Editing

How Acorns Investing App Helps Freelance Editors Plan for the Future

As a freelance novel editor, I know the importance of focusing on the finer details. Whether it’s a character arc or ensuring continuity across multiple chapters, every small effort builds toward the larger goal: a polished, compelling novel. In a similar way, small, consistent actions can have a big impact on personal finances. Enter the Acorns investing app—a tool designed for those of us who might not have a finance degree but want to secure a more stable financial future.

What is Acorns?

Acorns is a micro-investing app that allows you to invest spare change by rounding up everyday purchases to the nearest dollar. Imagine paying $2.50 for your coffee, and Acorns takes the extra $0.50, investing it into a diversified portfolio on your behalf. It’s effortless, automated, and beginner-friendly—perfect for busy freelancers like me.

How Editing and Investing Are Alike

The similarities between editing and investing through Acorns are surprising. Here are a few ways that both my work and Acorns follow the same principles:

1. Small Changes Make a Big Difference

When editing a novel, it’s the subtle shifts in tone, the slight tweaks to dialogue, and the adjustment of pacing that can turn a good story into a great one. Similarly, with Acorns, those tiny spare-change roundups—insignificant on their own—grow over time into something substantial. Consistency is key. In editing, just like in investing, it’s about focusing on the long-term result.

2. Automated Processes Save Time

Just like a well-organized editorial schedule saves me time and energy, Acorns’ automation does the same for investing. The app handles everything, from pulling funds to choosing a portfolio, allowing me to focus on what I love—helping authors perfect their stories—while my money grows quietly in the background.

3. Investing in the Future

Editing a manuscript is an investment of time and effort that ultimately pays off when the novel is ready for publication. Similarly, using Acorns is an investment in my financial future. I might not always have the stability of a 9-to-5 job or a steady paycheck as a freelancer, but with tools like Acorns, I’m creating a safety net that grows as I continue to work and grow my business.

Why Freelancers Should Consider Acorns

Freelancing comes with many uncertainties, and for many of us, retirement planning is a distant afterthought. Acorns makes it easy to invest without requiring large sums of money upfront. For someone like me who juggles multiple projects, clients, and deadlines, the app simplifies investing in a way that fits naturally into my work life.

By making small, consistent investments, freelancers can build financial security over time—just like crafting the perfect plot or helping characters come to life. Acorns is more than an app; it’s a tool that empowers freelancers to focus on their work while planning for the future.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a freelance editor, writer, or creative professional, managing both your work and finances can be a challenge. The Acorns app offers a practical, low-maintenance solution to grow your investments. Just like editing, it’s a process of refinement and small, deliberate improvements that lead to long-term rewards. It’s time to invest not only in the stories we help create, but in our own futures as well.


Cheers!

Cayla!

Book Reviews

Intense Nordic Tale: Freya’s Transformation and Bjorn’s Love | Review

Rating: ★★★★★
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

This one deserves all the stars. I adored every minute of this. For some reason, Vikings are one of my favorites to read about. The ferocity of everything they do makes things so much more intense. Be that their love, their fighting, literally just their existing.

Freya is one part badass, one part impulsive, another part loyal, and yet still one more part endearing. Bjorn is one spicy, fiery, sweet, and caring Viking that has raided my shores for my heart. Okay, that was cheesy. But still, he’s a top notch book boyfriend.

It is hard to keep one’s wits when faced with a woman as beautiful as the sight of shore to a man who has been lost at sea.

Bjorn is hilariously poetic even when he does not mean to be, but the above quote is by fat one of the sweetest things I think he tells Freya.

I love the growth that Freya goes through in this, and it’s been awhile since I read a book that didn’t have a POV in the male lead’s eyes. However, it was actually refreshing to not immediately have answers to what was happening in Bjorn’s head. Danielle really takes us on a journey through this and not just across the map of Skaland. We see Freya go from beaten and downtrodden to finding her voice to questioning her voice to really leaning into the emotions she feels.

I will be anxiously waiting for the next installment of the Saga of the Unfated because I feel as though I’ve been left in an icy fjord waiting for a drakkar to come pick me up.

Have you read this one yet? How did you feel about Freya, Snorri, Bjorn, and Ylva? If you haven’t read this one yet, have you read any other Nordic/Viking books?

