| |

Get the Support You Need

ByJennifer Lawler

How do you get the support you need as a writer? Well, here’s how to know when it’s not the support you need.

Get the Support You Need: A Little Horror Story

When I was an acquisitions editor, I heard from an author who wanted to pull her book from publication because her friends had found a bunch of errors in the ARC (that’s the Advanced Reading Copy of a book, which is sent out to reviewers before the book is published).

Of course, I was concerned, as I had seen nothing but a handful of typos typical of an ARC and asked if the friends could provide further information about what they’d seen.

They couldn’t because it was just a joke—a little prank they were playing on the author, who was absolutely devastated by what they did.

This story still haunts me years later.

If you can’t be happy for your friend’s success, then just STFU.

If your friends can’t be happy for your success, and they can’t STFU, then you need new friends.

foundations of storytelling for writers to get the support you need.

Tips for Editors & Writers

  • 10 Things a Developmental Editor Looks for in an Edit

    A fiction editor looks for specific concerns in a manuscript. The following checklist can help you understand the basic story problems you may encounter as developmental editor. #1 Is this a type of genre fiction? If so, does it conform to genre requirements/expectations? If it is genre fiction but does not conform to expectations, is…

    Read more…

  • Characteristics of Successful Freelancers

    My daughter likes the idea of dogs more than she actually likes the reality of them, sort of like me and home ownership. So we both enjoy these things safely at a distance. “What a cute house!” I say as I walk on by. “What a cute dog!” she says as she walks on by….

    Read more…

  • The Connection Between Character and Plot

    As editors, we need to understand the connection between character and plot and how to support authors in developing this relationship effectively. Causes of Implausible Plot Events A common problem you’ll come across when editing fiction is a situation where characters are shoved around like chess pieces. Margie the protagonist winds up slapping her best…

    Read more…

Join the Club!

how to become an editor
Sign Up Now

New to story editing? Begin at the beginning.

Sign Up Now

For more stories, and stories about the stories…

subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletter

Subscribe Here

Similar Posts

|

Setting Client Expectations

ByJennifer Lawler

Setting client expectations at the very beginning of a working relationship is necessary to provide the best editing services when working with authors. Setting Client Expectations: What Does the Client Want? Because editorial functions can go by different names, the first rule of freelance editing (whether developmental or otherwise) is to figure out what your…

|

Effective Client Communication for Book Editors

ByJennifer Lawler

Managing client expectations is necessary for a successful business so here are my tips for effective client communication for book editors. My Top Tip for Effective Client Communication for Book Editors One way to avoid an unhappy client is to communicate all relevant information from the very beginning of your relationship with them. Clearly stated…

|

Build Your Editing Business on a Budget

ByJennifer Lawler

Starting and running a freelance business costs money, and you need to know how to build your editing business on a budget. This is an unfortunate irony at a time when many people have lost their jobs and would like to freelance to earn income but don’t have much spare change to invest in it….

|

How Publishers Acquire Novels

ByJennifer Lawler

If you’re an author hoping to have your work traditionally published, it helps to know how publishers acquire novels so you can navigate the process successfully. Do be aware that while some publishers accept direct submissions from authors, many (especially bigger publishers) don’t, and you’ll need to find an agent first. Information on querying agents…

|

How Traditional Publishing Works

ByJennifer Lawler

Here’s a quick overview of the publishing process for authors and editors to gain a better understanding of how traditional publishing works. Basic Information about How Traditional Publishing Works You’re an author who is interested in publishing the traditional route—getting an agent, landing a book deal, seeing the book on the shelf in the local…

foundations of storytelling for writers.
|

How to Write a Novel Synopsis

ByJennifer Lawler

Where I share the basics of how to write a novel synopsis and what exactly it is—plus a novel synopsis example for show-and-tell. What Is a Novel Synopsis? A novel synopsis is a description of the characters and storyline of an author’s manuscript. A brief synopsis runs two or three single-spaced pages, while a longer…