While watching some Taskmaster (fun British shenanigi) on YouTube, I was hit with consecutive ads from Grammarly and Reedsy, aka the two main companies trying to run WriteByNight out of business.

[Sidenote (yes, already): Remember the Cola Wars of the 1980s? Book publishers should kick off something similar and we can call it the Colophon Wars.]

In the Reedsy ad, the hawker says the following words, in the following order: "Browse through hundreds of hand-picked editors."

Hundreds! Of hand-picked editors! That I'm tasked with browsing through. Like some kind of buffet. A Golden Corral of editors. Here's an empty plate. Good luck. You're on your own. (But beware the hand-picked meatloaf.)

As if a writer even has time to wade through hundreds of profiles! You're seeking an editor for your whole-ass book, not a date on Tinder. You can't just willy-nillily swipe left (or is it right? I've forgetten, ever since finding my partner... on Tinder) based on mood and first impressions.

Come to WriteByNight instead. Tell me what you're looking for, send me a few sample pages, and I'll come back to you with two, maaaaaybe three, to choose from of my 18 hand-picked editors.

And then I'll explain how and why each one is a good fit for -- specifically -- you and your writing.

Hey, with the time you've saved you can browse through hundreds of hand-picked TV shows and movies on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, Amazon, AppleTV, Sling, Disney-, YouTube TV, HBO Max, Roku, Paramount+, DisneyDisneyDisney+-++, and literally dozens of others.

Yes, it's very cool that we have so many options for so many things... but maybe it's equally cool to not always be buried underneath hundreds of choices.

(As for Grammarly and its RoboEditors, a quick visit to Wikipedia shows this: "Users have criticized Grammarly for incorrect suggestions, ignorance of tone and context, and reduction of writers' freedom of expression." Cool!)

Reply to this message and let's chat.

ICYMI

WriteByNight is partnering with Joe Marich, longtime publicist for Michael Crichton! Demand is heavy already for a media consultation with Joe, but we've got a couple of slots open in late October and a handful more in November.

Joe is eager to read your first 50 double-spaced pages and a synopsis, then meet with you for 60 minutes to discuss your book's media friendliness and strategize a publicity campaign with you.

Part of Joe's approach, he told me, is to help a writer answer this question: "If I got you five minutes on the Today Show, what would you talk about? What -- specifically -- would you say?" 

For a limited time, we're offering this consultation with Joe Marich for only $450, split into two payments. Not a very steep price for your Today Show prep!

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ICYMI 2

(Why are you missing so many things?!)

Slots are also filling quickly for our new story editor & worldbuilder sessions! Brainstorm ideas for your book or any other writing project one-on-one with my loooooongtime beta reader, Nate St. Pierre, and the tool he created for the sole purpose of helping writers build out their worlds.

Highly recommended if you need a motivational boost!

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October Promo: Story Spooktacular

From now through Halloween, we're knocking 15% off a beta read or critique of your horror novel or spooky short story!

I've been getting in the mood by reading Dracula. It's very good. The pace makes Thackeray seem like a quick beach read, but I'm loving it.

Speaking of murder fiction, next week you'll hear from WriteByNight's David Bushman, reporting to us from Killer Nashville to cover the dos & don'ts of writing conferences.

New Poetry from Tariq

WBN coach Tariq Shah has a couple of new poems up over at Diode. 

Tariq is actively seeking new poetry and fiction clients, so visit his profile page to read a Q&A, and then let's chat about it!

Quick Hits

-- Recently I snagged copies of the 2023 O. Henry collection and Best American. The first story in the O. Henry was "Office Hours" (available with a sub to the Atlantic) by Ling Ma, who has rapidly become a top-5 contempo-writer for me. Read Severance to join the club. 

-- For the Yak Babies 2024 Spooktacular we're taking a look at Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I visited Sleepy Hollow, aka Tarrytown, a few years ago. Quaint. I saw only headed horsemen, though. And I learned they don't like to be called headed horsemen but prefer the term horsemen with heads. People are so touchy.

Horseman! What a word! Here's a sentence that actually makes sense: "That cowboy is a true horseman." There's also cowman, someone who owns a cattle ranch. So what do we call someone who owns a horse ranch? Someone who tends cattle is a cowboy, one word; someone who tends horses is a horse boy, two words. "That horse boy is a fine horseman." It doesn't have to make sense.

While we're on this, watch Jazz Emu perform "English Language" on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. It might be the funniest two minutes of your day.

-- Have you costumed yourself and/or your living space in a literary character or theme for Halloweens past? Reply to this message with photos and we'll run a few faves.

And I still want to hear about the scariest book or story you've ever read! Or the scariest horror film, TV series, etc. (Hand-picked only, please.)