Write Things: On Not Knowing

Hello writers!

One of the hardest things about writing is accepting that there comes a point where we simply don't know anymore.

We can take a story a long way on our own. We can write it, revise it, cut scenes, strengthen dialogue, and spend hours searching for just the right word. But eventually, we reach the limit of what we can see.

And that's okay.

You have permission to not know.

One of the reasons this happens is because we're so close to our own stories. We know the history behind our characters. We know what they're feeling. We know why they made the choices they did. Our minds quietly fill in gaps because we already understand what's happening.

The reader doesn't.

Writing isn't complete simply because we've finished a draft. It becomes a story when someone else experiences it.

That experience may not be exactly what we intended—and that's not a sign we've failed.

Think about your own life. The same conversation can affect you differently depending on your mood, what happened earlier that day, or what you're carrying into the moment. Reading works the same way. Every reader brings different experiences, expectations, and emotions to the page.

That's why I encourage writers to share their work with more than one person.

Not because you're looking for the "right" interpretation of your story, but because you're looking for patterns. If several readers are confused by the same moment, it's worth paying attention. If multiple readers are moved by a passage you almost cut, that's worth noticing too.

This is how we grow as writers.

We take our writing as far as we can on our own. Then we invite someone else into the experience. We listen. We reflect. And then we choose what serves the story we're trying to tell.

Feedback isn't about handing your story over to someone else.

It's about seeing your writing through another pair of eyes so you can make more informed creative decisions.

That's exactly why I'm excited to introduce The Editor's Table.

Over four monthly sessions, professional editor Rachel Small will provide a professional line edit on 500 words of your choosing each month. A line edit goes beyond correcting grammar. It's a close examination of how your writing reads—its clarity, flow, pacing, word choice, rhythm, and overall reader experience—helping you understand not just what she would change, but why.

Then, together with Rachel and three fellow writers, you'll spend 30 minutes discussing your writing, asking questions, and exploring how those editing decisions can strengthen not only those 500 words, but every piece of writing that follows.

Between sessions, you'll have time to revise, apply what you've learned, and return with another 500 words the following month.

This isn't about having your manuscript edited.

It's about becoming a stronger writer.

There are only four spots available, so each writer receives plenty of time, attention, and thoughtful feedback throughout the experience.

If you'd like to experience your writing through the eyes of a professional editor, I'd love to have you join us.

Learn more here.

Wishing you and your stories all the best,

Trevor

P.S. One of the unexpected benefits of The Editor's Table is learning from everyone else's submissions. As Rachel explains her editing decisions on another writer's work, you'll begin recognizing those same patterns in your own writing. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen while someone else's pages are on the screen. If this sounds like the right next step for you, grab your seat here.