Every December, people ask what editors want for Christmas.
- We don’t want socks.
- We don’t want whiskey (okay, that’s a lie).
- Mostly, we want things for you — because when writers are doing well, stories get better, readers are happier, and the whole ecosystem hums along the way it’s supposed to.
So here it is. My completely reasonable, not-at-all-demanding Christmas wish list for my writers.
1. Finish the damn book.
Not polish. Not tweak. Finish. An editor can help shape a story, but we can’t edit intentions.
2. Trust that confusion is not “subtlety.”
If readers say they don’t understand a scene, the problem is not that they’re stupid. It’s that you weren’t being clear.
3. One fewer adverb. Just one.
I’m not asking for abstinence. I’m asking for moderation.
4. Characters who want something badly.
If your protagonist could walk away at any moment and be fine, your reader probably already has.
5. Conflict that isn’t polite.
Nice conversations are for coffee shops, not climaxes.
6. Fewer explanations of things we already understand.
Readers are smart. Let them do a little work. They like that.
7. A willingness to kill your favorite sentence.
You can always reuse it later. The story comes first.
8. Deadlines treated as promises, not vibes.
Life happens. Editors understand that. Silence is the only real problem.
9. The courage to be specific.
Specific details are how stories become yours instead of interchangeable.
10. The confidence to believe you belong here.
If you’re doing the work, you belong. Full stop.
And a quiet bonus wish: Write bravely. Write honestly. Write the book you’d want to read if no one were watching.
At Stories Rule Press, this is the season where we look back at what was written, what was learned, and how much trust it took to put stories into someone else’s hands. Editing is a partnership, and the best ones are built on respect, clarity, and the shared goal of making the story as strong as it can be.
So if you’re one of our writers — past, present, or future — thank you for trusting us with your work. May the coming year bring finished drafts, honest revisions, and stories you’re proud to sign your name to.
Merry Christmas, and here’s to the books we haven’t written yet.
— Mark
SRP Editor