iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 8h

Sigh. My GI specialist just cancelled my upcoming appointment and can't get me in until ~February~. This is my second appointment in a row that they've done this with. ☠️

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 9h

✨ Writing Prompt ✨ Write from the POV of your main character talking to their friend, but make everything they say a lie. #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 29/09/2026

It's been almost 10 years since I stopped teaching undergrad, and I've often missed it. I just read a post from someone who is still doing it in the age of AI. I think they cured me. 😂😭

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 29/09/2026

I got my 💉💉 last night for C19/flu, and the tiredness just smacked me in the face out of nowhere.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 29/09/2026

✨ Question of the Week ✨ Inspiration can come from the strangest of places. What has been the strangest inspiration for one of your scenes, stories, or characters? #AuthorSky #WritingQOTW

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 28/09/2026

Whew. Minus one more read through of the report to make sure my dictation didn't churn out anything too wonky, my chapter book edit is done. Going to do the document prep for my adult mystery edit then sign off for the night. 😴

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 28/09/2026

Often, to help a client understand what I mean about a certain technique or some such, I'll make up a tiny scene (ex: to show pacing in lines or dialogue differences). And SOMETIMES it's so good that I have to remove it, tuck it into a file for myself, and write a different one. 😂

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 28/09/2026

Well, my car is in the shop (again) until at least Friday. 😒

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 28/09/2026

Happy rainy day Monday, folks! I should be wrapping up my middle-grade-turned-chapter-book edit today or tomorrow, then it's on to a murder mystery. 👻 What's your big to-do this week?

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 27/09/2026

For some reason I usually do a batch of chocolate chip pancakes going into a storm, but since I can't have chocolate anymore, I did cinnamon swirl. They've been delicious. (Cinnamon tolerance in MCAS varies by individual. I don't know what I'd do if I was one of those who couldn't have it. 😂)

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 25/09/2026

✨Friday Tip✨ Writers, you should start thinking about your marketing strategy early—even while you're still revising. I’ve never been a fan of the phrase “kill your darlings” when we can keep them around to use later. So if you’re cutting major chapters and scenes, don't throw them away! ⬇️

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 25/09/2026

Found the leak last night, not where I expected it to be, and when I dropped it off this morning they let me know that a recall literally just went out for failure in the rear brake lines. 🤯

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 24/09/2026

The MG I'm editing turned out to actually be a chonky chapter book—just confirmed with the author. That means it needs to be scaled back to meet word count expectations (love chopping) and that all of my notes from read one need to be reconsidered given the differences in CB vs. MG storytelling. 😫

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 24/09/2026

Reminder that I have an opening in late-November for a developmental edit on a manuscript up to 80k (or smaller edits totaling up to that if a few of you have some kidlit on your hands)! After that, we're looking at March 2027. 😊 editsinthemargins.com/developmenta...

editsinthemargins.com

Developmental Editing - In the Margins Editing & Writing Services

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 24/09/2026

OK: Since my car window chaos of August, my brake fluid alert went off (filled it), then a tire sensor failed, and then the brake fluid alert went off again today. My brain tries to rationalize first: is it possible that the battery dying/being reset due to the August stuff messed with sensors? 🤔

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Reposted by Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚

Mary Wyrd (she/her) @marywyrd.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Do you have a new short story out today/this week? If you do, share it with a comment OR a quote post! Don't forget to add > the hashtag #StorySky > a link to your new story > genre details > any alt text for images #ReaderSky #ShortStory #AuthorSky #IndieAuthor

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 24/09/2026

"Some developmental editors approach the edit like they're readers." NO, we freakin' don't. A trained, professional developmental editor will *consider* the reader, but we will not approach it *like* the reader. This is a scam line that I see low-charging, untrained/AI editors use.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 23/09/2026

Sitting here wondering why I'm a menace and realized I forgot to eat lunch. Womp womp.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 23/09/2026

A friend has discovered romantasy and keeps sending me funny related reels. Except they are all referring to romantasy as fantasy—a pet peeve. Romantasy is a hybrid of romance/fantasy in which, if the romance is removed, the plot fails. In fantasy, if a romantic subplot is removed, the plot's fine.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 23/09/2026

Me: Okay, time to get back into this edit. Also me: *watches several reels of a swordsmith making tiny swords for his kittens*

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 23/09/2026

✨ Writing Prompt ✨ Name ONE truth that your protagonist can’t face about themselves. Write a scene to show how this knowledge impacts their behavior. #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 22/09/2026

If I'm crabby today, it's because my neighbor's son was blasting music at 1am that I could hear (and feel!) in my bedroom, which does ~not~ share a wall with their place. 🥱😴

