Navigating the Publishing Journey: 4 Advice for Aspiring Authors
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Navigating the Publishing Journey: 4 Advice for Aspiring Authors
Have you ever wondered what unexpected lessons experts learn during the book editing process? In this article, insights from a CEO and an Associate Editor reveal transformative lessons in their professional journeys. The first insight emphasizes the importance of embracing feedback for growth, while the final insight focuses on allowing time for a stronger story, with a total of four unique perspectives shared. Read on to discover how these lessons can influence your own approach to writing or editing.
- Embrace Feedback for Growth
- Enhance Reader's Journey with Pacing
- Communicate Reasons for Edits
- Allow Time for Stronger Story
Embrace Feedback for Growth
One unexpected lesson I learned during the book-editing process is the importance of embracing feedback, even when it's difficult to hear. Initially, I approached editing with a defensive mindset, viewing critiques as personal attacks rather than constructive insights. However, as I worked through the revisions, I realized that outside perspectives often illuminate blind spots in my writing. This shift in mindset has taught me that feedback is not just a part of the process; it's a vital ingredient for growth.
This lesson has profoundly influenced my approach to both writing and editing. I now actively seek feedback at various stages of my work, understanding that collaboration can lead to richer narratives and clearer communication. It's also encouraged me to cultivate a more open and receptive attitude toward critique, not only in my own projects but also when mentoring others in my team at Software House. By fostering a culture where feedback is valued, we create a more dynamic environment that ultimately enhances the quality of our work.
Enhance Reader's Journey with Pacing
Something I learned early on during the book-editing process is the importance of pacing—not just in terms of the narrative flow but also in how information is revealed to the reader. For instance, while editing a manuscript, I noticed that the author tended to front-load a lot of exposition early on. This made the beginning feel heavy and slowed the pacing. By shifting some of this information to later chapters, I not only maintained the reader's interest but also created a more dynamic unfolding of the plot.
This experience taught me that effective editing isn't just about correcting errors—it's about enhancing the reader's journey. Now, whether I'm writing or editing, I prioritize not just what information is conveyed, but how it's woven into the narrative, ensuring that each detail serves a purpose and maintains momentum.
Communicate Reasons for Edits
As an editor, it's my job to help people tell the best stories they possibly can—and an unexpected part of that process is rejection. When I first began editing, I logically knew that an author likely wouldn't accept every edit I made, but it still surprised me the first time an author declined a handful of my suggested edits.
I quickly learned that I shouldn't take these rejections personally; although it's my responsibility to edit a book to the best of my ability, it is up to the author to determine what edits best serve their book. It's a collaborative effort. To ensure an author has a full understanding of why I'm making edits, I've learned to provide explanations and context where needed. If I'm talking about showing versus telling, for example, I'll share more information about what this concept actually looks like and why it matters in writing. By communicating my reasons for making certain edits and sharing information about the craft of writing when needed, an author can make a more informed decision about which edits to accept and decline, and I can feel confident in my edits and my role in helping an author.
Allow Time for Stronger Story
One unexpected lesson I've learned during the book-editing process is that it can be really hard to determine how long or how many drafts/revisions it will take until a book feels final (or at least final enough to go for copy-editing)! That feels like such an obvious conclusion to anything involving the creative process, and yet I hadn't really thought about it before I became an editor. There are times when I've thought a manuscript only needs one more round of major revision + a round of line edits, but then it's been more like three more rounds of major revision—and that is TOTALLY OKAY. These days, my mindset is truly: the story will take as long as it needs to take to get as strong as it needs to be, and it's much better to take time rather than rushing for the sake of it... There are no gold stars for only requiring two rounds of edits, or whatever the case is, and a project taking longer or shorter is rarely a reflection of someone's talent/skill!
