NOTE: I’ve known Michele for over four years through her writing critique group, Unbreakable Spines. She’s a proficient editor and wears a variety of editing hats. She’s an editor at Preview 918 magazine-a popular regional lifestyle magazine-a book editor, and co-founder of Writing Well Workshop, a community providing local writing workshops. And she’s also written a variety of books.
Question: What are some of your day to day tasks as a magazine editor at Preview 918?
I write for Preview, act as the social media director, and am an editor/proofreader, which means I do a little bit of everything, honestly. The day-to-day work includes everything from interviewing and doing write-ups to reviewing what our advertisers are doing that is new, so we can share it on our social media feeds. I also check out writing samples from would-be new freelancers and coach writers when they have questions about how to handle the things that come up in their article writing.
Question: Why is a book editor so important for an author’s manuscript?
I always say that great writing is made not in the act of writing, but in the act of editing. Editing is where you really look at what’s on the page and get honest about what’s working and what isn’t. It’s where you look at what you’re sharing from the perspective of a reader, which is essential because a book is really a conversation, isn’t it? A successful conversation involves two people — the author and the reader. So you have to be sure your book is communicating clearly what you want it to say, or you won’t be having an effective conversation with your reader.
But editing your own work can be hard, and it helps enormously to have a fresh set of eyes assessing your work for you. That’s where your editor comes in.
What a book editor does is twofold:
- First, I play the role of reader, noting areas where readers will have questions. I point out how I reacted and interpreted things as a reader, so you can assess whether that was what you were going for. If you wanted to convey that your character is nervous, but your readers are thinking she’s angry and mean, something has gotten lost in translation. Editors point that out for you.
- The other thing editors do, which is very important, is that we work with you to problem-solve. If you want us to look at story structure, then we’ll give you feedback on the elements of your story and help you find solutions for what needs help. If you want line edits (sentence structures, paragraph styles, etc.), we look at those elements and catch areas where you can improve.
The overall goal, of course, is always to help you end up with the very best book you can produce at this time. The better the book, the more likely it is that the book will connect with readers. And that’s your goal, right? : )
Question: What are the different levels of book editing?
Typically, what you’ll see are three levels of editing and this applies for both fiction and non-fiction writing:
- First, there’s developmental editing (sometimes called content editing or structural editing), which takes a look at the big picture of your book. These areas have to be dealt with before you look at the nitty-gritty.
Questions at this level include: Are the themes working? Is the overall message clear? Does the book fit into the genre you’re writing to? If you’re writing fiction, things like how your scenes are being developed, effective descriptions, clear character motivations, etc., come in at the developmental level. If you’re writing nonfiction, developmental edits look at how well you’re doing at making your overall point, whether there’s adequate evidence for the points you’re making, and so on.
- Second, there’s line editing. I’ve also seen this called copy editing. At this level, your book’s overall shape and structure are good, but you’re looking at how your prose flows and making that flow better.
Questions at this level include: Are your sentences engaging? Is your point in each sentence and each paragraph clear? Could you improve your word choices to paint a clearer picture? How can you add more personality to your writing style? Errors get fixed here, but more importantly, if you’re willing to look closely at these details and make changes, you can elevate your writing from “just ok” prose to prose that is more poetic and moving.
- Finally, there’s proofreading. This level is focused on fixing all the little things that show off your writing at its very best. This catches those missing commas, corrects verb tenses, etc.
And editors can often do other things for you too, if needed, such as an editorial assessment (a short overview of what’s working and what’s not in your writing), fact-checking, etc. If you’re wondering about it, just ask. If your editor doesn’t do what you need help with, they likely can suggest others who can.
Question: What steps do you recommend a writer take when preparing their manuscript for an editor?
I’d say make sure you are presenting the best manuscript that you can, so you get the most out of the editing process. The manuscript should be completed, typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins, in Times New Roman 12-point font.
If you have a good sense of what you need help with, or if you have specific questions you’d like the editor to address, feel free to mention those.
Also, be ready to have an open mind and heart to the editing process. I know firsthand from my own writing work, as well as editing others, that the knee-jerk reaction we can have to an editor is to say, “But my stuff is good!” This manifests in resisting the advice you’re getting, or feeling defensive, or desiring to explain what you were going for. And this is totally understandable. I get it!
But the reality is that if your editor is bringing up something, it’s because they’re trying to help you connect with your readers. Good editors want you to succeed. Also, be ready to have an open mind and heart to the editing process. I can’t say that enough. We want you to succeed. So embrace what may feel like tough love, because it will make your writing better.
Question: What genres do you enjoy editing? And why?
I like editing non-fiction books with a message or teaching, probably because I have a teaching background and can help you pinpoint areas where you can add to your teaching to get your point across better.
I also particularly enjoy science fiction, fantasy, and romance because I read those genres a lot and feel comfortable with them. It’s a good idea to find an editor who reads your genre a lot, by the way. They’ll be well versed in the tropes and structures common to your genre, which can be very helpful.
I have edited plenty of Christian books as well as secular books, and I’m happy to do both.
About the only things I don’t edit are hardcore erotica or horror. I don’t read those types of books, so I wouldn’t be able to give good feedback on them.
Question: What books have you written?
I have a book of short stories on Amazon called Freaks and Other Monsters, which are light-hearted, humorous or slightly bent fairy tales and fantasy stories. I also have an ebook called Out to Get Me: Chipper Musings on Daily Life, the Universe, and Evil Snack Foods, which is taken from funny and philosophical essays from an old blog of mine. I’m working on a mystery novel right now.
Contact Michele on her website:
Social Media platforms: @chippermuse on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook