanted to give subscribers an early look. I hope you'll visit the websites, drop me a line if my work resonates with you, and consider my services the next time you've taken a story as far as you can on your own and would like a helping hand to the next stage of your publication journey.

Welcome to the Labyrinth!