Hi Reader!
I'm not a fan of hot and humid days, but I am a fan of sitting outside on summer nights. I love watching the lightning bugs dance across the field. It looks like tiny sparks everywhere. It's fascinating!
When it is hot outside, I love to stay inside where it's nice and cool. Sometimes I'll turn my AC down so it's even cooler and I have an excuse to wrap up in a blanket in read. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this!
Recently, I was reading a fun, cozy mystery. I was really into the story until "Amber" became "Angela." I was so confused! I even had to go back and reread a few pages to make sure I wasn't mistaken.
Has something similar happened in a book you were reading?
That’s exactly why I want to talk about a behind-the-scenes tool that keeps your story (and your sanity) intact.
This Month's Writing Tip ✏️
If you’re writing fiction—whether it’s your first book or your tenth—there’s one often overlooked tool that can save you from headaches, rewrites, and awkward inconsistencies.
It’s called a style sheet. And it’s not just for editors.
A style sheet is a living document that tracks the decisions you make about your story: character names and traits, place names, timeline notes, spelling choices, invented words, biblical references—anything you want to stay consistent throughout your book (or series).
Here’s what often happens:
You name a side character “Julianna” in Chapter 3… and by Chapter 19, she’s mysteriously become “Juliana.” Or a house has a red door, then a blue one. Or someone’s mom is 62, then suddenly 58. You get the idea.
This is why editors love it.
But you should love it too! It saves time, stress, and energy (not to mention money, if you're paying for edits).
It doesn’t have to be fancy. You can keep it in a Word doc, spreadsheet, physical notebook (my favorite!), or even the Notes app on your phone. Just start tracking your choices as you go. Or go back and write down the details when you’re revising.
A few ideas for what to include:
- Character names, ages, quirks, relationships
- Locations and descriptions
- Timeline markers
- Style choices (spelling, punctuation, capitalization)
- Biblical or historical references
- Invented words or expressions
- Anything you’ve looked up more than once!
Marketing yourself as a professional author includes the behind-the-scenes stuff like this. It's part of what builds trust with your audience and your editor.
If you don’t already have a style sheet, start one today.
And if you’d like a simple template to get started, I’ve created one just for you:
👉 Download the Fiction Style Sheet Template:
Word doc: Style Sheet.docx
PDF: Style Sheet.pdf
Let me know how it goes — I love hearing how authors are refining their process.
Need a proofreader you can trust?
If you’re a Christian writer or clean fiction author looking for an extra set of eyes on your work, I’d love to help. I proofread nonfiction, devotionals, blog posts, short stories, novellas, and more.
Take a look at my services page to see if it feels like the right next step.
See you next month!
Michelle
"God has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. This will show God’s loving-favor." 1 Peter 4:10