Cheers and happy reading!

Editing

Enhance Your Writing: The Power of Dynamic Verbs

Using descriptive and vivid verbs helps to ensure that there is dynamic movement and a deeper connection between what your characters are doing and what your reader is seeing in their head. Without verbs, you will have wonderful characters that are mimicking Sims characters that stand around without anything to do.

Movement obviously helps to move your character, but it helps to move the plot forward. Without action, your characters cannot do anything with the other characters or perhaps it is a mystery and there is a piece of evidence in the room with them. Without being able to search in that room the character won’t ever discover that piece of evidence.

But! You don’t want to just look. When someone says they looked for something, we don’t hardly get any information about how that happened. Did Sally scour the windowsill looking for fingerprints? Did she gloss over the papers on the table only to miss a key element?

There are so many words out there that when used get the point across, but they don’t actually paint a picture unless paired with an adverb. Sure, the woman walked confidently, but when you swap walk for the word strut, now you don’t need confidently.

Here are a few words that we can swap for more descriptive verbs.

Walk: Stroll, hike, promenade, saunter, march, amble, stride, tread, pace, toddle, totter, stagger, perambulate

Run: Sprint, dart, bolt, canter, gallop, trot, zoom, hurry, speed, jog, saunter, scamper, hurtle, rush, scramble, spring, swing, swoop, dive, careen

Look: Observe, glance, stare, examine, peek, study, notice, see, glare, glaze over, scour, investigate

Go: Leave, depart, shift, take off, move on, quit, exit, take a hike, travel, drive, proceed, progress, run, walk away

Using these alternative verbs along with sensory details, you can enhance your readers’ experience! PS, if you need help with sensory details, you can find my post here!

Using say or said is totally fine! Once again though, we can give the reader more! The characters can shout, they can holler, they can stutter or mumbler, they can spit words like fire or groan them.

Saying there is something in the scene is an easy way to start painting the picture in the reader’s head, but with so many words available to us, we can swap out those two words with more vivid imagery.

There was a horn honking in the distance can go from that to: John jumped at the sound of a horn blaring through the silence, jolting him from his trip down memory lane.

Remember, it is always okay to keep things simple in some aspects. Everything doesn’t have to be flowery prose and if someone simply said something, then use that!

If these prompts don’t speak to you, snag a couple lines from one of your recent works and see about trying to rewrite them!

As always, I am a friendly and experienced copy editor with a passion for taking your written work from good to great! I’m always only a message away to chat! Feel free to drop a quick line in the comments and answer one of the prompts!

Cheers!

Editing, General Bookish

Unconventional Blind Dates: A Unique Romance Series on Kindle Vella

Discover a Unique Love Story in My New Kindle Vella Series: “Swiped”

Are you ready for a romance that breaks the mold? Dive into “Swiped,” my Kindle Vella series that promises to capture your heart and keep you eagerly turning the digital pages. This engaging story follows two college students who find themselves in a complex situation: they can’t date each other, but that doesn’t stop them from embarking on a whirlwind of blind dates.

What’s the Premise?

In “Swiped,” meet our protagonists—two college students who are drawn to each other but face an unusual constraint that prevents them from dating directly. But, they both agree to participate in a series of blind dates set up by the college communications department as a senior project. Each date brings new challenges, surprising twists, and moments of self-discovery. As they navigate this unconventional dating journey, their path intertwines in unexpected ways.

Why You’ll Love This Series

  1. Fresh Take on Romance: If you’re tired of the same old romance tropes, this series offers a refreshing twist. Watching our characters maneuver through blind dates while their own relationship evolves provides a unique narrative experience.
  2. Relatable Characters: The story features real, relatable characters who grapple with the complications of modern dating and their own obstacles. Their experiences will resonate with anyone who’s faced the ups and downs of love and friendship.
  3. Engaging Plot Twists: Each episode is packed with surprises that keep you hooked. From awkward encounters to moments of unexpected connection, “Swiped” is full of delightful and suspenseful moments.
  4. Perfect for Quick Reads: Kindle Vella’s episodic format makes it easy to dive into the story during your breaks or downtime. With bite-sized episodes, you can enjoy a satisfying read whenever you need a quick escape.

