How to Hire a Book Editor?

Writing a book is one of the most rewarding yet challenging endeavours a person can undertake. It can take months or even years to bring a story to life, and many authors make the same common mistakes that could have been avoided if they’d hired a book editor for assistance.

Common Mistakes Authors Make When Writing a Book

One of the must common mistakes authors make is not taking the time to plan their stories. Having a clear outline and understanding of where the story is going before it’s written can vastly improve the quality of the finished manuscript. An editor can provide valuable feedback and assistance in setting a more focused outline that can help make your story come alive page-by-page.

As editors, we provide valuable feedback and assistance to authors in the process of writing by:

► Identifying the main problem or conflict in the story, and suggesting ways to make it more clearly defined.

► Pointing out areas of the plot that lack focus and need to be condensed or fleshed out.

► Offering suggestions for introducing characters and other plot points more effectively.

► Having the author review your work to identify any potential narrative or structural holes, and providing ways to address them.

► Providing resources and references that can assist with the author’s research.

► Asking questions to spark the author’s creative process to take their story in a new or novel direction.

► Creating a well-structured outline to keep the author on track to ensure that all elements of the story are considered.

The editor can help an author create a stronger and more focused story by assessing their writing and pushing them to think more critically and creatively. By providing tangible advice and suggestions, the editor can help the author stay on track and improve the overall quality of their work.

Another mistake many authors make is neglecting to add detail to their writing. Without details, it can be difficult to keep a reader’s attention throughout the entire story, as they’re unable to connect with characters and the environment on a deeper level.

An editor can provide thoughtful guidance to help an author in making sure their story is filled with the right level of details necessary for a captivating narrative.

By means of:

► Examining the plot and discussing with the author how best to use and develop it for the story.

► Determining if the pacing of the narrative is in order to ensure a captivating story.

► Asking the author to provide greater insight into characters and stories by providing personal details that make the characters more interesting and fleshed out rather than two-dimensional.

► Providing suggestions for effective description and dialogue in order to better engage readers.

► Suggesting techniques to progress the story through scene transitions and character arcs.

► Recommending modifications to moments and plot points that could be better incorporated into the plot.

► Making the author aware of the importance of plot structure, such as rising and falling action and plot points.

► Pointing out inconsistencies in the plot or logic gaps between events and plot points.

► Advising the author to allow the story to breathe, so as to not overload it with too much information and exposition.

► Analysing the current version of the story and prioritising changes to effectively enhance it.

Often an author may jump between writing styles making their prose jarring. Writing in a variety of forms and styles is well and good, but when it’s done excessively it can be distracting for readers and make it difficult for them to follow the story.

An editor is well-versed in the various writing styles, and can give advice on the best way to transition between them or even eliminate unnecessary ones.

This is achieved by:

► Discussing the importance of finding the right balance between different writing styles to create a consistent and engaging narrative.

► Suggesting adjustments to certain sections of the story to soften the impact of any abrupt shifts in the writing style.

► Advise on the use of various literary techniques and specific structures to bridge the transition between writing styles.

► Guiding the author to identify and eliminate any writing style that detracts from their story.

► Offering advice on fine-tuning the execution of certain scenes and action sequences to match the target writing style.

► Recommending the use of subtle devices to delineate different writing styles in their work.

► Guiding the author in developing their writing style in a consistent manner for their target audience.

► Demonstrating how to craft a single trajectory for the plot arc that leads to a satisfying conclusion.

► Suggesting different ways for the author to unify the different writing styles and keep their story cohesive.

► Providing constructive feedback on how to refine the author’s style to make it more effective.

How to Hire a Book Editor

We pride ourselves in bringing out the best from our authors. Working with an experienced editor can be a source of valuable insight into the publishing process, as well as a trusted source of support and advice to the author and make all the difference in helping the author land a publishing deal, successfully self-publish their book or in getting signed by a literary agent.

Book Editing Services

► Creative Editing

► Developmental Editing

► Manuscript Assessments

Hire a Book Editor Below!

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