My favorite trend has been the uptick in diversity among authors and the stories being told. There’s still a whole lot of work to be done, especially within publishing houses, but watching authors of all kinds claim a spot at the table has been amazing to behold. And then my least favorite is extremely petty, so I apologize—but when the industry has a slew of titles with the same structure or keywords all at once? My memory is spotty at best, so it gets embarrassing trying to recall exactly what I’m looking for…

“You’re writing about boys because you are one.” Before I came out as trans, everyone in my life thought it was strange that I wrote stories about men. It made me self-conscious and unwilling to push my writing to the places it needed to go. It wasn’t until I embraced my gender identity that I finally discovered the stories I was always meant to tell, and my writing exploded with heart and meaning. 

The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht: lush, disturbing, and delightfully queer. There’s nothing I love more than a twisted monster who devotes his life to the service of a man he adores—the more unsettling, the better. I actually own two copies!

Comparing yourself to other writers. It’s only cliché because it’s true. It’s a surefire way to feel awful about yourself, especially if you’re wondering why your first draft isn’t as good as their NYT Bestseller. There’s nothing wrong with trying to learn from other writers and improving yourself, but for the most part? Eyes on your own paper, y’all.

My book collection! I have the privilege of a private library in my apartment (aka my living room), and I’ve never spent a dollar on a book that I’ve regretted—the books I love teach me how to write better, and the books I dislike do just the same…except I get rid of them when I’m done.