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Cameron Montague Taylor

Fantasy Author & Fiction Editor

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Cameron Montague Taylor
Fantasy Author & Fiction Editor
Cameron Montague Taylor
Fantasy Author &
Fiction Editor
books
Looking for a Fiction Editor?

Check out the services offered by AuthorShip Publishing & Editorial

LEARN MORE
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Wicked Waters is on Patreon

Book three: Frozen Fathoms now updating weekly

READ IT NOW
LEARN MORE
authorship background

Check out my blog The AuthorShip where I post about the craft of fiction writing, my process, and try out writing advice from sources across the internet... and beyond!

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books
Looking for a developmental editor?

Now taking bookings for Spring/Summer 2022

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The Oceana Series is on Patreon!
READ IT NOW
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Pirate by day, writer by night…

Hi there! I’m Cameron Montague Taylor, a fantasy author and developmental editor of fiction. Check out the editorial services I offer or take a look at my writing: novels, novellas, and epics set in far-flung worlds with queer heroes and thick romantic threads.

Outside the writing world, I’m a sailor and scuba diver by trade. Those experiences inspired and shaped the Oceana Series: a dark nautical fantasy epic posting in installments on Patreon.

When I don’t have a pen in hand, you can find me on the water, underwater, or chasing my cat away from my houseplants.

Hi there! I’m Cameron Montague Taylor, a fantasy author and developmental editor of fiction. Check out the editorial services I offer or take a look at my writing: novels, novellas, and epics set in far-flung worlds with queer heroes and thick romantic threads.

Outside the writing world, I’m a sailor and scuba diver by trade. Those experiences inspired and shaped the Oceana Series: a dark nautical fantasy epic posting in installments on Patreon.

When I don’t have a pen in hand, you can find me on the water, underwater, or chasing my cat away from my houseplants.


Recent News
News and Updates

Deathmark is on Patreon

Gaslamp Fantasy? Paranormal Romance? Queer heroes? If that sounds like your jam, Deathmark, the newest novella in the Ilia 'verse, might be your next read.

The Dark Arm of the Maker is LIVE on Kindle Vella!

Amazon recently launched a new serialization platform called Kindle Vella. Check it out to get 200 free coins for unlocking episodes!

Attributing Dialogue

Four methods of attribution that will make your dialogue read like a dream.

Morning Pages: Only My Pride

Spring has sprung with April’s flash fiction roundup.

Morning Pages: Fireweaver

March was a mad month this year, folks. Come on in and process the madness with another round-up of flash fiction prompts.

Tips for Writing Action Scenes

Having trouble with slow pacing in your action scenes? This tool might help!

Morning Pages: Wildcat

February’s flash fiction prompt roundup is here! Sharpen your pencils, check ’em out, and join a discussion about editing in the comments.

Whiteboard Scenes

What are whiteboard scenes, how do we craft them, and why do they strengthen our action sequences?


Here's something I wish I knew when I first starte Here's something I wish I knew when I first started writing:

Fiction is a different animal from academic papers,

short stories work different brain-muscles than epics do,

and as with all things, practice is king.

That may sound basic, but hear me out: so many of us believe it's wasteful to pick up a new skill or hobby unless we show promise. If it's not profitable, or if we don't have a shot at the 'expert tier,' that hobby is a waste of time, energy, or resources.

Add that to the double-whammy of feeling like we need to be good at writing because it's "just writing a story, how hard can it be?" or "I've been writing my whole life, surely those skills will translate to writing my first novel!"

Alas, that's not the case. Those of us who write for the love of it know it's hard, and those of us who had a history in academic writing know that, while some skills are transferrable, many (most?) aren't.

As a new writer, I grew tremendously frustrated with myself for being unable to pick up the skills 'fast enough,' or get the story in my head onto paper the way I imagined it. I hadn't yet encountered Stephen King's quote (that it takes a million words of drafts) or Malcolm Gladwell's work (that it takes ten thousand hours of practice). Those numbers might seem daunting, but for me, they were a relief -- a way to forgive myself for being imperfect. They gave me permission to be proud of my writing even when I knew that objectively, I wasn't yet all that good.

