ARTICLES
What a Good Book Editor REALLY Does
"What does a great book editor do...and what don't they do?"
Great question, and truly understanding the role of an editor in the process is critical to most effectively partnering with this critical asset!
There are 3 main points to keep in mind when working with an editor:
1. Not many changes = Not a great sign
2. The editor/author relationship is a PARTNERSHIP
3. "I suggest that you leave this in and take this out" is direction you want to expect to receive from a developmental editor.
Overall, if you spend much time talking with me about publishing, you'll quickly learn that one of my mantras is "Not Editing is Not an Option." After all, if NYT bestselling authors still require editors, who is any one of us to think that we don't!
We are each simply too close to our work to be objective about issues with flow and content, we see words that were in our head but didn't make it to the page, or we fail to identify the instance of "there" that should be "their."
As...
What to Expect When You're Writing a Book
There are a lot of things you can expect when you're writing a book: excitement, confusion, pride, frustration, and awe.
Something many don't expect? A show-stopper (and not the good kind).
It seriously never fails. And as much as I'm trying not to use words like "always" and "never," in this case, it's absolutely justified.
Maybe you've figured out how to build a business from scratch.
Or, you've gotten out of a toxic relationship.
Or, you've completely reversed the high blood pressure you've had for two decades.
Or, you discovered how to reduce, reuse, and recycle to the point that you no longer need a weekly trash service.
Whatever it is, you're going to be elated that you worked through all of the challenges that came with it. You scraped and clawed and got knocked over and stood back up. And now you're ready to let others know how they can do the same.
And then...
Your client attraction method stops working altogether. (Maybe a pandemic or something...
This Roadblock is a Problem
"Elizabeth, it's your job to get people really excited about their story."
A prospective client said this to me one day while we were on a call chatting about whether or not my coaching program or book writing bootcamp is a good fit for her.
After considering her statement, I came to the conclusion that that isn't my job.
If it were, I'd be out of luck, because you've already done my job for me!
The challenge isn't that you aren't excited enough about your story. And the challenge isn't that you're too busy.
This is what the challenge is...(and this is how to solve it).
***
If you're ready to FINALLY get this project finished, I invite you take the next step (it's about moving the needle just one click each day) and sign up for my FREE masterclass.
You'll discover:
How to assess whether there is a demand for your book (aka "Will anyone want to read it?")
- Why the notion that you aren't a writer doesn't matter. At all.
...
Authors in Quarantine
When you begin to wonder if you're the only author who's experiencing days that seem to blend right into the next, you take a break from writing and editing to make a video about it. (Right?)
Joking aside, authors question whether or not to make videos or post content that's slightly outside the lane of their "author image" or outside the realm of their book topic. I understand that doing so can feel extremely vulnerable. As if you weren't worried enough whether or not people would like your book, when you begin to get more creative with your content, you'll simultaneously begin to worry about whether or not people will like you!
Think about the last author you watched being interviewed. The author whose books you really like. The one about whom you've thought, "If I could have lunch her, I'd love to ask whether or not she actually meditates every single morning" (while silently hoping the answer would be no because you'd then be able to identify with her even...
Does this Feel Familiar?
You've started.
And stopped.
Again and again.
If you're ready to FINALLY get this project finished, I invite you take the next step (it's about moving the needle just one click each day) and sign up for my FREE masterclass.
You'll discover:
How to assess whether there is a demand for your book (aka "Will anyone want to read it?")
- Why the notion that you aren't a writer doesn't matter. At all.
- How to manage your fears that someone might judge or criticize your book/story
- Exactly how to start (or keep going if you're suffering from the dreaded "writer's block")
Tried is Better Than Perfected
WHY WOULD YOU ADMIT THAT?
Someone asked me last year after an event why I admitted to never having done what became known as The Yarn Exercise.
"Don't you want people to think that this is 'your thing'?" she asked.
Here's the deal -- it WAS the first time I'd ever done it, and the reason I'm happy to admit that is two-fold:
1. If I say I've been doing something for years, I want people to be able to trust that it's true.
2. I wanted to show that you don't have to have something perfectly honed over 13 months before you try it.
I had the basis of an idea, and all I could control was the way I presented the idea.
Where it went from there would depend upon variables over which I did NOT have control. What I had to trust was that I was capable of taking whatever result ensued and continuing down the path or pivoting as necessary so as not to look like a complete idiot.
The next time I do it, the group will be different. So once again, I'll have to trust that I can flow and pivot as...
DISCOVER 6 CRITICAL STEPS to Writing, Publishing and Launching an Impactful Book...
33-Day Book Writing Bootcamp
You've wanted to write a book for years. You're excited for your story to make an impact in someone else's life. You just have no idea how to get started (or get started ... again).
Publish A Profitable Book
Discover how to publish a book that is indistinguishable in quality from the New York Times bestseller that may be selling next to it.
From Manuscript to Market
Your book is available! Yahoo! And now, you need some (serious) traction. With this course, you'll go from feeling invisible to having a list of loyal readers.
