This is the type of coaching you receive as a part of my writers room. Upgrade your subscription to paid and you will receive weekly writing tips and techniques, writing prompts, and more to support your evolution as a writer.
One of the biggest mistakes authors often make is that they fall in love with their words, and do not adhere to a comprehensive editorial process.
I’ll be honest, I am the queen of the run-on sentence, the overuse of metaphors, and typos galore.
You’ll probably notice some of this when I post my blogs. Mostly it’s because I don’t pay for an editor to thoroughly review my work when I’m writing these brief blogs and essays. Although I do attempt to do my own cleanup. It’s OK, we’re all friends here.
But if you intend to publish a book, and want to be taken seriously by potential publishers, or even if you self publish, using the proper editors will make the difference in the success of your book.
Below is a breakdown of the different types of editors. Good editors can cost a significant amount of money and they’re worth it. This is one area you should not skimp on your budget.
Especially if you are a first time author, I highly suggest you work with a writing coach who can support you in the first phase of editing, the developmental editor.
Start working with them as early as possible, even before you start writing. This will save you a significant amount of time and rewrites.
This is where your book and story structure foundation will be laid, and if it’s laid properly from the get-go, your book will be easily readable, have flow and a solid structure. Then moving to the other phases of editing will be less costly and require less rewrites.
Book editing involves various types of editors, each focusing on different aspects of the manuscript:
Developmental Editor: Works on the overall structure and content of the book, including plot development, character arcs, pacing, and thematic consistency.
Line Editor: Focuses on the language and style of the text, improving sentence structure, clarity, and flow while addressing issues like redundancy and tone.
Copy Editor: Ensures grammatical accuracy, consistency in usage, and adherence to style guides. This editor corrects spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors.
Proofreader: The final step in the editing process, a proofreader looks for typos, formatting issues, and minor errors that might have been overlooked in earlier stages.
Acquisitions Editor: Works for publishing houses to select and acquire manuscripts, often providing initial feedback and helping shape the book’s direction before the editing process begins.
Content Editor: Similar to a developmental editor, but may focus more on the factual accuracy and reliability of the content, especially in non-fiction works.
Each editor plays a crucial role in refining a manuscript to ensure it is polished and ready for publication.
Start by. Learning the art of story structure and acquiring the tools to outline your book. Check out my Intro Writing Course - This isn’t you basic Intro BTW - this is a short yet in-depth course in story structure, story development, character development, outlining and more! Learn how to use the Hero’s Journey to write your book, blogs, essays - Fiction or Non-Fiction!
"I am loving the process that Betsy guides us through in our MasterMind group. It's forcing me to dig deeper, ask tougher questions and face things I may have skirted over had I been writing on my own. The process is also becoming a beautiful container for greater inspiration to flow. I am remembering moments and events that I had forgotten that I definitely want to include in the story! Thank you so much, Betsy, for the expertise and for the love and support. You provide a perfect balance of honest feedback and cheerleading as I move through raw vulnerability toward authentic expression." - Catherine Stilo, Mastermind Group 2024