Author-Editor Relations: Becoming Allies, Not Enemies
Facilitated by Suzy Bills, Author, Editor, and Professor at Brigham Young University
Sometimes authors do feel ilke editors are the enemy. And sometimes editors tell colleauges that they’re working with an author from Hades. But it doesn’t need to be that way.
By following some basic stragies, you can develop a rewarding relationship—even a friendship—with your editor or author. You might still feel frustrated at times, just as you might with a family member, but you’ll come to really value the relationship.
Tips for Authors
- Self-edit before sending the file.
- Don’t do much formatting (don’t add lots of spaces to indent; only use hard returns at the end of a paragraph)
- Submit the file on time/give the editor a heads up/notify when you’ll be late
- Pay on time.
- Say thank you/Refer others to the editor.
- Realize the value of communicating via email.
- Let the editor know what you really like that they did and if there’s anything you want them to do differently.
- Recognize that your editor is a professional and that their goal is to make your writing shine.
- Be open to the edits—and expect more than just a few.
- Carefully consider the edits, and ask questions if needed to truly understand the editor’s comments. Maybe you can resolve the issue in some way the editor didn’t suggest. Stay true to yourself.
- If the editor suggests deleting a sentence, para, or even scene you love, put it in a Deleted Content folder. Perhaps you can use it in a different manuscript.
- Try to learn from the edits and implement them in future drafts and manuscripts.
- Edits don’t mean the editor doesn’t like you or your book.
- Don’t make major rewrites after receiving the edited file back, unless the editor asked for them or you think the changes are really needed—talk with the editor first.
Tips for Editors
- Before starting, make sure the author know what to expect (due date, what types of edits, how you’ll return completed work).
- Put yourself in the author’s shoes.
- Be a cheerleader of the book and the author’s progress.
- Always be polite and appreciative (“Thanks for sending the file!”).
- Have a reason for the edits you make, not just b/c you’d write something a different way.
- Be careful with comments.
- Phrase comments kindly, not too tersely.
- Point out sentences, sections, chapters that you really like.
- Sometimes make comments on things you’ve experienced that relate to a specific paragraph.
- Don’t just talk about your reaction—talk about how a reader might feel about a sentence/idea.
- Explain the reasons for larger edits to a sentence/paragraph.
- Use “we,” not “you.”
- When describing issues, give ownership to the manuscript, not the author (“the conclusion is missing XYZ,” not “you left me hanging”).
- Make suggestions: “Consider adding a bit more…”
- Be positive, and avoid being pedantic.
- Offer multiple ideas to solve problems; let the author choose.
- Try to limit comments and track changes.
- Don’t wait until the end to bring up big issues.
- In the return email, warn about all the track changes. Explain the main types of edits you made.
- Praise your author a lot! Authors need reassurance.
- Express confidence in the writer and the manuscript.
- Email them with items/events of interest.