Give yourself permission to be proud of your writing today, wherever you are on your journey.

And if you're looking for editorial support or a coach to hold your hand along the way, drop me a line. I'd love to work with you!

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#amwriting
#writer
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#editor
Are you looking for a fiction editor? A well-writt Are you looking for a fiction editor? A well-written story is closer than you think!⁠
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Hi, I’m Cee from AuthorShip Editing. I specialize in filling plot holes, wrangling character arcs, and reshaping story structure. If you’re in the market for a manuscript critique, a full developmental edit, or a book coach to guide you through the writing process, I might be the right fit for you!⁠
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Editing is about you and your story. An editor should work with you to ensure your vision comes across on the page, not impose their goals upon your own. I aim to find solutions that that fit the story you want to tell. I deliver constructive feedback via analysis and suggestion, not criticism.⁠
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Whether you’re a new writer polishing your first manuscript or a seasoned author with a wealth of knowledge, I believe the editing process should improve not only your current work, but your next one, too.⁠
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I have high standards and will apply those to your work, but I practice and prize empathetic feedback. I seek not only to tell you what isn’t working, but what’s working great, and get you amped for your next round of edits.⁠
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Interested in learning more? Check out the link in my bio or DM me for info!⁠
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#writerscommunity⁠
#writingcommunity⁠
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#authorlife⁠
#findmywritingcommunity⁠
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#booklovers⁠
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#editorsofinstagram⁠
#askaneditor⁠
#smallbusinessowner⁠
#queercreator⁠
#amwritingfantasy
Chef Neveshir strode across the kitchen’s mosaic Chef Neveshir strode across the kitchen’s mosaic tile floor, eyes narrowed on the deflated excuse for a pastry lumped into his finest tin. The new hire—scion of some wealthy Alkayan family or other—stepped up to defend his abomination with lip curled.⁠
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“I apprenticed to a master pastry chef at the culinary institute, and he said one should never use a tin like—”⁠
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“He can say whatever the burning heavens he wants.” Neveshir straightened. Firelight from the central hearth flickered at his back. “You’re in my kitchen, now. Your feeble attempt at a tart is an insult to my tin—not the other way around.”⁠
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The prat’s coffee-dark eyes skipped from Neveshir’s face to the silver chain peeking from his collar, then further still to the fabric of his tailored black coat. The slightest sheen clung to his rucked sleeves—a mark of quality fireproofing.⁠
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At last, the prat’s attention fell to Neveshir’s bare wrists. Strips of scarred skin revealed the place where magic-nulling cuffs once lay. Without them, he was an anomaly. A threat. The only one of his kind to walk free.⁠
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Ever wonder what would happen if you mixed Gordon Ramsay and Crowley from Good Omens in a cauldron with a healthy dose of forbidden magic and epic pining? You'd get Neveshir Sevelin, protagonist of The Dark Arm of the Maker.⁠
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DAotM is a standalone Fantasy + MM Romance, now available on Kindle Vella and Patreon. Toss a coin to your writer and check it out!⁠
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#writerscommunity⁠
#writingcommunity⁠
#bookstagram⁠
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#epicfantasynovels⁠
#lgbtbooks⁠
#lgbtwriters⁠
#queerwriters⁠
#queerbooks⁠
#writelgbtq
Writers! What's the hardest part about writing a b Writers! What's the hardest part about writing a book?⁠
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As a fiction editor and story coach, I'd love to know more about the struggles you're facing with your #wip *right now.* If you'd like answers to your burning writing questions, drop me a line in the comments. I'd love to answer them for you in my upcoming reels!⁠
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#fantasyauthor⁠
#fantasywriter⁠
#fantasyreads⁠
#fantasybookseries⁠
#fantasyseries⁠
#queercreator⁠
#authorlife⁠
#findmywritingcommunity⁠
#writerlife⁠
#writinginspiration⁠
#worldbuilding⁠
#writingtips⁠
#writingadvice⁠
#storytellersaturday⁠
#indieauthor⁠
#indiebooks⁠
#writershelpingwriters⁠
#editorsofinstagram⁠
#authorshelpingauthors⁠
#amediting⁠
#askaneditor
Something I learned this week: accurate time-track Something I learned this week: accurate time-tracking is a game-changer.

