fiction
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! I didn’t read my editorial letter in one sitting. I couldn’t. The letter was long, detailed, and deeply thoughtful. The kind of feedback that doesn’t just touch your sentences, but your story’s bones. And after starting it, I felt something I didn’t expect: I felt completely exhausted. Not just “tired,” but…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! There’s a strange tension that arrives during this phase of the writing life. Your book is finished but not finished. It’s out of your hands, but not really. Your editor is deep inside the work, pulling at structure, pacing, intention. And you’re left with time. Space. Quiet. This is the week…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! There’s a version of every story that never makes it into the book. It lives in deleted scenes, abandoned subplots, and characters who once felt essential yet quietly stepped aside so the story could breathe. This week, I want to talk about that version of The Pretender’s Game. The Scenes I Let Go Of…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! When writers talk about editing, it’s often reduced to a single, intimidating word, editing, as if it’s one sweeping process where your book is either “fixed” or “broken.” The reality is far more layered, intentional, and, when done well, deeply collaborative. Right now, The Pretender’s Game is undergoing both developmental editing…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! There are moments in the creative process that feel less like milestones and more like thresholds. This is one of them. I’m thrilled to share that The Pretender’s Game: Book One is officially complete! What follows is the process, step by step, from completion to what comes next. Step One: Finishing the Manuscript…
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The Story Behind Introducing My Second Protagonist By Peggy Arthur Greetings! When I first started writing The Pretender’s Game, I tried giving every chapter a different character perspective. It seemed ambitious and artistic, until it completely stumped me. Instead of one novel, I suddenly had multiple stories pulling me in different directions. Too many voices, too…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! Artificial intelligence, or AI, has become one of my most valuable tools as I craft the world of The Pretender’s Game. I use it in three key ways: research, planning and plotting, and formatting. Research While The Pretender’s Game is a work of fantasy, it’s deeply rooted in reality. And contrary to popular belief – I don’t…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! I had the opportunity to interview my Book Coach, Dianne Pearce of Current Words Publishing. I met Dianne at the 2025 Atlanta Writers Club Self-Publishing Conference this past March, and she helped me gain confidence in myself as a writer. Please allow me to share this inspiring conversation with you especially if you’re an…
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By Peggy Arthur Greetings! Recently, I decided to journey into Stephen King’s Fairy Tale via Audible. The audiobook runs about twenty-four hours long; but every minute was worth it. King weaves an extraordinary tale that begins in grief and unfolds into a sweeping adventure that feels both timeless and familiar. What truly elevated the experience for me…
Peggy Arthur 