@Juno Baker That makes a lot of sense, especially with how unpredictable platforms can be lately. When you say you’ve struggled to find your loudspeaker, do you mean audience reach specifically, or converting readers into reviews and repeat buyers? I’m really curious how short story authors are navigating visibility right now without a big ad budget.

@Kathryn Brown 80% through a line edit is no small feat, especially with Fantasy. That’s impressive. Are you finding the line edit more about tightening prose, or catching deeper structural/world building consistency issues? And smart move lining up a beta reader before moving to D that feedback loop can make publishing feel a lot less intimidating.

@Gabby Martini Yeah that’s right

@James Blair You’re absolutely right to avoid generalisation, and that nuance matters. The real distinction isn’t talent but process. A professionally published novel has usually passed through multiple layers of scrutiny agents, editors, proofreaders, and market readers. Each acting as a quality filter. In theory, this reduces technical flaws and improves clarity, structure, and consistency. That said, more eyes do not automatically mean better art. Those same layers can sometimes smooth out originality in favor of predictability or commercial safety. Conversely, a self published author who invests seriously in editing, feedback, and revision can achieve or exceed the same level of quality. So the difference isn’t professional vs amateur, or traditional vs self published. It’s rigor vs shortcuts. A strong book is the result of disciplined craft, honest revision, and respect for the reader regardless of the publishing path. The best authors focus less on the label and more on the standards they hold themselves to.