Tropes
– friends to lovers
– forbidden dating
– college athlete
– semi public spice
– the best ride or die besties

Join the Adventure

Don’t miss out on this captivating love story. Follow “Swiped” on Kindle Vella today and get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, laughter, and romance. Whether you’re a fan of contemporary romance or just looking for a new read, this series offers something special.

Start reading now and let the blind dating adventures begin!

Book Reviews

Mysterious FMC in Cutthroat Grad School | Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance

Rating: ★★★★★
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
– Academy setting
– Reverse Harem
– Fated mates
– Curses
– Paranormal
– Hidden identity

I was not expecting this book at all. A cutthroat, blood thirsty grad school setting? I didn’t know I needed this in my life. Our FMC is mysterious as heck, we don’t know who she is or where she comes from, but man, does she give me Wednesday Adams vibes. We have four unique MMCs: an over-the-top protective dragon shifter with a temper, a frosty, smart as hell ice elemental with commitment issues, a psychotic incubus prince with some violent tendencies, and a morally grey blood fae with a curse that might be his undoing.

Watching the FMC futilely try to push them away was sheer comedy, and I loved every minute of it. The writing and pacing are so well done that it had me devouring this in a matter of hours.

My only drawback is that the third book isn’t out yet!

I am so surprised there are not more people talking about this book, and I will shout it from the rooftops that this book is amazing and worth the read!

Have you read this one yet? What was your last five star?

Book Reviews, General Bookish

Kindle Vella

The first 11 episodes of my story are up for viewing with more on the way if anyone is interested!

As a friendly reminder, it’s a college, sports romance between a football player playboy and the true crime loving athletic training student. They both sign up for the schools dating app turned tv show, only to match despite it being forbidden by the school for them to be together.

It’s spicy. It’s a little angsty. It’s giggle inducing.

You can try it out here!

General Bookish

I did something today

So I did something huge today. I published an episode on Kindle Vella. It’s my first time publishing something I’ve written in the fiction realm. While I don’t think anyone will actually read it because I’m anxious about marketing it and it being me as the author and people knowing that, I am proud of myself for finally doing it.

Shoot, maybe I’ll finally finish the thing too!

However, if anyone is interested, you can find it for free here!

Here’s our cover for it!

General Bookish

What defines a collection?

Do you have any collections?

I always wanted to be a collector of things when I was younger. I saw people with those little fancy spoons, my relatives collected tea cups, or the little old man down the street with his stamp and coin collection.

I had nothing of the sort, but looking back, I’ve always been a collector of the written word. I feel like the acknowledgement of books as a collection didn’t rise in popularity until recently—especially with the movement of special edition books.

So, I guess I am a collector with a collection of a bunch of paper and ink. Although, that begs the question: what is a collection? Is it just a handful of items in the same category? Are we all collectors of silverware and clothing? Does the group of items have to have some sort of monetary or sentimental value? I mean, looking back, I had two full binders of CDs, is that a collection? Technically, it had a monetary value. But, I digress from my collection that I actually claim.

I love my collection of books, they feel a bit like a hoard of trophies of things I’ve read and loved. Well, it’s also my TBR too—I do, at least, sell the books that I didn’t enjoy so I don’t just continuously add books that didn’t bring me joy.

What do you collect? Are you a book collector that has a penchant for special editions?

P.S. these are my favorites that I own!

Happy Wednesday!

Cayla

Book Reviews, General Bookish

Retellings You Should Totally Read

Photo by David Gonzales on Pexels.com

What is that quote that’s been circulating bookstagram lately? “I still read fairytales, they’re just dirtier now?” Well, that feels rather accurate with some of the books I’ve been reading and also adding to my TBR lately. Beauty and the Beast is a super popular fairytale in the retelling world, but I recently read a Rapunzel retelling, and thought to myself, you know, I should make a list of retellings that *aren’t* Beauty and the Beast. So, here we are.

Kept by Evelyn Flood

I devoured this one. Fair warning, it is why choose, but it is so well done. I thoroughly enjoyed that one of the MMCs is named Ryder. Shout out to Disney’s Tangled. I’ve never actually read the original fable, so I can’t say whether or not the villain is supposed to be a male or female, but I liked that the “Mother Gothel” in this situation was a male, it added some interesting twists and turns.

You can read it on KU free here! Evelyn Flood has a whole series of retellings too!

