As a developmental editor, you’ll occasionally (maybe even frequently) encounter clients who need more than what you can offer in a developmental edit. Sometimes they don’t have the skill to do the necessary revision or they simply don’t have the time to do the writing. Seize the Opportunities In these cases, rather than sending the…
If you’re interested in being a book editor, you’d probably like to have a clear idea of what a book editor does! Freelance book editing covers several different types of editing, which are discussed below. What Are the Different Types of Editing? Since I’m a freelance book editor and I teach freelance book editing, I’m…
A book editor needs to get comfortable making editorial decisions in a copyedit. Don’t shift the editorial burden back to the author. Copyediting Requires Decision-Making Obviously, we can’t ask the author to make decisions about every question we have when we’re editing. This is inefficient as it takes time to ask the question and get…
As the main instructor at Club Ed, my goal isn’t just to help people learn the craft of editing but to help them learn how to run a freelance editing business. Running a freelance business is hard – I’ll be the first to say so. But there are some common reasons people don’t succeed, if…
Where do freelance editors get work? Who is in the market for freelance editors? If you’re interested in freelance editing, these are probably the top questions on your mind. The Two Main Categories of Freelance Clients The answer is that freelance editors work (1) directly with authors (usually called indie authors if they’re self-publishing) and…
It’s time for my annual rebuttal against the clouded thinking that you hear in clichés like, “Many people quit just before they’re about to succeed!” When I read or hear something like this, I always wonder, “How on earth would you know that?” Starting and building a freelance editing business is hard. It requires a…
Authors often visualize their stories as if they were movies unreeling in front of them. This is unfortunate because it often means they focus heavily on the visual when the world of narrative offers so much more! Namely, the other four senses—sound, smell, taste, and touch. Using the FIVE Senses: Setting of a Novel Sight…
One key to identifying DE problems is understanding reader expectations, and reader expectations are closely tied to genre. What Are Reader Expectations? When I read a romance, I expect it to end happily ever after. I don’t care if you have a great idea for a heart-breaking ending. I don’t want a heartbreaking ending. I…
Newer editors often tell me something along the lines of “I feel like I have Imposter Syndrome. I don’t feel confident about approaching publishers or other potential clients.” So, clear your schedule and make a cup of tea because I want to talk about these challenges, and I have a lot to say! You’ve probably…
Writers often use setting like a painted backdrop to their stories, rather than as an integral element of their storytelling. As developmental editors, we can help them make the setting come to life. If we think of Wuthering Heights, we think of the Yorkshire moors. When we think of Moby Dick, it’s a whaler on…