Collaborating with Editors

Editing should be a conversation. Here's how I treat it like one (and become besties with my editors). 💬 ✍ When I get an edit I don't understand? I ask a clarifying question to make sure I understand their train of thought so I can write differently next time. ✍ When I get an edit I disagree with? I explain why I disagree and offer at least one alternative. This approach is a time-saver for the editor and gets us closer to an end product we both like. ✍ When an edit's great but tricky to execute? I respond with a few versions: One option that's similar to what they've asked for (even if it doesn't completely work) and another option that I think is a better fit, with a short rationale behind why I do. ✍ When I struggle with a section while writing? I leave a comment explaining what was tricky. Or I reach out via Slack to think out loud and get their guidance and preference before I write it. ✍ When I'm not sure about a client's preference? (Especially in an agency environment) I look for other examples of the convention in their other content. Then, I flag it when sending the draft to my editor so they can see my thinking and communicate it to the client, if needed. 💡 In general? When I'm looking at a second round of edits, I go beyond just accepting changes and responding to comments. I do another entire readthrough and try to find at least a few places to make changes with fresh eyes. Bonus: I'm an editor, too! Here's how I keep the conversation open with writers. ✅ When I make an edit more than once, I'll leave a comment explaining why. (Client's style guide? AP style, if applicable? Personal preference?) ✅ If I make a change but I think there might be SME or niche context I don't have, I'll start a conversation in the comments and invite pushback. (Hint: That's a good thing!) ✅ I ask questions while editing about as often as I make direct changes or line edits. ("Can we say this differently?" "Let's switch the order of these two sentences," etc.) This is developmental for the writer and helps them understand what could be clearer and gives them a chance to grow. What are the trademark moves of your best editors, and how do you help each other?

It's January, so editors' inboxes are heating up with requests to work together. If you've decided that now is the time to start or finish your book (hello, resolution, my old friend), keep these points in mind when reaching out to editors: 📚 Identify mutual points of connection: Were you referred? As with many business relationships, we're more likely to take a closer look at your request if there's a personal connection. Name it. 📚 Do your homework: There are *many editors out there* and we have different specialities. I'm a developmental and substantive editor, not a copy editor, proofreader, researcher, or ghostwriter. I like to know someone has looked into my services and the books I've edited, and can show how their book intersects. I specialize in business books and memoirs, and I have a special interest in editing books about environmental issues. No one likes to be generically pitched ("spray and pray" marketing). Editing is a relationship business, and that relationship begins the moment we open your email. 📚 Pitch your book: What's your book about? Who is the intended audience? Why are you the person to write it? Do include a brief bio and synopsis. Do not include links or attachments—like you, editors don't want to open materials from unknown senders. 📚 Figure out your budget and timeline: Some editors (like me 🙋♀️) include rates for their services on their website. If that's the case, start there. Editing is intellectual and emotional labour, and deserves to be compensated fairly—just like your work. If you need the work done quickly, state that, and expect to be quoted a rush fee. 📚 Identify the status of your project: Do you have an idea, but no manuscript? Are you moving from first draft to next draft and need a second opinion? Do you want to craft a book proposal? An editor can help you figure out what you need in the discovery call, but we need to know what's on the table. As a final note, remember: editors are not agents, and we don't make deals between authors and publishing houses. In the comments, I've dropped helpful guides to finding and working with your editor. Happy pitching, and good luck with your book this year! #editing #writing #resolutions

Reaching out to my fellow freelancing writer friends ... and editors, too.   Are you having trouble landing pitches with your favorite publications or struggling to make connections with editors?   Here are a few tips and tricks I've learned in my time being both a freelancer and a full-time editor. Adopting these practices will improve your professionalism and help you land more bylines. Are you following these already or do you have anything to add to the list?   Freelance Writer Tips & Tricks to Land More Work   1. Take the time to read and understand a particular publication before pitching. This doesn't take a year's worth of research. Snag a copy of the latest issue, peek at their website, and sweep their Insta' to help put you in the ballpark. What is their unique tone or voice? What topics do they prefer to cover and are there any angles they steer clear away from?   2. Do your homework to identify the editorial staff by name and position. Does the pub have a large masthead or are they a one-man/one-woman show? Their contact info may be located in the magazine or on their website. Alternatively, start asking around in your circles, do some internet sleuthing, and be creative in how to track someone down. That way, when it comes time to pitch, you can contact someone directly. Calls to the main office and emails to generic inboxes may get lost and otherwise lack a personal touch. Making a direct connection through showing initiative can often be the ticket to opening a door.   3. When you do email your pitch, for the love of God, don't copy and paste the same email to multiple editors. This approach is elementary, unprofessional, and just plain lazy. It very likely will not end up in progressing to an assignment for you and will end up in the trash bin in a hurry. It doesn't take that much more time to personalize a message. Find some common ground to introduce yourself, and be professional and genuine in your inquiry (editors have very little time for BS).   4. Have a portfolio ready if you are looking to connect with a new-to-you editor. Their time is short and they want to be able to quickly and effectively see if you've got the chops they're looking for. Links to online articles or PDFs of previous layouts can be a convenient way to convey your writing experience.   5. Be prepared to pivot and change gears if you get turned down. Not every pitch sticks. It might be a matter of another planned assignment, seasonality, or you simply missed the mark. Take it on the chin and either tweak it for a similar pub or save it for a better time.   6. Understand the production schedule and pitch early. Publications vary in the number of issues and frequency of print, but many editors are working a month or two, sometimes even longer, ahead of time. Some editors set their calendar over a year in advance and others will make room for an impromptu pitch. Pay attention to seasonality and stay well ahead of schedule.

