Why You Should Find an Editor Who Makes You Believe In Yourself (don't wait to read this one)

[image description: A table with a stack of books on one side and a notebook turned to a blank page with a pen on top on the other side.]

A couple of months ago, I got an email from a woman asking if I’d edit her book manuscript. I LOVE editing creative nonfiction, especially long-form projects, so I was all in.

The beauty of editing creative nonfiction is that it’s telling about the author’s life. This is especially true for memoir, which this manuscript was. You learn so much about people, sometimes things they’ve told few others or never told anyone, and reveal patterns of meaning spanning years of their lives. A writer who comes to an editor a stranger leaves as a friend.

That’s why I was especially flattered when my client (and now friend) Kim wrote this sweet blog post about what it was like to wrap up editing her book this month. We’ve been working together to bring her book to life and it’s finally ready for the world. I’m so proud of her!

So many times over the course of working together Kim said, “I never thought I’d write a book!” and “I can’t believe this is really happening!”

What might sometimes feel like an impossible dream doesn’t have to be.

I strive to be the kind of editor I’d want to have for my own work. I don’t care if my editor has a lot in common with me or is a card carrying member of the Grammar Police. As long as she believes in my overall vision and is committed to helping me achieve the goals I set for the piece––whether it’s self-publishing or traditionally publishing at the biggest house in NYC––that’s what matters.

To me, an editor’s job is to do everything they can to make the manuscript better, including suggesting that the author cut sections and add new sections. Contrary to popular belief, editing isn’t just improving what’s on the page. Improving the manuscript overall means editing what’s not on the page too, and guiding the author to fill in the missing pieces.

Writing a book is such a mentally and emotionally exhausting process, so at the end of the day, I think one of the best things an editor can do is make the author believe in their manuscript and, in doing so, believe in themselves.

Since starting this book blog in 2014, I’ve probably heard at least 200 authors speak––from multi-author book events to panels to workshops, most of which never get blogged about. Regardless of whether an author has published one book or a hundred, they all have one thing in common: they constantly doubt themselves. They forever wonder if the thing they’re currently working on is any good.

It may be impossible to entirely erase those doubts, but the right editor will at least help put your mind at ease.

That’s my personal editing philosophy and always what I’m striving for with my clients.

If you have a book in you, I hope you find an editor who makes you believe in yourself. Whether that’s me or someone else, that’s my wish for you.

And if you’re interested in me being your editor, I have some openings and would love to hear about your project.

I also understand that trusting your work with anyone is scary. So I’m doing something I’ve never done before…

I’m offering to edit a sample of your writing for free.

That’s right. FREE.

(My business coach is going to kill me for this!!)

Between now and Friday, December 13th at 11:59pm ET, you can send me a single piece of writing up to 400 words and I’ll edit it for free. Then if you decide we’re a good fit, I’d love to work with you.

(If you decide we’re not a good fit, no hard feelings. Tell me what you’re looking for in an editor and I’ll refer you to someone else I think would be a better fit.)

I’ve got some openings in my freelance schedule, which tend to fill up pretty quickly. I take clients on a first come, first served basis, so don’t wait to send me your writing sample. Once my freelance schedule is full, it’s full.

If you’re ready to take your book, essay, blog post, or other creative nonfiction of any length to the next level, send me your writing sample now. I can’t wait to read it!