I've been fortunate to have people around me whose love for language and weaving narrative matches my own. Writing is very much a self-directed activity. Countless hours of work go into crafting scenes let alone whole books. This work is generally unrewarded until a mostly coherent piece has been established, however, if an author can connect with individuals or a group to exchange ideas, section editing or even novel swaps then a whole new depth is added to the process.

I prefer to work with individuals rather than a group and the person I've worked most with over the years is Accalia Leigh. Since meeting in high school writing has been a foundation of our friendship, navigating the intricate layers of plot, characterisation and world building a constant source of joy for us both. One of the most challenging aspects of assisting someone else with their book is providing feedback without rewriting their story in your own words.

The first full story I helped Accalia edit was 'Dance of the Chaos Winds'. It, more than the ones that followed, suffered from this aspect of me being a novice editor. Because I had particular word preferences, sentence structures and even punctuation styles I liberally applied these to 'Chaos Winds'. As a result, the story has a lot of my author's voice in it. What an author should do is suggest changes based on sentence structure, comprehensiveness and story enrichment, not make another's tale their own.

Thankfully, Accalia and me have increased our editing experience so this is not nearly as much of an issue anymore. Something I've found helps to eliminate this tendency is planning multiple editing sessions. The flow I usually follow is: Round 1 consists primarily of detail-oriented editing like sentence structure, word choice and comprehensiveness. Round 2 involves a deeper look at the story, characters and world, ensuring that each of the aforementioned is fleshed out, believable and interesting. Depending on how much editing is required in rounds 1 and 2, a 3rd round might be necessary so that the changes are well-integrated.

Accalia and I usually alternate between stories at different stages of editing to avoid boredom and errors linked to familiarity. An example is that, once round 2 of Story A is complete, we will move onto editing Story B in round 1. Once round 1 of Story B has been completed, we will then go back to Story A and perform a round 3 edit.

This sequence has worked very well and our stories are much improved by it. Having a dedicated writing/editing partner is amazing and should be treasured. It's just as important to have as many readers as possible review the story since, the more who do, the better it will become. Every person has their strength when it comes to narratives as well as their preferences. Incorporating the opinions of multiple readers will make the story the strongest it can be.

On that note, I want to say that you, the author, should not feel pressured to utilise all the recommendations you receive. You envisioned and wrote the tale so are the person who knows best what you're trying to say in it. All feedback is valuable, but what you implement should only bolster your original vision, not transform it into someone else's.

April Camp NANOWRIMO is next month. If you're looking for a community of writers to support your creative endeavours, it's a fantastic place to start!

You've likely noticed that the vast majority of films made recently are either remakes of existing ones or continuations of franchises. I knew this to be true but was struck by just how pervasive the trend is last time I went to the theater. Not one of the trailers I saw featured a story from a unique universe. There was another 'Fast and Furious' sequel, an X-men tale, a Beauty and the Beast remake etc. There may be nothing new under the sun but surely we can construct new creations rather than overusing the characters and settings just because they're popular!

Now, it's true that my movie choices contribute to this trend. The movie I was there to see was a story in the Star Wars universe. We like to watch narratives in worlds and with characters we're familiar with, provided they're done well. It saves us having to learn new lore and backgrounds. Such stories can even add intrigue by building on the established foundations in unexpected ways.

However, this phenomenon should be acknowledge for what it is: companies opting to financially support stories that they know will sell. Even if the remake of Beauty and the Beast is disappointing, it will more than likely make-up its budget by simply attracting those who loved the original and want to see what it's like. I can understand this desire for safe investments yet there's no denying that different stories need to be told to progress our cultural cannon.

Diversification is the optimal way of handling these competing interests. Utilise the rights a company has to tell the stories that will be popular, but also ensure that a portion of the films being produced tell unique narratives. These are the ones that are going to garner the largest acclaim and may give birth to new franchises. One of the best examples from this past year is Zootopia.

While its themes and methods are familiar, its narrative illustrated tensions faced by our current society. Tolerance, acceptance of difference, gender/racial equality are all topics subtly addressed in this movie that, at first, looks like the simple tale of a bunny that wants to be a cop. The story is told in an attractive and interesting setting where the talent and creativity are visible in every scene. Getting to know Judy and Nick as they work off each other is as exciting as the animal-centric environment around them. Zootopia is consumable by a general audience with enough substance to make it deeper than a standard buddy-cop movie staring anthropomorphic critters.

Fostering a reality where such films are invested in is critical to artistic advancement. Still, having pointed out its positive aspects, I admit Zootopia is still a fairly safe bet where financial investment is concerned. Adult-themed movies are generally riskier, particularly as they begin to illustrate specific circumstances and groups. Yet these must be told. They provide awareness of current events and perspectives. Such works make us aware of ourselves in this space of time and this reflection enables us to shape the future we desire.

So, if you're an artist of any kind continue pursuing your unique vision. These are what drive our culture forward and must be seen as valuable, although they may not be as financially lucrative as a retelling. In addition to pursuing your own creations, make a point of seeing one unique film this year. Without support, these stories will continue being de-prioritised.