It all starts with trust. Establishing a solid foundation with your authors is crucial. Without trust, the editing process can become cumbersome and unproductive. Try these to build trust and foster a smooth collaboration: 👇🏻 1. Open Lines of Communication: From the get-go, make it clear that your door is always open. Encourage authors to share their thoughts, concerns, and vision for their work. 📍 If an author is unsure about a particular change, explain your reasoning and demonstrate how it improves the clarity or flow. 2. Respect Their Voice: Remember, you’re enhancing their work, not rewriting it. Keep their unique voice intact while making necessary tweaks. 📍 Instead of imposing your style, adapt to the author’s tone while suggesting improvements. 3. Provide Constructive Feedback: Be empathetic yet honest. Balance praise with constructive criticism to keep the author motivated and open to suggestions. Example: "Your storyline is compelling, though this section might benefit from more descriptive details to better engage the reader." 4. Set Clear Expectations: Outline the editing process, timelines, and deliverables from the beginning. Avoid misunderstandings by confirming deadlines and stages of editing in writing. 5. Collaborative Editing: Treat editing as a team effort. Engage authors in the process by asking for their input and suggestions rather than dictating changes. 📍Bonus Tip: Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and celebrate milestones to build morale and show appreciation for their hard work. Completing a major revision? Send a congratulatory message or note to acknowledge their effort and progress. I hope this helps!

🚫 Editor A: "This is poorly written. Why didn't you proofread it?" ✅ Editor B: "I appreciate you sharing your draft early. This is exactly the kind of initiative I admire. Because you submitted this early, we have ample time to refine and improve it together." Editors, we can't ask our writers to share their work in progress... and then criticize them harshly when they do. We need to support the behavior we want to see. This means showing understanding if there are mistakes and offering constructive feedback. In the beginning, it may seem like you're being overly supportive, which you are, because you're shifting an existing norm. You're setting a new standard. Once your writers trust you, you can be more direct. You can move straight to problem-solving mode: "This isn't quite there yet, but it's a good start. Did you think about A, B, or C? Next time, let's allocate more time for revisions. I agree with your plan moving forward. Thanks." But initially, take a moment to celebrate their effort—and genuinely mean it. PS: Writers in my network: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to editors about giving feedback in a supportive way? Editors in my network: What’s your approach to handling early drafts? Do you prefer to give feedback early or wait until it's polished? #freelancer #writing #editing #freelancerwriter #hiringwriter #editingtips

❗️Authors, You Don’t Have to Accept Every Edit❗️ One thing I always tell authors: You do not have to agree with every suggestion your editor makes. ✅Yes, we’re trained to spot inconsistencies, pacing issues, clarity gaps, grammar, bad sentence structure, and missed opportunities. ✅Yes, we care deeply about strengthening your manuscript. But at the end of the day? It’s your book 📕 Your vision 👀 Your voice 🗣️ Your name on the cover 📔 Editing should be collaborative, not controlling. A good editor offers insight, explains the “why,” and leaves room for discussion. The goal isn’t to override your creativity. It’s to elevate it. If you disagree with a suggestion, say so. Ask questions. Push back respectfully. That conversation often leads to an even stronger solution. The best author–editor relationships aren’t built on silent acceptance. They’re built on trust, clarity, and mutual respect. Authors, have you ever pushed back on an edit and felt empowered? #bookeditor #bookeditingservices #writingtip #writingcommunity

As a content writer, it can be entirely too easy to get into the habit of only reaching out to your editor when you're turning in an assignment. (Trust me—I love not talking to people while I work.) But there's also a really beautiful thing about collaborating with your editor, and Google Docs comments are the perfect place to do this. Here are just a few ways you can use Google Docs comments as a content writer to communicate with your content manager: 👉 Leaving new post ideas that relate to a section in the article you’re currently writing (plus a little *wink wink nudge nudge you can give me this topic for a future assignment*) 👉 Asking for clarification on a certain section that the brief included if you're not sure you've hit the mark 👉 Providing graphic design ideas for when the article gets published 👉 Including interlinking ideas with articles you’ve recently written, but aren’t yet published 👉 Sharing your thoughts behind why you made changes to the initial outline 👉 Confirming you hit the editor’s vision with a certain section 👉 Checking whether you’ve properly covered a feature’s full functionality in a related section 👉 Bringing up new feature ideas the tool could add that could also be highlighted in an article Any that I missed?

One of the best ways to start a strong collaboration with an editor is to open the conversation upfront when you send the first draft. Adding comments on your own text, explaining why you made certain choices or phrased something a specific way, can give the editor valuable context. It shows that you thought something in a specific way, which then led you to structure the content in that manner. Editors appreciate it when you make their job (and life) easier, and this is one of the best ways to do so. By eliminating guesswork and initiating the dialogue yourself (when you know it will help), you set the stage for a smoother review process.

If you want to get the most out of your editors, and actually get back from them what you want, you need to do the following: 1. Have a good brief for writers. Give that to the editor as well so they can make sure the brief was followed. 2. Have a specific editorial style guide so editors can adjust tone, voice, formatting, and more to fit the brand style. 3. Give feedback to your editors. Let them know if you’d like something done differently in the future, if something matters to you now that didn’t before, and so on. If you don’t tell them, they can’t know and can’t learn. 4. Have realistic expectation for how much work they can do in a set amount of time. If you’re not sure, ask them! Our most successful accounts at EditorNinja have all of these things accounted for before they start with us. We can do amazing work for amazing brands, but we can’t do it nearly as well if we don’t know what you’re expecting or hoping for. Hope that helps.