Trusting Our Precious Creation to an Editor
As writers, we all need to get an arm’s length perspective of our work from many angles before it’s ready for the hyper-critical eyes of an agent or publisher. Even if we opt for self-publishing, there’s no point in going through all the effort of formatting something that isn’t as close to perfect as we can get it without nitpicking it to death forever.
Like a mother with her first-born child, we hesitate to turn the heart and soul we’ve put into our work over to just anyone, knowing whoever we choose wouldn’t be doing their job if they didn’t point out all the flaws and offer suggestions for fixing them.
If you’re like me, you start talking to people who’ve used editors for their now-published work. In the process, you hear a few horror stories, but you also learn you’ve done a few things right so you’re in a better position to choose as wisely as possible from a selection of recommended and previously met options.
Since the first book I plan to publish is my memoir, Life Torn Asunder: Rebuilding After Suicide, my first criteria was an editor who was well-versed in the ins and outs of the genre. My first stop was a few of the writers’ groups I’ve joined on Facebook. I asked for recommendations from the members with mixed results.
Recommendations vs. Throwing a Hat in the Ring
Some people feel a request for a recommendation includes throwing their own hat into the 
ring. I must confess, there was a time I believed the same, but learned after awhile throwing my own hat into the ring never yielded even a nibble. Others are no different than me in wanting an impartial recommendation. I also look for testimonials from people who’ve used the service provider (in this case editor) and have published a memoir they edited with positive results. A couple of the recommendations I received had no visible memoir experience. They may have edited a memoir or two, but I’m not inclined to talk to fifteen possibles when I can narrow my list down to two or three who clearly have the requisite experience I’m seeking.
The process has been a learning experience for me, and not only in the obvious ways. I’m learning to be cognizant of the wording when someone is looking for a product or service. If they say something like “who offers such-and-such service?” I could conceivably throw my hat in the ring, knowing they’re going to get at least a dozen like me. As I’ve yet to compile testimonials, I’m likely to fall short unless someone speaks up on my behalf (which has happened a couple of times). People who do their research will check out each website. If they’re like me, they will move on if they don’t see at least a few testimonials from satisfied clients.
It’s rather humbling as many of us have been doing what we do for quite awhile, but either haven’t done enough to warrant a collection of testimonials, or, like me have trouble asking for them. I’m beginning to realize it’s an important marketing tool especially for those of us who don’t like being pushy or sales-y.
Finding the Right Fit
The second part of my selection process involves having a conversation with the three or four possibles I’ve selected from the recommendations. Sometimes it takes a few emails back and forth to make it happen. After all, a good editor probably has a fair share of projects in their pipeline. Sometimes you get lucky and catch a couple in a quiet space between projects, which is what happened to me. I was able to have long conversations with two of my three possibles.
In some ways, those conversations made my choice clear, and in others, a little harder. I loved the first one I talked to. It was a little harder to find a mutually convenient time to talk with the other. In the end, I really liked them both (the third kind of fell off the face of the earth, thereby taking herself out of the running).
To be honest, I feel confident either of the two would do justice to my memoir, though I say that with some trepidation. I know there will be a lot of red ink when all is said and done, but also guidance on how to make the book tighter, more interesting and perhaps even more powerful in its message.
Using Price Only to Break a Tie
I’ve learned from the horrific experience of my ill-fated remodel that lowest price isn’t the most 
important criteria when choosing a service provider. Though my frugal, Jewish mind tends to lean in that direction, I make it clear as I weigh the pros and cons it should not be even in the top five for reasons to choose one over the other.
On the bright side, I have four other books which will eventually need an editor, and I feel good about using either one (at least at this point) when the time comes. I have a feeling it will be an advantage to have more than one editor I trust with my work. There will be times when one or the other (hopefully not both!) won’t be available and I would rather not wait a month or two before she can start my project. It’s nice to have options.
In speaking to other authors who’ve taken a chance with sites like Reedsy, results have been mixed. As with any amalgamation of services, you take your chances unless you can find someone who’s used a person and been satisfied, if not overjoyed. My preference is and will continue to be recommendations from people I’ve met, follow, and respect. My single foray into the Conference world when I attended #SCWC last year has yielded a wealth of information and recommendations.
Getting Out of My Own Way and Letting the Process Happen
At this point, I’m having to force myself to refrain from re-reading what I’ve done, rewritten, and edited a couple of times myself. It’s not easy to keep myself from going back now that I’ve given it a month or two to settle. But I have other parts of the project to research, and have found some quick courses which could help me refine my choices for publishing, cover art—even marketing—while I await the commencement and subsequent processing period of my first-ever professional edit.
Of course, I also have responsibilities to my clients which, if I am going to start getting those testimonials, I need to move to the top of my list. One thing I’ve learned by seeking my own service-people is that satisfied clients beget more satisfied clients.
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a writer, blogger, ghostwriter, and advocate for cats. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, 
but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author. And check out her new group, Putting Your Whole Heart Forward.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming release of “Life Torn Asunder: Rebuilding After Suicide”.
