What Your Editor Should Tell You
1) The editing process may be most successful if you select an editor who likes your subject and resonates with your purpose. Not every editor may be suited for your work.
2) It is not the editor’s job to tell you whether your book will be a success, or not. Editors don’t have a special crystal ball.
3) Begin the editing process after you have completed at least a couple of drafts, unless you are beginning your project with developmental editing.
4) Don’t hesitate to tell your editor what you want the reader to “take away” from reading your book. This information will assist the editor in helping you to meet your intention.
5) An editor is not a ghostwriter, unless ghostwriting is part of your agreement.
6) Be prepared for feedback and honest critique. Prompts will be most useful if they are challenging. Don’t take any of it personally!
7) During developmental editing, which covers the big picture around content, major reworking may be at hand. If you disagree with the editor’s suggestions, speak up so that you can work together in a new direction.
8) Take time with your revisions, especially when you are revising content.
9) Incorporate suggested developmental edits before copyediting your work. The final step of editing after the design stage should be proofreading.
10) Working with the editor is the best way to improve your writing. You won’t learn by having the editor do all the work for you.