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!

General Bookish

Blind Dating Adventure: Lucy and Knox Series

New chapters of Lucy and Knox’s wild, blind dating adventure are up! The first 10 chapters are always free to read!

Ever been signed up for a dating app that is actually a TV show for your college by your best friend, only to find out that it’s actually a bunch of literal blind dates where you can’t see your partner? No? Just me? I’m in my senior year of my athletic training program, doing my level-best to avoid any compromising positions with any athletes, but the world is bound and determined to push me toward the man I told my heart drop three years ago. Can I manage to protect my heart and graduate?

Tropes found:
– football romance
– Athletic trainer FMC
– Blind dating
– Sexy texting banter
– Riot of a best friend

You can find it here! Popping over and giving it a follow help small authors like me and is always appreciated!

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, 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!

Editing

4 ways to fix a comma splice.

Comma splices are so common. I think everyone was taught to just add a comma if you pause, but comma splices are just one problem that arises.

So what is a comma splice?

It happens when two independent clauses are joined by a comma and nothing else. It feels natural to take pause between those two clauses, but that pause should be a full stop period or it requires different punctuation and another device to reach a proper sentence.

So, what are the ways we can fix that?

1. You can use a conjunction!

Let’s throw it back to freshman English. Fanboys, do yall remember those? I’ll be honest, I forgot to use them all the time before I really got into focusing on grammar and writing.

2. Fix it with a semicolon!

Are your two clauses related to each other? Great! You can now get rid of the splicing comma by swapping it for a semicolon. Easy fix, right?

3. Fix it with a semicolon and a transition word.

This one adds a little flair to our last option. The transition is a bridge between two thoughts. However, although, in addition, furthermore, and understandably are all examples of those transitions.

4. Fix it with a period!

By far the easiest way to fix the comma splice is to just use a period. This is your best option when the two thoughts or clauses do not relate to each other.

Hopefully this helps someone out there! Happy writing!

Cayla

General Bookish, To Be Read Pile

Latest Book Mail

Book Mail always makes me feel so special. I love opening up my mailbox to find PR boxes and books I’ve pre ordered. It feels like Christmas year round, ha!

I totally was not expecting to receive Lucia Franco’s books, but I’ve been impatiently waiting for Heaven Breaker and A Curse of Blood and Wolves.

Hush Hush by Lucia Franco

Blurb:

I knew the rules.

Never reveal my true identity.
Play the game, give the illusion.
Don’t get close to the clients.

The dark and glamorous lifestyle of the rich and shameless open my eyes to a lavish world of sin and wealth, and a man I can’t have.

A man I desperately want—James Riviera.

We’re treading a fine line as we live the ultimate double life until we make a startling discovery that tests both our loyalties.
I only had to follow the rules, but rules are meant to be broken.

Find it here!

A Curse of Blood and Wolves by Melissa McTernan

Blurb:

Is it possible to be drawn to someone you’ve never met?

When Ruby feels the eyes of a stranger in the woods, she knows she should be scared, that she should run away, but she can’t. Instead, she feels a thrill, feels drawn to this stranger who follows her in the woods. Yearns for his eyes on her every night as she walks home, hoping to hear the crunch of leaves under his feet that signals he’s there.

Will he ever reveal himself?

After all, fate doesn’t make mistakes …

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Find it here!

Heaven Breaker by Sara Wolf

Blurb:

Bravery isn’t what you do. It’s what you endure.

The duke of the powerful House Hauteclare is the first to die. With my dagger in his back.

He didn’t see it coming. Didn’t anticipate the bastard daughter who was supposed to die with her mother―on his order. He should have left us with the rest of the Station’s starving, commoner rubbish.

Now there’s nothing left. Just icy-white rage and a need to make House Hauteclare pay. Every damn one of them.

Even if it means riding Heavenbreaker―one of the few enormous machines left over from the War―and jousting against the fiercest nobles in the system.

Each win means another one of my enemies dies. And here, in the cold terror of space, the machine and I move as one, intent on destroying each adversary―even if it’s someone I care about. Even if it’s someone I’m falling for.

Only I’m not alone. Not anymore.

Because there’s something in the machine with me. Something horrifying. Something…more.

And it won’t be stopped.

You can snag it here!

Happy reading, friends!

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

Editing

Why it’s important to hire out for editing

It can be so easy to say editing is a luxury or proofreading doesn’t really matter, especially when your project isn’t some massive thing like a 200,000 word manuscript. However—I’m about to age myself here—let’s throw it back to that meme that went around Facebook. Actually, let me just drop one below.

Our brains a literally wired to fix mistakes, and we don’t even realize we’ve done it. We skip over double words, glance over typos, and rearrange sentences that are out of whack. This is especially true in our own writing because we know what we were intending to say. Due to this, it’s almost as if we’re blind to mistakes.

In addition to this, have you ever stared at a word long enough it doesn’t even look like a real word anymore. I’ll throw it back to when I had to write a word one hundred times if I misspelled it in school—wait y’all didn’t have to do that?

It may not be your forte.

And that’s okay! The nuances of the English language are complicated at best and nonsensical at worst. Your forte is your niche, so why try to shove a square peg in a round hole? You should be focused on your work, your creativity, your website, or whatever your project is rather than trying to force yourself to do a task that isn’t what you enjoy or feel perfect doing

Having a fresh set of eyes can pick up more mistakes.

Someone who has had no interaction with that particular project can pick up typos, mistakes, forgotten commas easier than someone who has been married to the project for weeks, months, or years. You glance over the to that should be too. Maybe a pesky comma sneaks through unnoticed or an em dash has an extra space or no space. It’s kind of like walking into a house you’re going to buy. The people who are selling the house didn’t notice that their photo wall is off center, but you, seeing the house for the time, notice it right off the bat. It’s like a neon sign. An editor or proofreader is like that home buyer, seeing those neon signs that are easy to miss when you’re the one living in the home.

Time! Time is such a limited resource.

As a writer, project coordinator, business owner, you have so much on your plate. Your time is stretched thin across all the things you have to do. You feel like you have to let things go just to make sure you meet deadlines or accomplish the other tasks on your list. There aren’t enough hours in the day.

I get it! It’s easy to become married to your project and feel like you can do it all, but why not share the burden? Commas, em dashes, typos, and structure are editors’ jam. Let us handle that while you do your thing.

Feel free to send me a message about your project and let’s chat!

Cayla