Working with an Editor
You have written your book. A labor of love that took months, or even years. Your first draft, which you are feeling rather proud of, is ready.
You did everything properly. To avoid the multitude of problems that often plague newbie writers, such as lack of character motivation, plot holes, misaligned timelines, forgotten themes and motifs, and conflicting storylines, you had a good outline to follow.
Not only do you have a solid framework, but you have a story that fits with your genre’s tropes and conventions. A story that has a well-defined niche to market. And a story that conforms to the reader’s expectation, but still has enough original materials and new ideas to mark it as distinctly yours.
Your plan is to secure an agent with a winning proposal or become a captain in the self-publishing industry.
No matter what your next step may be, you are going to need an agent.
This is when I sometimes hear the writer’s protest. There was a time—pre-Amazon—where submitting to an agent without editing would be unheard of. Everyone understood the importance of having a seasoned veteran review your work, someone who not only understands the mechanics of writing but is also well versed in the ins and outs of the publishing world.
These days, with the writer now in charge of so many business aspects of writing like selecting a cover, building a writer platform, and creating a marketing enterprise on social media, they mistakenly believe that the editing is up to them as well.
It is not.
If I said, I have a friend who is an excellent dancer. They showed me a few steps and now I am going to audition for the New York City Ballet. You would think I had lost my mind.
If I were to suggest that I can now try out for the Dodgers because my friend and I played a rousing game of catch in the backyard, you would put me on medication.
Yet so many people think they can enter the professional arena of the publishing world because they let their friends read their manuscript. “Don’t worry, she is great at English.”
It is silly to the point of being tragic. And represents a real lack of understanding of their chosen industry.
Let me be plain and direct.
Grammarly will not help you sell books.
Your English Major friend will not help you land an agent. To think otherwise is sheer folly.
Beta readers and your friends can be a part of the creative process. They help provide a writer with needed feedback. Helping a writer determine the success of their creative experiments is something they are very good at.
They are not a replacement for an expert who can help you revise your structure, fix plot anomalies, enhance a character, and build dramatic tension.
And I have yet to meet a beta reader or a friend who was also an expert in the publishing industry with a track record of getting writers published.
One other great caution regarding relying on friends and beta readers is that they may not tell you everything.
It is wonderful that you have people in your life who will offer positive feedback, praise, reassurance, and motivation.
But you also need someone who can diplomatically and tactfully show you places where your writing is not working. Point out the flaws and inconsistencies. And just flat out tell you that something is not going well.
Very few friends have the expertise or the willingness to be that frank and honest with a writer.
A good editor will look at your book’s style, voice, and impact. They will not only fix what is wrong, but guide you and instruct you to be a better writer.
A good editor wants your book to sparkle. Their deepest satisfaction comes from you making something that shines.
I am never prouder than when one of my clients publishes a successful book.
And I am committed to helping that writer do whatever is necessary to thrive in this business.
I recommend getting a sample edit before deciding to work with an editor. Pay attention to what they say and how they say it, and make sure their style of teaching and critiquing is a good match for your personality.
Are you looking for someone to just confirm that you are a talented writer? Are you looking for an editor who will only point out the good things and hide any potentially negative comment?
Some writers just want that. They are looking for an editor who only has nice things to say.
Other writers are looking for an experienced hand to guide them. They are looking for direct and honest feedback. To create their best work possible, they want to know what is not working. They are looking for more than just encouraging words and moral support. They want to learn and grow, and they understand that a detailed analysis of their writing is the best way to improve.
Get a sample edit and see if what that editor offers is what you are truly looking for.
A quick note about the different levels of editing.
Developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading, and so on. There is an easier way to think about this.
You want an editor who can do anything needed to help you grow as a writing and improve your novel.
You need an editor who will meet you where you are. Only hire an editor who will work with you through all the stages of writing. From Development restructuring to proofing and fine tuning. Hire someone who will work at the level your book needs and take it to completion.
No matter what level your book is, know that an excellent editor is always in your corner. They are working side-by-side with you with the same goal in mind, to produce the best book possible.
Finally, a superb editor will work hard to maintain your unique writer’s voice. You have your unique flair, style, idiosyncrasies, and nuanced traits.
Those are what make your book stand out from the others. It is what makes your writing yours.
Make sure those characteristics remain in the novel. Never let an editor paint over your special brushstrokes. That is yours and yours alone.
One last bit of advice on editors. When you find a good one, hold on to them. You possess something rare and valuable. Someone who will share all that they have for you to thrive in this cutthroat business. They are precious.
Are you ready to hear what an experienced editor has to say about YOUR material? There is no time like the present.
Eric Myers
submissions@warpspeedediting.com
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