Host Edith welcomes returning guest Ekta Garg—author, editor, and book reviewer—to discuss the writing and publishing journey. Ekta explains editing stages (developmental editing, line/copy editing, proofreading) and shares that she now offers manuscript assessments focused on character, dialogue, plot, tension, and conflict. She advises writers to finish a draft, step away for at least a month, revise multiple times, and clarify themes and a short pitch before paying for professional editing. Ekta recommends reading widely, informally reviewing books to train craft awareness, and writing consistently while letting author voice develop over time; she also encourages experimenting with flash fiction, short forms, and poetry to build precision. The conversation addresses concerns about AI in creative work, its environmental impact, and the value of human community. Ekta also describes how she selects and schedules reviews using NetGalley ARCs and emphasizes persistence and community as keys to publishing.00:00 Welcome Back Ekta01:15 Editing Services Overview03:57 Types of Editors Explained05:09 When to Hire an Editor09:43 Tools and Organization Tips10:46 Toughest Editing Challenges13:26 How to Build Writing Craft17:31 Finding Your Author Voice20:38 Short Forms to Improve24:24 AI and Creative Integrity29:25 AI in Schools and Society32:27 Staying Informed About AI33:55 AI Temptation Trap35:57 Writers Need Humans37:12 AI Echoes Blind Spots39:10 Reading Builds Empathy40:40 Books Scarier Than Film44:41 Choosing Books To Review48:13 Reading Formats And Habits50:43 Getting Into Audiobooks54:27 Publishing Takes Persistence58:49 Final Thanks And SignoffIf you like what we do, you might consider buying us a coffee. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/booklovercom⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/bookcompanion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://book-lovers-companion.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/book_companion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ez.fiction.7⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/book_companion/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vyAyrh3zzsxNeexfyU0uA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feedback is always welcome: [email protected] Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

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