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Angela James

Join my newsletter for publishing, writing and marketing tips and advice! Angela James (she/her) is a #1 New York Times bestselling fiction freelance editor and author career coach, and has enjoyed two decades in genre fiction publishing. She's edited bestselling books and authors, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Paper Princess by Erin Watt, as well as hundreds of other authors such as Mariah Stewart, Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken, A.C. Arthur, Jaci Burton, Ilona Andrews, Alexa Riley, Lilith Saintcrow, Josh Lanyon, K.A. Mitchell, Shannon Stacey, and more. She is also the creator of Before You Hit Send: a popular online self-editing and writing workshop as well as Book Boss: From Written to Recommended, a supportive and growing author community. For more information about Angela’s freelance editorial and consulting services visit angelajames.co.

Featured Post

A fresh hello and the age-old question: Do you love stinky cheese?

Hey there! Whether you're new to my newsletter or we've been connected for a while, I thought this would be a perfect time for a (re)introduction as we wrap-up Bookmas and head into 2025! I'm Angela James, a #1 New York Times bestselling editor and author career coach with over two decades in publishing. If we haven't chatted before–or if it's been a while–here's what you should know about me: I love cheese (the stinkier the better), overuse exclamation points (and parentheses–thanks, ADHD)...

Don’t want to get any more emails in the next few weeks about the Just Keep Writing membership? Click here and we’ll keep you off this round of emails. You’ll still get regular updates from me, just not about the membership. Hey Reader, Let’s talk about something that matters deeply to me—and to the Just Keep Writing community: Inclusion. Not in the “corporate checklist” kind of way. Not as a buzzword. But as an intentional, ongoing commitment to making this space feel safer, more welcoming,...

This week I'm asking how you like to learn new information. You can select all that apply (this poll also includes a bonus question if you're interested in answering a follow-up).

A stylized illustration features a red cardinal with a stern expression, sitting at a desk with a green bowl in front of it and steam in the form of "IS" rising from a mug labeled “MY.” Above the cardinal, the word "Creativity" is written in large, flowin

Hey Reader, Let’s talk about what one of my clients described as that "icky feeling"—the one that creeps in when you’re about to send a newsletter, schedule a promo, or talk about your book online… and then your brain chimes in: “Is this really the time? Should I be selling anything right now? Doesn’t this feel gross?” I’ve been hearing that a lot lately. And I get it. The world feels like is a dumpster fire some days—and in the middle of all that, marketing your book might feel...

Don’t want to get any more emails in the next few weeks about the Just Keep Writing membership? Click here and we’ll keep you off this round of emails. You’ll still get regular updates from me, just not about the membership. Hey Reader, Let’s be real for a minute. The world feels really heavy right now. The news, the noise, the endless scroll—it’s a lot. And when your brain is already full, finding the clarity and calm to sit down and write? Nearly impossible. That’s part of the reason I...

Don’t want to get any more emails in the next few weeks about the Just Keep Writing membership? Click here and we’ll keep you off this round of emails. You’ll still get regular updates from me, just not about the membership. Hey Reader, Let’s talk about something that gets overlooked in a lot of writing advice: Accountability. It’s not glamorous. It’s not flashy. But it’s often the exact thing that turns “I want to write a book” into “I just finished my manuscript.” And it’s at the heart of...

Don’t want to get any more emails in the next few weeks about the Just Keep Writing membership? Click here and we’ll keep you off this round of emails. You’ll still get regular updates from me, just not about the membership. Hey Reader, What if you had a space to write where: You actually got words down instead of just thinking about writing You didn’t have to write alone You could drop in anytime—literally 24/7—and find other authors doing the same thing That’s exactly what happens inside...

Hey Reader, This is a super short email. Just a simple one question poll. Click the image to vote (it will open the poll in your browser). Thanks for voting! Hope your week is full of good stuff! ~Angela When the world feels loud, your writing space doesn’t have to.Just Keep Writing is your low-pressure, high-support writing sanctuary—open 24/7 for whenever you’re ready to return to the page. Join us! Work with me on your next fiction book! Check out my services page for the service that's...

Hey Reader, You know that book you've been trying to write? The one that lives in your head, or half-drafted in a folder, or quietly judging you from the back of your mind? It’s not that you’re not serious. It’s not that you don’t care. But life happens. Distractions show up. And sometimes your brain says, “Maybe tomorrow.” Here’s the truth:The #1 reason most writers don’t finish their books isn’t lack of talent. It’s lack of a consistent space (and time) to show up—and people who will meet...

Book Boss® Just Keep Writing" The words "Just Keep" are in large, bold, textured block letters in light blue. The word "Writing" is in a looser, cursive-style script in dark blue and overlaps slightly with the block text. Above everything is the stylized

Hey Reader, Imagine a distraction-free sanctuary where you consistently finish more writing in a month than you have in the past few months—without the pressure, burnout, or social media noise. I'm super excited to share something new with you today that Dan and I have been working on behind the scenes for months. Introducing Just Keep Writing, a $9/month membership focused on one key thing (the most important thing): helping you actually write and finish your books. After years of working...

Hey Reader, You know those offers where you barely have to think about it? You just read the email, get excited, and hit “buy” because you know it’ll be good? That’s every offer I’ve ever bought from Elizabeth (Lizzy) Goddard. 🙌 You know you've heard me talk about her before if you've been here for any amount of time. Her stuff is quick, clever, and ridiculously easy to implement. No fluff. No time-wasters. Just actual business magic. ✨ That's why I spend more money with Lizzy than I do any...