If you're an editor trying to make a side-hustle into a business or a writer trying to carve out time to finish your book, time-tracking is one of the most useful tools I've discovered for productivity management.

(Full disclaimer: I'm highly susceptible to distraction.)

When I first started time-tracking, I did the Pomodoro method, working for 90-minute intervals in 30-minute chunks. Friends, when I tell you the number of times I'd take a 'quick break' to look at something and surface an hour later...

Distractability aside, this made it difficult for me to gauge how much time I was actually spending on work in a given day, which made it verrrry interesting to estimate how long it would take me to complete a given project.

If this sounds like you, I tried a simple method this past week that felt like a game-changer:

I used a stopwatch.

Every time I start working, the stopwatch is counting. I still do my Pomodoros, but every time I need to pause working on my client's manuscript (to check texts, to take a call, to pet the cat, to refill my coffee cup), I hit the 'pause' button. That way, I get to compare my 90-minute blocks with the number on the stop watch and see how much of that time I *actually* spent editing.

Not only did this shock me into realizing how much I was struggling with focus, but it left me feeling ✨super motivated✨. Why? Because it was a huge relief to know how quickly I could actually get through a chunk of work if I buckled down. As someone who tends to put off projects if I don't think I can get them done in the time allotted, figuring out my actual working speed was a game-changer.

How do you track your time while you're working? LMK in the comments!
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#amwriting
#writer
#authorgram
#authorsofinstagram
#writersofinstagram
#writerscommunity
#writingcommunity
#bookstagram
#instabook
#instabooks
#authorlife
#findmywritingcommunity
#writingadvice
#writingmotivation
#writingtips
#writerlife
#booklovers
#craftofwriting
#writinginspiration
#authorssupportingauthors
#indieauthor
#selfpublishing
#writerwednesday
#editorsofinstagram
Editing your own work is no joke, and while I've f Editing your own work is no joke, and while I've found a lot of resources out there for writers learning he craft of editorial work, I haven't seen much about work flows and systems. Here's a quick intro to (for me) the most important part: making sure I'm blocking and managing my time and breaks to avoid burning out.

Just because this is something we love to do doesn't mean it isn't hard work. Take care of yourselves, writers!

And if you've finished your self-editing and are looking for a professional to get your developmental edits started, check out my bio (and the links therein) to see if we might be a match!
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#amwriting
#writer
#authorgram
#authorsofinstagram
#writersofinstagram
#writerscommunity
#writingcommunity
#bookstagram
#instabook
#instabooks
#authorlife
#findmywritingcommunity
#writingadvice
#editingmotivation
#selfcare
#writingtips
#writerlife
#booklovers
#craftofwriting
#writinginspiration
#amreadingfantasy
#amreadingromance
#authorssupportingauthors
#indieauthor
#selfpublishing
#writerwednesday
#indiebooks 
#editorsofinstagram
My clients have a wide variety of career goals fro My clients have a wide variety of career goals from indie to trad to small press to online serialization. ⁠
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Are you looking for a developmental editor to help you navigate your edits and take your novel to the next level? I'm a developmental and line editor with a keen eye for craft, and I'd love to work with you on your project.⁠
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Interested in learning more? Check out the link in my bio or DM me with your questions! I'd love to hear from you.⁠
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#amwriting⁠
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#writingcommunity⁠
#fantasy⁠
#amwritingfantasy⁠
#fantasyauthor⁠
#fantasywriter⁠
#fantasyfiction⁠
#fantasynovel⁠
#writershelpingwriters⁠
#fantasyreads⁠
#fantasybookseries⁠
#fantasyseries⁠
#lgbtfantasy⁠
#authorlife⁠
#findmywritingcommunity⁠
#writerlife⁠
#fantasyworld⁠
#worldbuilding⁠
#writingtips⁠
#writingadvice⁠
#editorsofinstagram⁠
#selfpublished⁠
#indieauthor⁠
#indiebooks⁠
#queerownedbusiness⁠
#selfpublishing
Why do I love being a developmental editor?⁠ ⁠ Why do I love being a developmental editor?⁠
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I get to see ideas take shape and immerse myself in someone else’s raw creativity—before it’s perfectly polished, before they have exactly the right words.⁠
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I get to wade into a new world with them, experience it the way it was when they first imagined it, and help them figure out how to translate everything in their mind and heart to the reader.⁠
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I'm an advisor, a teacher, a guide, and a sounding board all rolled into one. Wearing many hats lets me build connections to other editors, to creators, to readers. It's one of the coolest and most rewarding jobs I've ever done.⁠
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I can't wait to see what books come my way throughout the rest of 2022.⁠
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Have questions about developmental editing? I'd love to hear form you 💖.⁠
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#amwriting #writer #authorgram #authorsofinstagram⁠
#writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #bookstagram #instabook #instabooks #authorlife #findmywritingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips #writerlife #booklovers #fantasyworld #characterbuilding #craftofwriting #amreadingfantasy #amreadingromance #authorssupportingauthors #indieauthor #selfpublishing #editorsofinstagram #indiebooks #fictioneditor
Hi, I'm Cee! I'm a developmental and line editor w Hi, I'm Cee! I'm a developmental and line editor who specializes in genre fiction. If you want to publish a polished novel and want a professional's eye on your story, structure, and prose, I can help with that!

