Well Preserved Indeed!
Inky Archive for March 2025
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This is Magic & Ink, where I write about fantasy writing and creative living. In this month’s Inky Archive you can:
Cut the fat!
Check out my “viral” YouTube video.
Share your opinion on serial fiction.
“I am old, Gandalf. I don't look it, but I am beginning to feel it in my heart of hearts. Well-preserved indeed! Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread. That can't be right. I need a change, or something.”
— J.R.R. Tolkien, "The Lord of the Rings"
🎂 March Mutterings
Today is my birthday! But when you read this, it will be tomorrow and I’ll be off enjoying a day at the spa, a little birthday treat to myself. Last year, I had a birthday massage while I was on retreat at Esalen in Big Sur — surely an experience I will never be able to replicate in a local day spa, but I promise to give it my best shot.
March is always a great time of year for me — not just because of my birthday, but because spring is my favorite season and I always feel especially vibrant and creative. This was especially true this year, because of how hard January and February were. It was nice to really feel like I was accomplishing things and making progress towards (some of) my goals.
My nascent YouTube channel occupied a lot of my time this month, and my first video of the month took off with a lot more vigor than I expected. I mean, it’s not viral — it’s sitting below 800 views at this point, but given that everything else is below 20 views, that is a lot! There were some lovely comments about my voice, too, which were nice, since I don’t know that I have a particularly nice speaking voice.1 Recording myself and then listening to that recording over and over again as I edited the video was a challenge, to say the least! So it was super reassuring to have people express their appreciation.
I also finished a short story that has been sitting on my computer since 2017. Or nearly finished. It might need a few more tweaks before I send it off for editors to start rejecting.2 It feel so goods to have that checked off my writing to-do list at last, and maybe it’s not the best story ever written, but it’s special to me, and maybe someday some readers will find it special, too.
That’s three solid reasons to go celebrate, don’t you think? What about you? What are you celebrating this month? Leave a comment below!
🖋️ Spilled Ink: Cutting Added Fat
When we’re watching what you eat, we read nutrition labels in order to avoid added fats and sugars. When we revise our writing, we also need to keep an eye out for additives, particularly filler words that hike up your word count while adding no value to your story or prose.
Filler words like “just,” “really,” “very,” and “actually” easy to spot — in fact, you can use your word processor to search for them and weed them out. While these words seem harmless, they add little value. For example, “She was very tired” lacks the punch of “She was exhausted.” Cutting “very” forces a stronger choice, making the writing more vivid.
Common fillers include phrases like “started to” or “began to.” Similarly, phrases like “He began to run” can usually be simplified to “He ran,” eliminating extra words without losing meaning. The only time you need to use “started to” or “began to” is if the action is immediately interrupted; for example, “He started to run, but his ankle twisted under his weight.”
The word “that” is probably the trickiest of all to weed out. While there are times when it’s grammatically necessary to include it, more often than not you can cut it without altering the sense of your sentence.
A great way to spot filler words is through revision. Reading aloud helps identify weak spots, and using editing tools or critique partners can highlight overused words. By trimming the excess, writers ensure their fiction remains sharp, immersive, and impactful.
🌟 When is it the right time to hire a developmental editor for your novel? I’m booking slots for spring and beyond. Send me an email to learn more!
🪝Catch Up: March in Review
In case you’ve missed it, here what I’ve published this month.
On Substack:
Blood, Breath, Bone & Biceps
"The king died and then the queen died" is just a couple of events, or what we would call plot points today. A bunch of plot points together make up the plot. Story is what gives those plot points meaning, the connective tissue that's made up of emotion and theme and beautiful language. Plot is what happens, story is why — or more correctly, why we care.
On my blog:
On YouTube:
Tired of listening to me? Here’s some other writers and creators that caught my attention this month:
✅ Chime In: Serial Fiction
I think it’s super exciting that so many writers are experimenting with publishing their work serially on Substack and other platforms. However, it’s not a format that really appeals to me as a reader. I don’t even like to wait for the next book in a series anymore, let alone having to wait for every chapter. But I’m curious about other readers. Do you enjoy serial fiction? Cast your vote in the poll and leave a comment if you have more to say. Feel free to drop a link to your own serial fiction!
💰If You Want to Support Magic & Ink
Paid subscriptions are on, though the only benefit right now is a discount on developmental editing services, plus the knowledge that you’re helping support my work. I’m working on ideas for premium content and/or community, though, so that will hopefully change in the near future.
In the meantime, if you want to support my work, you can always buy me a chai.
That’s all for this month. In April, you can expect to see some more videos, maybe an interview (finger crossed) and photos of jacarandas.
That’s it! That’s the newsletter! See you all next month.
Kindly,
Stace
There’s a story about why I think this, but I’ll save it for another time.
Just keeping it real.
Happy birthday! A SPA day sounds great, hope it was nice and relaxing ~ and congrats on the YouTube channel!
Many happy returns of the day!