Gild by Raven Kennedy

This one is a few years old, but Kennedy just released book five, book six will be released in September! Gild is a King Midas retelling, which if you aren’t familiar, King Midas turned everything he touched into gold. In the legend, he was gifted this power from Dionysus and delighted in turning his garden into gold, but he later lamented his choice of gift when he turned his food and drink into gold and could not control the power.

The Plated Prisoner, though, is the story of Auren, the true source of King Midas’ power. I loved the twists and the drama and the emotional rollercoaster that this one sent me on.

You can snag a copy on KU or order here!

A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle

I love a good Little Mermaid Retelling, and this one did not disappoint! Princess Maren has a secret and now she’s trying to escape the bargain that she made with the sea witch Edonia. This one is dark, as many of Halle’s books tend to be, so check trigger warnings before diving into this one! However, it is such a delectable and emotional ride between Maren and Captain Ramsay.

You can find it on KU or order a copy here!

A Curse of Shadows and Thorns by LJ Andrews

So, I think I said earlier I wouldn’t do a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but I couldn’t leave this one out. I think this is one of my favorite BatB retellings. It has Viking vibes and the MMC is such a delicious morally grey cinnamon roll. If you’ve read her Ever King series, you definitely need to pick up this series. Even if you haven’t read Ever King, this one is a great read. Honestly, just thinking about this one makes me want to go reread it.

You can snag a copy here!

There are so many retellings out there, but these are just a few that I thoroughly enjoyed! I love new and original stories, but sometimes revisiting our favorite fairytales in new formats can be such a comfort. Do you have any that you always recommend to people?

Cayla

General Bookish

My Favorite Reading Accessories

We’re book babes, we love getting cozy and reading, especially when we have things to make that experience better. So…I’ve compiled a list of my favorite accessories to go with reading.

Amazon Kindle (I mean, duh.)

Photo by Adrienne Andersen on Pexels.com

Personally, I prefer the Oasis, but I think they must be doing a sneaky update behind the scenes at Amazon, since it’s currently unavailable. My second choice, though, is the Kindle Scribe, but it is fairly pricey. However, my favorite thing about it is that you can write and annotate your books. It also has a notebook option, which as someone with ADHD, being able to take notes on the Scribe rather than my iPad keeps me from going down a rabbit hole on the internet.

The best bang for your buck Kindle is just the plain old kindle, but the Kindle Paperwhite is the most popular from what I’ve seen on Bookstagram. I get it, I’m a lover of physical books too. I like having my shelf trophies, but it’s so nice to just toss my Oasis into my purse or diaper bag and go. Plus, there’s literally hundreds of thousands, if not more, books at your fingertips––just a click away. Speaking of clicks, that leads me to my next fave.

A Page Turner

The page turner lets you prop your kindle up, or use one of my other favorite accessories, and tuck your hands away under the blanket or grab onto your cup of tea or glass of wine and just tap a button on a remote to turn the page.

Lefties unite, no more stretching your thumb to hit just the right spot on your kindle screen to flip forward, No more aching thumb after a long reading session.

Kindle Holder

This one you have options. For me, I don’t have a bedside table, so the ones with a clamp don’t work for me, I have to use a kindle stand that has a foot to set on the ground or tuck between the mattress and the bed frame. Like this one!

Is it bougie? Sure! But how nice is it to not have to hold your arm up for ages when you’re reading or having to find the perfect pillow and position to prop your arm up?

A Blanket–specifically an electric blanket

I am a big fan of being warm and cozy. Despite it creeping closer toward summer, I am still using my electric blanket in the evenings while I read. This one from Amazon has six settings and is the perfect size to curl up with in my chair at night. It heats up so quickly and stays on for quite a long time. Bonus, it comes in nine colors!

A Coffee Mug

Photo by Stephen Andrews on Pexels.com

Is this one necessary? No, but well…are any of these actually necessary? I mean, to make things a little easier and more luxurious, yes. I love my heated coffee cup. This one is useful outside of reading too. I have a toddler that I’m always chasing around and next thing you know that coffee I made two hours ago has been forgotten. My heated coffee cup keeps it nice and toasty.

Bringing it back to reading, I love when my tea is still warm after I’ve finished that super intense chapter that makes me forget that I’m even in the real world.

That’s it for now! Hope you guys have a stellar day!