Tag Archives: developmental editor

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing tips and ideas

Editing another person’s work is a good thing: Honest

Leave a comment
Photo by Caio on Pexels.com

I am a development editor apart from being an author.

Working on other writers’ works helps us zone in on editing and revising even if it is not one’s own. It’s good practice for when I do my work.

It also builds up relationships with other writers.

When we edit our WIP, we tend to glaze over mistakes by the millionth time we go over it as we meticulously want it to be as perfect as possible. It does not matter how minimal the edit is when we think we are closer to something we will never get to with our manuscript. Perfection

We can get close. We need beta readers, critique groups, and editors to help us with the process. And a long process it is especially if your WIP is a nice size from 80 K words and more. My Jasper Amazon parrot and Squirrel Mafia series are not even close to that. Yet, I have three manuscripts in that range, and getting ready to revise is daunting. Not to mention an unwelcome one to boot.

But it is part of getting our work out to the public.

We can’t avoid it. No, that isn’t right. We shouldn’t avoid it. Putting out a poorly edited product will only get you so far, even if that step one can see from one’s doorstep.

So, the better we are at it, the more your work will shine. Even if that means editing another WIP.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing topics

Charge what you are worth: Developmental editor

Leave a comment

 

There are a variety of editors such as content and line editing, copy editors, beta reading and more.

I’m a developmental editor. That involves going over a book’s content and structure which can include loopholes, transitional issues, inconsistencies to name a few.

After I became published I started to offer services to fellow writers in my area for free. For four years I nagged the heck out of them. Not one bite. Finally I stopped asking. Offering what I was offering was not only free but a lot of time I would free up for them. I got tired of writers giving me the look. I decided to than charge. I mean after all, why not?

Of course after I assigned a price for my various services is when people remembered my offer and came a knocking. They were surprised that I charged now. But I didn’t back down. At that time I had two or three books under my belt and life was getting busy with my business.

Time was valuable for all of us.

My prices are bottom of the barrel and in some cases clearance sale prices. Still, the writers thought I was too much. I told them to check online to see if they could do better.

Plus, I showed them where the testimonies from previous clients were. How they were happy with how I helped them. People tried to haggle with me. I didn’t bite.

Being a developmental editor takes a lot of time, especially when a person’s novel is 200-300 pages if not more. I am going line by line of your novel

You don’t think that is time I should be compensated for? If you were me would you do this for free like I offered in the beginning?

Not sure what is worse. You have people wanting you to do this for free. Or writers who know what it takes to do what you are doing and still want that for free or as low as possible.

Charge what you are worth even when people in your own field don’t appreciate it.

Don’t back down. Your time is valuable. And if nothing else that is time taken away from your brand and your books. Is that worth it?