Editing my current manuscript feels like a vicious, never-ending circle. I worked solo on the manuscript, honing structure guides like Story Grid or The Writer’s Journey. I used wonderful critique partners1 who provided insightful feedback. I even signed up for a first-chapter boot camp with Writer’s Digest. The agent assigned gave me examples of why they’d request more pages and why they wouldn’t. What struck me the most in the agent’s response was their reference to time. They didn’t have time to assist their clients with editing. They wanted a nearly finished product ready to sell. This was intriguing and frustrating.
In today’s market, the era of building relationships with editors like Max Perkins or Robert Gottlieb2 is over. Today’s writer is expected to either have the editing chops to cut their darlings or hire out.
I decided to hire an editor. But what kind did I need? I wasn’t even close to attacking the syntax stage aka a copy editor. I wanted a professional eye trained to look at my plot, character’s motivations, and pacing and tell me if my structure was working. Cue the development editor/book coach.
Where to look for a reputable development editor?
- Google Searches
- Reedsy
Eventually, I stumbled upon an article by Julie Artz, announcing the partnership of Author Accelerator and She Writes Press (a very reputable hybrid publisher).
Author Accelerator’s website was pretty straightforward. After completing a questionnaire and providing a sample piece, I was paired with Samantha Skal, a development editor and book coach.3
Sam provided me a road map for my manuscript. She pointed out where the manuscript had cracks, potholes, and craters. While asking me candid questions about my manuscript and where I wanted the story to go. Overall, she gave me a clear path on how to take my manuscript to the next level.
While the writing journey is mostly solitary, sometimes we must be willing to invite people along for the ride. Each passenger has different skill sets. But they all make the journey better and less lonely.
Speaking of journey, this is a Cord 812 (1937). When I think of Pre-WWII cars this make and model is the first thing that pops into my head. Dubbed the “baby Duesenberg”, the Cord promised the same elegance and class as its expensive parent, only the Cord 810 & 812 had all kinds of electrical problems once it was out on the road.4
SOURCES:
- Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime * WFWA Critique Group Program, Historical Novel Critique Group (Closed FB Group) ↩︎
- Max Perkins was the editor for the likes of Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others. Gottlieb edited Joseph Heller, Toni Morrison, and others. Berg, A. Scott. “On Max Perkins, One of America’s Greatest Editors.” Lithub. 13 June 2016. Accessed: 9 November 2023. Gross, Terry. “Remembering Acclaimed Editor Robert Gottlieb.” NPR. 21 June 2023. Accessed: 09 November 2023. ↩︎
- Samantha Skal, Book Coach. Emma Dhesi. “How to Write Twists and Reveals in Your Suspense Novel with Samantha Skal.” Youtube. 28 March 2023. Accessed: 9 November 2023. ↩︎
- “1937 Cord Supercharged Beverly Sedan.” Gilmore Car Museum. 2023. Accessed: 9 November 2023. Butler, Don. Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg. Osceola, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International Publishers, 1992, p. 328. ↩︎
L.M. Elm, Historical Novelist 