A Black woman in Victorian clothing writes at a desk in a moody gothic library lit by candles.

The Author Alchemist:

Editing, Copywriting, & Coaching Services

Unleash story magic!

Talena Winters, a blond Caucasian woman, smiles at the camera in front of a bookshelf full of books.

Unleash Story Magic

Hello, Word Wizard!

Are you ready to overcome what’s holding you back in your writing craft?

I can help.

I’m an experienced developmental and copy editor for middle grade, young adult, and general audiences specializing in:

  • fantasy

  • science fiction

  • suspense

  • thriller

  • adventure

  • romance

  • women’s fiction

  • memoir

I help struggling independent authors unlock their inner word wizard and write their best stories.

Are you ready to make some magic?

Author and Brand Services

What My Clients Say

  • Cover for The Book of Chaos (Starfell Book 1)

    “She didn’t just help my story become stronger, but the improvements in my writing skills have been significant.”

    JESSICA RENWICK, AWARD-WINNING MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY WRITER (DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING)

  • A hand holds an open paperback in front of mystical foggy mountains.

    “Wow! Wow! Wow! Just finished reading the whole critique (for the 2nd/3rd time) and can’t get over your thoroughness, insight and clarity.”

    ROCHELL LAMPIN ON THE FULL ASSESSMENT FOR HER YA ACADEMY SERIES

  • Cover of inspirational memoir The Road to Jubilee by Melissa Keaster.

    “Talena helped me fine-tune my wandering book blurb into something that will sell the book. Recommend!”

    MELISSA KEASTER, AUTHOR OF THE ROAD TO JUBILEE (BOOK DESCRIPTION EDITING)

  • Fantasy image of a woman holding an open book in an enclose world where the night sky looks like a window.

    “Your detailed notes were great! After I applied your suggestions across my manuscript, I decided to query again and had a request for a partial from an agent. Those changes were beyond helpful!”

    KELLY HARPER ON THE PARTIAL + STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT OF HER EPIC FANTASY NOVEL

  • Cover for urban fantasy book Broken Witch by Robin Marr.

    “Talena is a joy to work with. The whole experience was an exercise in cooperation and teamwork, and I felt deeply included throughout.”

    ROBIN MARR, UPDATE OF BOOK DESCRIPTION FOR URBAN FANTASY BOOK BROKEN WITCH

See My Editing Portfolio

Resources for Writers:

Recent Posts

The Author Alchemist
Publishing Myths: Writers Write Every Day
Publishing Myths: Writers Write Every Day

Do real writers need to write every day? I tackle this question in today's post to uncover what's myth and what's fact.

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The Unbreakable Promise: Hooking Readers through Expectations
The Unbreakable Promise: Hooking Readers through Expectations

In this first post in the “Strong Beginnings” series, we’ll explore the promises made in a compelling first act that engross your reader so completely they don’t stop reading until they get all the way to the satisfying conclusion of your story.

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The Plotting Dilemma: Making Story Structure Work for You
The Plotting Dilemma: Making Story Structure Work for You

The beautiful thing about the structure of the Flexible Writer’s Framework is that you can apply it at any stage of your writing process—which makes it perfect for pantsers and plotters alike. Learn how it works in this post.

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Introducing The Flexible Writer’s Blueprint Book
Introducing The Flexible Writer’s Blueprint Book

A brief introduction to my upcoming book for writers, The Flexible Writer's Blueprint: How to Structure Your Novel for Plotters, Pantsers, and Everyone In Between and how you can get early access and get your questions answered now.

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The Alchemy of Story: 5 Ways to Transform Words into Gold
The Alchemy of Story: 5 Ways to Transform Words into Gold

Story and alchemy have more in common than you'd think. An introduction to the relaunch of the Author Alchemist blog/newsletter, and five ways our stories compare with the philosophy of alchemy.

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Make It Count: Weed Out Crutch Words for Stronger Fiction Writing
Make It Count: Weed Out Crutch Words for Stronger Fiction Writing

Crutch words are filler words that, if they were removed, wouldn’t affect the meaning of a sentence at all—and might actually improve it. Learn to spot common culprits in this post.

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Adverbs: The Devil of Fiction Writing?
Adverbs: The Devil of Fiction Writing?

Adverbs are often demonized carte blanche in popular writing advice. But should they be? Are there ever instances where using an adverb is the right decision?

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May I Offer You a Conflict Sandwich?
May I Offer You a Conflict Sandwich?

Balancing descriptive details with a compelling narrative can be tricky. Use this Conflict Sandwich recipe to help you make a pièce de résistance.

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How to Write Satisfying Scenes
How to Write Satisfying Scenes

Many writers struggle with knowing how to make a scene relevant to their story or make it move the story conflict forward in a satisfying, compelling way. Read this for some pointers to help fix your own sagging scenes.

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My Top Recommended Resources for Authors
My Top Recommended Resources for Authors

After ten years studying the craft and business of writing, here are my top recommendations for podcasts, blogs, books, and newsletter lists to add to your arsenal as a writer this year.

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