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 22/09/2026

Yes, can we please go back to this? Are used to be about authentic voices, experiences, and perspectives, not whatever everyone thinks will sell best.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 22/09/2026

✨ Question of the Week ✨ What music did you listen to when working on your last story or edit? How did it help you to write or work? Share your playlist.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 21/09/2026

The secret menu is not so secret anymore! (Well, there are still a couple things on there. 😉) I've officially created pages on my site detailing my Outline Critique, Discovery Draft Evaluation, and Picture Book Evaluation services! Links in the comments. 💜

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 21/09/2026

It seems we've entered the time of year when I begin my standoff with the cold weather. I refuse to turn the heat on until Nov. 1, so time to bundle up. 😂

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 21/09/2026

Welcome to another great Monday, everyone! I’m onto my next developmental edit, this time on a short middle grade adventure, so it should be a quick(er) turnaround. What are you looking forward to checking off your checklist?

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 18/09/2026

A man on Threads, who has "edited" 2 books in 30 yrs, is claiming editors charge too much. His "evidence"? He says a 100k developmental edit should only take 20 hours—10 to read, 10 for edits. This shows a complete fundamental lack of understanding about what goes into a developmental (or any) edit.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 18/09/2026

Theft of words, theft of art. If you're using generative AI for anything, you bear that weight and shame.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 18/09/2026

✨ Friday Tip ✨ Are you struggling with costs associated with self-publishing, such as professional editing, cover design, formatting, etc.? There may be a grant for that! A lot of writers don’t realize there are funds available across all genres to support them in their creative endeavors. ⬇️

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 17/09/2026

Because my job is to find the holes in a manuscript and to take a magnifying glass to the characters and world, anytime I send a feedback package to a client, it comes with a little anxiety. It's so nice to get these emails shortly after. 💜

Hi Kayleigh,

Thank YOU! I've taken a skim through your full report and margin notes for the big takeaways and already - wow! - your detail and dedication means so much to me. (I told myself I could wait until the weekend to open the files, but my excitement beat out my patience).

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 17/09/2026

OK, so what are folks using instead of Canva now? I loved it for the ease/clean UXUI, but apparently some people are having their posts marked AI even when they didn't use AI features.

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 16/09/2026

✨ Writing Prompt ✨ Your favorite side character has a few hours to themselves. What do they choose to do with that time? Write the scene. #WritingPrompt #WritingCommunity

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 16/09/2026

A fun encounter from the last week: a man asked me how it feels—as a developmental editor—to know that I just help authors (like himself) with the vanity side of writing. I guess thanks for spending thousands on me for your vanity, guys. 😂

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 15/09/2026

✨ Question of the Week ✨ What have you read that has helped to improve your writing and revision/editing? (Books, posts, quotes, etc.) #WritingCommunity #WritingQOTW

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 14/09/2026

My current editing report is already at 9500 words, and I haven't even finished the Plot section or gotten into the Characters or World Building sections. 😅

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 14/09/2026

Happy Monday, all! And happy 4th anniversary of the day I formally registered In the Margins and embraced editing full-time. 💜 ⬇️

Celebrating 4 years of (full-time) business!

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 11/09/2026

✨ Friday Tip ✨ This one is very specific, because I’ve been encountering the misunderstanding frequently in my edits this year: let’s get into the difference between a village, a town, and a city. These words are not synonymous with one another . . . ⬇️

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 10/09/2026

My CRM/PM—Moxie—just underwent a big UXUI update. All they did was reorganize where items are and make everything bubbly, and I HATE it. Part of this is me not liking change, but it's also taking me 2–4 extra clicks to get to info I use, and nothing that needed fixing is fixed. 😭

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Allison Alexander @aealexander.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I'm working on a webinar about query letters. Writers, what questions would you want answered? #Writing #Querying

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 09/09/2026

Authors! Apparently Ingram and IngramSpark sell book content to LLMs unless you opt out. Here's the form: lp.ingramcontent.com/publishers-r...

lp.ingramcontent.com

AI Opt Out

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 09/09/2026

✨ Writing Prompt ✨ Rewrite a scene that has multiple people in it from a different point of view. What does this character think about the situation? Will they say anything? #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity

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Kayleigh | Developmental Editor ✍🏻📚 @editsinthemargins.com · 08/09/2026

GUYS. MS Word just shut down on me—WHILE I WAS IN AN EDIT—and wouldn't reopen. Want to know why? It needs to update. It couldn't let me know. Didn't say, "Hey, take a sec to save if you haven't [I have]," just... shut down and blocked me out until *I* figured out it needed to update. I'm so mad.

static.klipy.com

Printer Destruction: The Office Space Middle Finger

Alt: Printer Destruction: The Office Space Middle Finger

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