Look, we get it. Paying for an editor is a big commitment, and handing over your hard work takes a lot of trust. It’s right for you to want to know what you can expect in advance. And we want to be as transparent as possible for you. While each editor’s deliverable may look a bit different, there’s honestly more that we can provide anyway. So, we’re here to give you an overview of the kinds of outcomes you can expect when working with one:
Offer an Outside Perspective
Let me guess, you’ve been working on a story (at the very least in the back of your head) for what feels like forever. You keep tweaking and nudging and hoping you’re making progress, but you’re too close to the project to really feel certain anymore. It sounds like it’s time for you get a reader’s opinion. And who is better than a professional? Many freelance editors offer beta reading services at a reasonable price. It’s a great opportunity for them to get to know your work and for you to get to know theirs, especially if you think you’ll want an editor later.
Rebuild Scenes that Aren’t Hitting the Mark
Having trouble with a scene that’s important to your story? You don’t have to pay for a whole developmental edit to get another perspective on it. Working with a book coach can give you an editorial eye in a more targeted way. Bring your difficulties to the table, and a book coach will give you ideas, resources, and industry knowledge to help you find the best next step while writing or revising your own work whether it’s a scene, outline, character arc, or theme.
Stabilize Your Story Structure
One of the first things an agent will do while reviewing a full request is check the big moments in your story against their structure checkpoints. Even if they don’t have a physical list, these checkpoints are so ingrained into storytelling that they’ll be able to feel it while reading if the story is off. Even if you’re familiar with them, you may be too close to the story to have a clear perspective on your checkpoints. Getting this point of view from a developmental editor can mean the difference between an offer and an onslaught of unhelpful “I just wasn’t feeling it” form letter rejections.
Help You Align with Industry Standards
Best practices for genre, manuscript length, scene length, chapter structure, query letters, and more. As a writer, there are many aspects to the publishing industry you’re kept out of the loop on. It’s a great advantage when you’re writing so you can let your creativity run free and come up with something fascinating. But it can be difficult as you go to edit and query. Without transparent feedback, it’s hard to make progress, but an independent editor with no affiliation with an agency or publishing house has no reason to sugar coat it for you. You deserve answers, and they can give them.
Create an Addictive Reader Experience
A page-turner, a thinker, an emotional overhaul, one that sticks with you, one that keeps you coming back. When it comes down to it, you’re probably wanting your book to be loved by readers. While your story concept, characters, themes, setting, and tone are all yours creatively, a great plot and pacing are based in human psychology. If you don’t know the nuts and bolts of it to get your story to bestseller status, an indie editor with the right knowledge can get you the rest of the way.
Diagnose Why You’re Not Getting Far Querying
Querying is maddening. It’s an onslaught of rejection. There are all kinds of hidden standards that can get you cut before they even see your pages. The feedback you get is enormously general at best, and usually you don’t get any at all. How are you supposed to improve without it? That’s what we’re here for. Hopefully it’s a chance to get better and feel a little more sane.
Give Your Story a Professional Polish
Just because an editor is working independently doesn’t mean they don’t have the capability of giving you the professional finish you expect from a traditional publishing house. Having something in perfect condition isn’t necessary when you’re hoping to traditionally publish, but if you’re wanting to self-publish your novel, it can help you edge out the competition.
Not every author had plans to work with an indie editor when they first got started. It’s a pretty new situation created by the constant squeeze of profitability and growth that capitalism has on the publishing industry. But if you’re considering it, their professional perspective can greatly increase your chances of landing an agent or finding a large readership through self-publishing. Still, it’s likely you’re finding yourself with questions. If so, we’re here to help! Reach out to our team to learn more about how an indie editor can help you meet your publishing goals.
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