Borrowed Light​​​
Borrowed Light is a collection of writing and publishing resources from authors and editors whose work has shaped my own.
Every writer borrows light at some point. Here you’ll find the books, voices, and tools I leaned on when I needed help staying with the work.​
Resources listed below are grouped by craft, publishing, and perspective.
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I hope something here offers a small spark along the way.
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Craft
Resources for when I need help with the work itself. Things like structure, language, and how a story learns to breathe on the page.
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Writer's Guide to Character Traits - Linda N. Edelstein, Ph.D.
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The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression - Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi
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Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
Fiction Writing 101: Tips, Tricks and Exercises to Guide Beginning Fiction Writers - Bellever Books
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Publishing
Guidance for when it’s time to bring the work into the world. Things like choices, timing, visibility, and how to move forward without losing what made the story matter in the first place.​
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Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg
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Writing Your Novel From Start to Finish - Joseph Bates
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Self-Publishing To Amazon KDP in 2025 - A Beginner's Guide To Selling E-books, Audiobooks & Paperbacks on Amazon, Audible, & Beyond - Brian Chesson
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Perspective
Truths I lean into when story and self overlap and the writing turns personal. Things like lived experience, emotional truth, and making sense of what the work stirs up.
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Write It All Down - Cathy Rentzenbrink
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Podcasts
Conversations I turn to for perspective, encouragement, and reminders that the creative work is lived as much as it is written.
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In Writing with Hattie Crisell
Honest discussions about the writing life, from habit and craft to fear, failure, and finishing the work.
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Thoughtful guidance on writing, publishing, and making creative choices that last beyond a single book.
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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Straight talk on writing craft and the traditional publishing process, including what works, what doesn’t, and why.
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Motivation with Brendon Burchard
High-impact personal growth and transformation coaching broadcast.
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Wisdom-focused interviews exploring meaning and narrative evolution.
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Links are shared for convenience. What’s here reflects personal use, not endorsement of every viewpoint. These are simply things that help when I needed them most.