What is it really like to work with a professional editor on a children’s or middle-grade manuscript?
In Part II of this author interview series, S.P. Brown shares her firsthand experience navigating the editing process for her middle-grade book Kyrie’s School Blues. From finding the right editor to understanding style sheets and revision feedback, her insights offer practical guidance for both new and experienced writers.
This series helps authors better understand the writing, revision, publishing—and marketing—process through real-world experiences.
👉 Read Part I here: Writing for Young Readers: An Interview with Author S.P. Brown
S.P. Brown is the author of Gifts in Brown Paper Packages (2021) and The Gifts Journey middle-grade series, including Kyrie’s School Blues (2022) and Kyrie’s Difficult Decision (2024). Her work focuses on themes of literacy, resilience, and personal growth, particularly for young readers.
Below, she shares what she learned about working with an editor—and what every writer should know before starting the editing process.
Key Takeaways from S.P. Brown
- Finding an editor through referrals can improve the experience
- Editors often provide style sheets to guide consistency
- