I accidentally wrote a little book. Earlier this year I started getting a lot of questions: ❓What does an editor really do? ❓Why is editing important? ❓When am I supposed to work with one? ❓How do I get the most of working with an editor? ❓Where do I find a good one? So I started writing up some answers. Drawing explanatory flow charts. Sharing them here on LinkedIn and getting positive feedback. Writing some more. And then one night, when my husband asked me from the other side of the couch why I was still typing, I answered: "I seem to be writing a book, actually." We were both surprised! The result is a trim but substantive ebook called All About Editing for Nonfiction Authors: What Editors Really Do, When You Need One, and How to Find the Right One for You. It'll be ready in January but is available for pre-order at a sweet price this month. (Comment below or DM me if you want more info!) In the meantime, please help me make this resource as useful as possible by starting a discussion in the comments: ➡️ What confuses you or makes you nervous about the editorial process? ➡️ What makes editing seem intimidating or overwhelming? ➡️ What do you wish someone had told you in advance about working with an editor? ➡️ And fellow editors, what questions do you get over and over again from potential clients? PS: Here are my earrings for sprint day 10 for all of you on #earringwatch (and thanks to Yinka Ewuola for this delightful hashtag!).
Hi Hannah! I'm definitely interested in purchasing your book! I'm a new proofreader specializing in self-help books by independent authors, and I'd like to become more familiar with the complete editing process that goes into nonfiction books.
Hannah de Keijzer - sounds great! Definitely interested. Thanks!
I think as someone who writes a lot, the question of WHEN ENGAGE EDITOR hums in the background — ie before or after getting some beta readers? When to know your manuscript is really ready for editing — because it’s a question that feels like it has a big overwhelming 🤷🏼♀️ What questions are good to ask in determining this answer? But let’s say I feel my manuscript is ready to share. Do I THEN get dev editing help as a next step? (Or beta readers first?) How many rounds of dev editing typically? Then for people who haven’t written in their careers, I’d suspect knowing the difference between the types of editing is key. (As someone here pointed out.) Having some big overarching view of the steps and ROUGHLY when they happen can provide a handy little map so Brain is like ah ok. I can see this journey now.
Hahaha I love the accidental writing a book method! It’s how a few of mine have started… Also loving earring watch :)
Hannah, the folks in your thread covered a lot of ground! I would add that many authors want to know how likely it is for their book to become a bestseller/hit/etc. And the ever-frustrating response of "It depends!" applies here too. The question of trad vs. self-pub comes first. Then inquiries into the author's audience and reach. Then questions about budget/time for marketing, editing, etc. And even then, there are no guarantees in the book world, and no editor can ever promise a book's success in the face of so many variables.
This is awesome! Jessica Pearse I feel like you’d enjoy this.
📚 Vicky Quinn Fraser, I wonder if your microbookers have some questions or concerns about the editorial process? I'd appreciate hearing from them if they'd be comfortable sharing here! I can't include everything, but I really do want to make this as useful as possible.
Go you writing a book 📚 and loving earring watch!
Hey Hannah! I “accidentally” wrote a book! Love that! Main questions I get asked: “How much do you charge?” and “How long will it take?” Oh, and, “Can you do it cheaper?”😳
ok GORGEOUS earrings! For me it’s mostly anxiety I’ll be somehow judged in the editing process! Do you ever find yourself judging clients juuuust a teensy bit? 👀