I have been a therapist, a pastor, and a writer… what do they have in common? Lots of things, really. But mostly, they are all about helping people have the right frame of mind — something every author needs before diving into fiction novel editing or beginning a new story.

I originally conceived of this article as “psychological tips for writers.” As I wrote, I remembered why I switched from being a therapist to becoming a writer. Psychology is not nearly as exciting as the creative process of shaping a novel and later refining it through professional book editing for authors.

It is an interesting subject, and being a therapist is a worthy occupation. But most writers I know are just not that interested in the idea of writing as a psychological exercise. They approach their work intuitively, not cognitively. It is about finding a creative flow and not an intellectual puzzle to solve — the same mindset that fuels developmental editing for fiction, where intuition often guides structure and character arcs.

Yes, of course, there are a lot of academics involved in writing. Study your genre, plot your narrative structure, do character studies, research backgrounds, and take extensive notes. Still, who wants to read an article on that stuff… not I.

I am more interested in things like tapping into the collective unconscious, increasing my intuition, maximizing my sense of joy as I write, and shifting my mindset to enhance creativity. Now we are talking.

So, these are the things I do that make writing — and even editing my novel — as creative, intuitive, and joyful as possible.

FOLLOW THE FUN

When preparing a new book and planning out things like setting, characters, and plot, I continually focus on one question: What would make this more fun for me? Remember, you are going to spend a lot of time in this world, probably a lot longer than your reader ever will.

What is the world you want to live in for some time? What questions do you want to explore? What professions are you curious about? What great mysteries would you like to solve?

If you will not enjoy your time writing the book, then the reader will not enjoy their time in that world either — and no amount of manuscript editing services can fix a story that lacks joy at its core.

Playing “What if” is a pleasant variation of the same game.

“What if I set this in WWII Europe?”
“What if the main character had an illness no one knew about and had only a short time to live?”
“What if being cured by this new medicine gave them other abilities, like seeing dead people or reading thoughts?”

It is a fundamental truth in life that the more fun you are having, the more successful you will be. This was true for me in college, in Air Force flight school, in marriage, in parenting, as a therapist, and most definitely as a pastor — and it is certainly true in fiction editing.

And I think the corollary is true too: if you are not enjoying yourself when you write, neither will your reader.

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT. BUILD FROM THERE.

We all get negative reviews. Human nature makes us dwell on the negative. We know that what we focus on magnifies — and this applies as much to storytelling as it does to book editing for authors.

If your review says you have likable characters and witty dialogue but a plot that’s all over the place, then build a character‑driven story and strengthen your structure with focused line editing for fiction manuscripts. Get into the habit of seeing a positive direction presented to you through feedback rather than a roadblock.

LET JOY BE THE REWARD

Of course, we want financial compensation for our writing endeavors. A little positive feedback from readers and peers would be lovely too.

Those things will come in time. All writers — especially new ones — should focus on the joy of creating. Just being an artist is compensation. We get to build worlds in our minds, imagine things for a living, and later bring those worlds to life through professional novel editing services that polish our creative vision.

Forget about the other things for now. Just remember how cool it was to get your hero out of a thorny dilemma — that’s what fiction novel editing is really about, refining the story that brings you joy.

TRUST THAT IT IS WORKING

The advice offered here is not always easy to follow. Writers with some type of relationship with a Higher Power may find this next step easier.

There are challenging things like finding an agent, getting published, marketing, dealing with rejection, and writer’s block. But I do not find it helpful to spend much time on these things. Especially since you can solve all of them with the right attitude — and with professional help from a novel editing service that sees potential where you see problems.

Stay in the moment and devote yourself to the joys of writing. The more you do this, the more you can trust that those other things will all fall into place on their own.

If a writing project isn’t flowing or a character resists you, trust that the solution is near. Sometimes walking away and returning later — perhaps after revisiting your story with a fiction manuscript editor — is exactly what you need to see things anew.

IT MIGHT BE TIME TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROJECT

There is no such thing as a failed manuscript. Each project teaches us, builds confidence, hones craft, and refines voice.

I have ideas that may never see a bookshelf, but I did not waste time on them. Often, I lift dialogue, characters, or scenes from one manuscript into another — something every professional book editor encourages during developmental editing for fiction.

Sometimes you should finish the project at hand, and sometimes it’s best to acknowledge that it’s time to move on. Keep the creative juices flowing.

Your big break might be your very next project — and when it comes, great fiction novel editing will help your best work shine.