For writers who've taken their manuscript as far as they possibly can on their own with self-edits and critique partners, I can start the editorial process with a developmental edit or manuscript critique, followed by a second-pass line edit. Looking for copyeditors and proofreaders? I have a network of colleagues to recommend for later passes.

I'd love to work with you on your story. Get in touch at the link in my bio for a sample edit and to see if we're the right fit!
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#amwriting #writer #authorgram #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #bookstagram #instabook #instabooks #authorlife #editor #editorsofinstagram #findmywritingcommunity #writingadvice #writingtips #writerlife #booklovers #amwritingfantasy #amwritingromance #craftofwriting #authorssupportingauthors #indieauthor #selfpublishing
#writerwednesday #worldbuilding #indiebooks #iwroteabook #writingjourney #coffeeandbooks
Looking for a fiction editor? I still have spring Looking for a fiction editor? I still have spring slots open!⁠
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I’m Cee, a developmental editor for Fantasy, SciFi, and Historical Fiction novels. I’m LGBTQ+ friendly, love a good romantic subplot, and live to help authors make their stories stronger.⁠
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Developmental editing is the first step of the editorial process. It’s the deepest edit I offer, delivering a close reading and analysis of your manuscript with an eye on big-picture story elements.⁠
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Detailed feedback will discuss characterization, point of view, plot, structure, pacing/tension, scene dynamics, worldbuilding/setting, and premise. My feedback process is three-part. I’ll point out what works well, describe what needs improvement in detail, and suggest structural changes to help bring the story more in line with your vision.⁠
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With a developmental edit, you’ll receive:⁠
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• A heavily annotated manuscript full of marginal comments⁠
• An editorial letter (15+ pages) analyzing strengths, weaknesses, and areas for revision and improvement⁠
• A book map: a structural, bird’s eye overview of the story⁠
• An hour-long editorial call⁠
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The link to my site and services is in my bio.⁠
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Get in touch now before I book up!⁠
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#amwriting⁠
#writer⁠
#authorgram⁠
#authorsofinstagram⁠
#writersofinstagram⁠
#writerscommunity⁠
#writingcommunity⁠
#bookstagram⁠
#instabook⁠
#instabooks⁠
#authorlife⁠
#findmywritingcommunity⁠
#writingadvice⁠
#writingtips⁠
#writerlife⁠
#booklovers⁠
#storytellersaturday⁠
#craftofwriting⁠
#amreadingfantasy⁠
#amreadingromance⁠
#authorssupportingauthors⁠
#indieauthor⁠
#selfpublishing⁠
#amediting⁠
#editorsofig⁠
#booklover⁠
#indieauthors⁠
#indiebooks⁠
#amwritingfantasy
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