Editing Philosophies

When deciding to support authors in their writing journey, I needed to think about how best to serve them and what my approach would be. I thought I would share with you my key philosophies as an editor.

• Writing is hard. Therefore, I treat any manuscripts on my desk with respect and an understanding of what goes into its creation.

• The goal is always to enhance. How can I help a manuscript reach its full potential? How can I work with an author to ensure the foundations and big picture elements of their novel are strong before it undergoes the later stages of editing?

• The author's voice should be maintained. I take time to gauge what an author wants to convey and achieve with their work. It’s their book and always will be. Any suggestions I make are for the author to decide whether to implement or discard them. They have full creative control.

• I advocate for readers. Is there anything that might pull them out of the reading experience or make it less enjoyable? Is there content that might be harmful to certain groups or require reader discretion?

• There’s more than one way to publish. Authors have their reasons for choosing a particular route. Whether that is traditionally publishing their work, self-publishing or undergoing a hybrid version, I believe all publishing paths have their pros and cons and that there is no “right” or “wrong” way. This is a personal decision made by the author after weighing up the factors involved.

• Transparency and honesty. I will always communicate openly with clients about the scope of a project, what will be included, my rates, training and what to expect when working with me. Clients should feel at ease and have all the information needed before work begins.

• Approachability. I'm open to questions!

• Thoughtful feedback. Clients should not only know what a specific issue might be in their writing, but why it’s an issue, along with potential solutions. I believe in well-rounded comments based on writing craft theory. I’m not a fan of and would never condone feedback that is tactless, condescending or provided harshly.

• Encouragement. I celebrate the “wows”, the parts where an author’s writing is excelling and their strengths. Clients should have a fresh love of their story going forward and be able to carry these strengths into future works.

• Caring about authors post-edit. What resources can I suggest that are tailored to the needs of their manuscript when revising? What professionals can I recommend for the next steps in the publishing process? Show me your reviews and your shiny, new book cover when it’s done, please!

This is not an exhaustive list but underpins much of what I strive to do. What values do you look for in an editor?