Episode 48: Stuck in Self-Editing? How to Make Progress Without Perfection
Tue Jan 20 2026
In this writer education podcast from the Story Savvy Series, we break down how to use developmental editing advice, the print-and-mark edit method, and storytelling improvement tips to move forward when you're stuck self-editing. Learn how to define theme and message, rethink story structure and editing, and stay focused even when editing repetitive words gets frustrating.
Hosted by developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com], this episode offers guidance for writers feeling overwhelmed or stalled in the self-editing process. Whether you're fighting decision paralysis or second-guessing structural choices, you'll learn how to make progress without striving for perfection.
In this Episode
Practical mindset shifts to move past resistance and perfectionism
Fast placeholders for audience, genre, and theme so you keep momentum
Scene-level fixes for sticky plot beats and arcs
Lightweight final-pass cleanups (speaker clarity, typos, scene breaks)
How long to try, when to pause, and when to return after outside feedback
Resources
Hartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/
Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.com
Dragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com
More
In this writer education podcast from the Story Savvy Series, we break down how to use developmental editing advice, the print-and-mark edit method, and storytelling improvement tips to move forward when you're stuck self-editing. Learn how to define theme and message, rethink story structure and editing, and stay focused even when editing repetitive words gets frustrating. Hosted by developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [agneswolfeauthor.com], this episode offers guidance for writers feeling overwhelmed or stalled in the self-editing process. Whether you're fighting decision paralysis or second-guessing structural choices, you'll learn how to make progress without striving for perfection. In this Episode Practical mindset shifts to move past resistance and perfectionism Fast placeholders for audience, genre, and theme so you keep momentum Scene-level fixes for sticky plot beats and arcs Lightweight final-pass cleanups (speaker clarity, typos, scene breaks) How long to try, when to pause, and when to return after outside feedback Resources Hartbound Developmental Editing - https://hartboundediting.com/ Agnes Wolfe - agneswolfeauthor.com Dragonheart Academy - Dragonheartacademy.com