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An Editor's Guide to Working with Authors
What does it take to become an editor of fiction and creative nonfiction? In the first handbook written especially for freelance developmental editors who work with authors of novels and memoirs, Barbara Sjoholm draws on years of experience as a publisher, writer, and freelance editor. In An Editor's Guide you'll learn the basics of reading manuscripts and taking organized notes. You'll learn to query authors and how to make suggestions and when. Seasoned professionals and those just entering the field will find this handbook invaluable.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
23 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Sjoholm
41 books63 followersI’m a writer of nonfiction, including memoirs (Blue Windows) and travel books (The Pirate Queen). As Barbara Sjoholm I have published essays and travel articles in The New York Times, Smithsonian, Slate, and American Scholar, as well as many other publications. My focus as a nonfiction writer has been on Scandinavia and the Indigenous Sami people of the Nordic countries (Black Fox, Palace of the Snow Queen). I also translate from Danish (By the Fire: Sami Folktales) and Norwegian (Clearing Out by Helene Uri).
As Barbara Wilson I have a long career as a mystery writer, with two series featuring lesbian sleuths, Pam Nilsen, a printer in Seattle, and the globe-trotting translator Cassandra Reilly. Gaudi Afternoon, with Cassandra, and set in Barcelona, was awarded a Lambda and a British Crime Writers Award and made into a film with Judy Davis and Marcia Gay Harden. After a bit of a hiatus, I've resumed writing mysteries with Cassandra Reilly. The latest is Not the Real Jupiter, with more to follow.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 21, 2019
I'd started and stopped this book a couple of times over the past year (part of the reason is format, as I do not finish ebooks quickly for some reason), but finally re-started from the top. It's a good summary, handbook, and explanation of developmental editing of a novel or long work of creative non-fiction (like a memoir). The author walks us through the steps of evaluating a novel, finding its overall theme, reading through rather quickly the first time and taking a deeper dive into character, plot, POV, etc. in the next read-through.
She walks us through the process of writing a thoughtful, positive, yet detailed and actionable editorial letter. That part was amazing with really good tips on editorial voice and the balance between honesty and positivity. I have a lot of respect for this editor/author for the work she puts into making sure her editorial letters are well received.
Finally, she digs in deeper into Tracked Changes and other approaches to a page-level developmental editing project. The book is a little dated as she seemed to harken back to paper and red pencils a little too often, but probably now (this book is about a decade old), I think most people have seen Tracked Changes in action. In my day job, I've been working with it for over 20 years.
This is a great guide for aspiring developmental editors.
She walks us through the process of writing a thoughtful, positive, yet detailed and actionable editorial letter. That part was amazing with really good tips on editorial voice and the balance between honesty and positivity. I have a lot of respect for this editor/author for the work she puts into making sure her editorial letters are well received.
Finally, she digs in deeper into Tracked Changes and other approaches to a page-level developmental editing project. The book is a little dated as she seemed to harken back to paper and red pencils a little too often, but probably now (this book is about a decade old), I think most people have seen Tracked Changes in action. In my day job, I've been working with it for over 20 years.
This is a great guide for aspiring developmental editors.
February 25, 2014
This is a great reference for developmental editors of fiction and creative non-fiction, and for people aspiring to do that sort of work. After years of doing that work, I found Sjoholm's book to be an excellent refresher/tune-up. Of course, I worry that this is simply a case of confirmation bias because I found her examples and experiences correspond nearly exactly with my own. This book offers examples of how to approach the text as well as the text's creators that will be helpful for anyone starting in this kind of work.
This is not a good tool for writers considering revising and editing their own work. Sjoholm recommends (and I concur with her recommendation of) several texts for people in that situation, including Susan Bell's The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself, James Scott Bell's Revision & Self-Editing: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft Into a Finished Novel, and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King. There is a more extensive list of further reading at the back of this book.
This is not a good tool for writers considering revising and editing their own work. Sjoholm recommends (and I concur with her recommendation of) several texts for people in that situation, including Susan Bell's The Artful Edit: On the Practice of Editing Yourself, James Scott Bell's Revision & Self-Editing: Techniques for Transforming Your First Draft Into a Finished Novel, and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne and Dave King. There is a more extensive list of further reading at the back of this book.
March 25, 2021
Great starting place
There were many helpful sections and I do feel that this book got me several steps closer to being ready to take on a developmental editing career. However, I wish it was in paperback format so that I could highlight and reference easier, and so that it would make more sense to include specific helps like blank templates.
There were many helpful sections and I do feel that this book got me several steps closer to being ready to take on a developmental editing career. However, I wish it was in paperback format so that I could highlight and reference easier, and so that it would make more sense to include specific helps like blank templates.
December 12, 2022
I found this book extremely helpful. I'll be coming back to it often.
January 1, 2023
Though ever so slightly outdated, and primarily aimed at dev editors, I like Sjoholm's attitude and especially her emphasis on encouraging her clients. Worthwhile read for any editor.
June 21, 2023
Amazing resource for developmental editors!
This is the first time I've bought an editing reference book in Kindle format, and I'll definitely be tracking down a hardcopy version because oh mg goodness, this thing is chockful of genius-level insights! Most of the editing reference books I've perused over the past couple years of being a freelance editor have been about copyediting, but I've wanted to be a developmental editor since I first heard about it thru the University of Washington's Editing Certificate program. I've struggled to find anything that offered practical advice on fiction dev-editing, though, so this book is just one of the highlights of my year!
This is the first time I've bought an editing reference book in Kindle format, and I'll definitely be tracking down a hardcopy version because oh mg goodness, this thing is chockful of genius-level insights! Most of the editing reference books I've perused over the past couple years of being a freelance editor have been about copyediting, but I've wanted to be a developmental editor since I first heard about it thru the University of Washington's Editing Certificate program. I've struggled to find anything that offered practical advice on fiction dev-editing, though, so this book is just one of the highlights of my year!
September 20, 2014
Such an incredible resource for any fiction and creative nonfiction editor! I can't recommend it enough for anyone who isn't sure if they're doing the most for their editing clients. So many useful ideas for how to improve communication and introduce new ideas without making an author question their own talents or abilities. I love cheering for people, and this book could almost be named "The Cheerleader's Guide for Working With Authors." A great book!
December 8, 2015
A very good book that should be required reading for both novice editors (especially of fiction), and writers who hope to work with an editor one day. Does a great job of demystifying the potentially intimidating process of being edited, and explains a good deal about process for those anyone new to working with authors.
April 5, 2016
Many take-aways here for me not just as an editor, but as a writer about to embark on revisions. I love that the book addresses the more complicated side of editing: communicating with empathy and clarity.
July 10, 2012
A great introduction to manuscript editing and wise words on working with authors.
October 16, 2015
A necessary guide for writers too.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews