August 22, 2026: first (full) week of editing!

So technically I started editing last week on Wednesday, but with my brother-in-law’s birthday last weekend and the adrenaline rush of finishing the first draft, I can tell you I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but I’m always grateful to get to spend time with my family. I am working with my editor on developmental edits, and we are so far ahead of schedule right now that taking a couple days off actually won’t hurt me in the long run. You guys better be getting excited for the rest of this editing series! If you’re nice… maybe my editor will write a journal post for you ;)

Also, check out George Mallen, Character Profile now live!

See you soon,

K. McClendon

August 29, 2026: Flow doesn’t always have to be smooth!

This week, I’ve noticed that while I am thoroughly enjoying editing so far, I am having a hard time finding a good rhythm. I am having lots of new ideas for tweaks and additions, but as I’m trying to add them to the first draft, I’m noticing that I find myself flipping back and forth to make sure that they all fit nicely with the rest of the story. Thankfully, my editor is way more decisive than I am and she has been wonderful in helping me refine these ideas before I write them in so that I have a clear intention and course of action for their integration to the book. JB, I know you’re reading this, so thank you!!!!

Theodore Holland’s Character Profile is now live! 

Bye for now!

K. McClendon

September 05, 2026: over halfway!!

This week I have officially breached the halfway point of the first re-read. I’m grateful for all the insightful comments my editor has made, but now I’m getting to the meaty parts where the edits we made in the first half will become bigger changes in these later chapters. Thankfully, my editor is also one to write everything down multiple times so we don’t forget what our ideas were or what the game plan was for that specific change. So, I am just waiting on her final notes before I grind out the second half of developmental edits. Or, the first round of them anyway. She's actually ahead of me and only has a few chapters left, so it won't be long until I'm back to work at it! Maybe... JUST MAYBE, she'll write a journal entry when she finishes the first read through and give you some of her thoughts. Maybe!

Devereaux Montclair's Character Profile is now live!

Oh, and if you do some digging on the website you’ll find an interest form for Advanced Reader Copies ;)

See you soon,

K. McClendon

September 12, 2026: Editor Check-In

Editor here. I’m done. The manuscript survived. Barely. 

After weeks of K. threatening to hand over the journal to me, the timing finally feels right because I can officially say: I am completely finished with the first round of developmental edits!

Editing this book has been such a unique experience. Somewhere between leaving entirely too many comments, questioning characters’ life choices and facetimeing K. with ideas at random hours, I realized just how much I enjoyed helping shape the story into its strongest version.

My favorite part of developmental editing has been watching the story become stronger without losing what made it hers in the first place. My job was never to rewrite K.’s story. I was there to add fire. To make the painful moments really hurt, the tense moments suffocating and the twists and tricks impossible to forget.

Now, my notes are finished and the manuscript is officially back in her hands.

Which means my work here is done.

For now. ;)

K., thank you for trusting me with something so important to you. Now stop reading this and go work on my edits.

— JB

Only one little note from me! Julian & Marienne Montclair's Character Profile now live :) 

- K. McClendon

September 19, 2026: wrapping up the first read-through!

This week I have been working on the last touches for this first round of editing. We have added two chapters, and made a lot of changes, but only ones that were going to add to the story in a way that felt right. Today, specifically, I am working on the final check, looking through my editors notes alongside my new second draft to make sure I don’t miss anything before we start the next round!

Don’t forget to fill out the ARC Reader Interest Form if you are interested in joining my ARC team for No One Is Coming To Save You. Applications will open 10/01!

Till next week,

K. McClendon