Ask Me Anything (March 2025)

It’s Q&A day!

You can submit questions for future months here.

Q. Do you have any advice for selecting the perfect freelance editor?

There is never going to be a perfect freelance editor. You need to find the one that is perfect for you. First, look at the books they’ve worked on and make sure your book feels like it could fit in. Next, read their testimonials or ask to speak with authors they’ve worked with. You can request a sample edit but many don’t offer them. I don’t. I’m a developmental editor. I look at the big picture. Sure I could edit your first 5 pages but what I really need to do is read the whole manuscript and see how those 5 pages fit in. It is a waste of time for both of us to focus on smaller notes when the whole book may need a substantial revision. But you can still get a very good feel for my editing style from the books I’ve worked on and the praise I’ve received on my website - and ideally that holds true for any editor you consider. Finally, make sure you’re on board with their price and their communication style. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid of annoying them. You can shop like you would for any business.

Photo by Jayanth Muppaneni on Unsplash

Q. How many times do you typically have to read through a manuscript to edit it?

I read once for fun. And I ideally want no spoilers or explanations before I dive in. I want to read as any agent or acquiring editor would, completely blind. During that read I start forming my impressions and - sometimes - write a few notes. I am trying to understand what the manuscript itself is telling me only through the words on the page. Once I finish, I read again with track / changes turned on. I write down everything I’m thinking and I also keep a document full of overall notes. During this time, I’m usually dreaming about the manuscript, contemplating it on walks, making sure I see the whole picture and can help the author take their vision to the next level. It is all about their vision. That is why it is important for me to read the whole thing before I start implementing any of my own thoughts. I’m helping them with what they’ve written, not what I think they should have written - which is something many less professional readers or editors do. I consider my editing like I’m giving them a flashlight to get through a dark cave when they’ve lost the map. I don’t take my job lightly. It is an honor to be a part of every single one of the hundreds of books I’ve edited. I make sure my clients know how much fun I’m having while reading - I always point out places that made me laugh or smile or scream or cry - so they know that even though there might be a few things to “fix” there is also something very, very magical happening. ** I edit this way for anything I edit. I specialize in crime fiction and romance at the moment, but I can and have edited everything (from self help to true crime to television tie-ins to YA and anything in between).

Q. I received feedback from an editor on my first 25 pages, but I’m stuck on how to address it. Help!

First, make sure you agree with what they’re telling you. This is still your book and you don’t have to take all or any of their advice, although ideally you chose the perfect editor for you (see first question) and you’re open to their feedback and it aligns with your vision of the book. Still you don’t need to take every note. Decide what you agree with and want to tackle and then dive in. I would attack the big picture items first and then go through the smaller ones in order. Take one item at a time and take a break if you get overwhelmed. If you get completely stuck, ideally your editing agreement allows for questions or brainstorming. And hopefully they’ll read your revision when you’re done so they can weigh in on how your new draft works.

Q. How much of the “token diversity” issue described in Yellowface is still true in publishing today?

I don’t know. I no longer work at a publishing house and I tend to keep my eyes inside the manuscripts I’m editing. I would hope publishers have made more than a token effort, but I can’t say for sure. So…do any of my readers know? Do any publishing folks want to address this question in a future guest post? If so, reach out to me through my website. I’d love to know the answer.

Q. How can I find beta readers?

I wrote a post previously on making writer friends and you can use that advice for finding beta readers as well.

Friendship 101

But just make sure you find the “right” ones! Here’s advice on some common pitfalls to avoid.

Critique Groups

How did you find your beta readers? I’d love to hear and so would other writers. Please share in the comments.

That’s it for this month, but I am always here for questions. And, if you upgrade to a paid subscription, you can ask me your questions directly inside our exclusive chat. It is like having your own personal editor in your phone!

Until next time,