Behind the Red Pen: What to Look for When Vetting an Editor

By Jaire Sims, @JaireSims

Part of the Indie Authors Series

JH: Choosing the right editor for your manuscript is more than just picking the first name on a list or result page. Jaire Sims shares what you need to know when vetting an editor for your novel.

Jaire Sims lives, works, and writes where he was born and raised, Chicago. After spending years with social anxiety and undergoing counseling, he was eventually diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. Still, he overcame the challenges before him, graduating from Monmouth College with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies. Off and on, he worked on and eventually published his debut novel, Getting By, named a finalist in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Jaire hopes to inspire and nurture aspiring authors and, through his work, champion marginalized voices facing similar struggles to him.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

Take it away Jaire…

Editorial Feedback: Friend or Foe?

By Sherry Howard, @SherLHoward

Part of The Writer's Life Series

JH: Feedback is a valuable part of the writing process, but it can also be intimidating. Sherry Howard discusses why you don't need to be afraid of what people think of your writing.

Sherry Howard lives with her children and silly dogs in Middletown, Kentucky. Sherry is the author of the picture book ROCK AND ROLL WOODS, with a starred Kirkus review. Her poems and stories have appeared in multiple journals and anthologies. She also writes for the educational market, with about a dozen books. Her middle grade book, SPIRITS AMONG US, released in October.

Sherry Howard | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Take it away Sherry...

Working with a Freelance Editor (Part Two)

Editor Mollie Traver

By Jana Oliver, @crazyauthorgirl

Part of the Indie Authors Series

JH: Part One of my Q&A with freelance editor Mollie Traver is available here where we discuss her time at St. Martin’s Griffin, the different types of editing and how she made the transition from Big Five editor to freelancer.

Purely by chance, Mollie and I reconnected at the perfect time for both of us: She was launching her editorial business and I was in need of a topnotch professional. I'd just worked with an editor who'd offered good work in the past, but this time they rushed the proofing and it went bad in a heartbeat. Bad like me receiving a note from a NY Times bestselling author, who'd I'd ask to blurb the first book in my Chandler Steele series, kindly informing me there were typos in the finished manuscript. Same with one of my critique partners who reported there were no less than ten typos in the first twenty-five pages.

Ugh. (I used much stronger language than this.)

Simultaneously I was in contact with St. Martin's (who published my first four Demon Trappers books) on a separate matter and learned that Mollie was no longer with the publishing house. A bit of GoogleFu located her on Facebook and I asked if she was editing freelance. I rejoiced when the answer was yes. Since then she's offered full editorial control on the Chandler Series (developmental edits all the way through) as well as editing and proofreading for a number of other projects, including the last three books in my Demon Trappers series.

So let's dig in....

Working with a Freelance Editor (Part One)

Editor Mollie Traver

By Jana Oliver, @crazyauthorgirl

Part of the Indie Authors Series 

 I’m doing something different over the next two months: My guest is Mollie Traver, an intrepid Vermont native who now lives in California. Mollie is my freelance editor, however she and I first met when I was writing Young Adult fiction for St. Martin's Griffin (SMP) in New York.

For this month's post, we're doing a Q&A on what it's like to make that transition from a job at one of the Big Five to an editorial entrepreneur, along with some nuts and bolts about the editorial process. The January 2018 blog post will discuss indie author/freelance editor collaboration.

Red Ink In the Trenches: A Copyeditor’s Perspective

By Dario Ciriello

Part of the Indie Authors Series

I’m going to try to give some different perspective and insight on four common—and often agonizing—questions faced by indie authors:

1. Should I hire a copy editor?

2. What will it cost?

3. What will I get for my money?

4. Can I do it myself?

The short answers to these questions are (1) YES; (2) it varies; (3) that depends; (4) if you’re willing to work hard, you can probably do enough to make a huge difference to the published ms.

Finding Your Perfect Editor and Editing Level

By Jordan McCollum, @JordanMcCollum

Part of the Indie Authors Series

Editing is possibly the #1 most important budget item for an indie author. Depending on your skill level and your process, you may need several rounds of editing to produce a beautiful book—and isn't that what we all want? Working with an editor can seem daunting, but once you're familiar with the process and the levels of editing, you'll be ready to find the best editor for you.

Finding & Working With an Editor

Finding an editor can seem like a daunting task—and it is. Although thousands of editors of varying skill levels have hung out shingles, you don't want just anyone to help you perfect your story. You need someone who can capture your vision, see how to make it even better, and work within your timeline and budget.

Editors and Evolution

By Dana Gynther

JH: I'd like to welcome Dana Gynther to the blog today to chat with us about what it's like working with an editor. It can be an intimidating process--especially the first time--but it can also be a lot of fun and very inspiring.

Dana Gynther spent eighteen months in France after college, then returned to Alabama to earn an MA in French Literature from UA. After marrying a French-speaking Spaniard, she moved to her husband’s hometown, Valencia. They’ve been living there for twenty years where they work as teachers and translators. In fact, she was inspired to write Crossing on the Paris after translating a museum catalog about ocean liners. They also enjoy spending time with their two teenage daughters. You can learn more about her on her website or Facebook.

Take it away Dana...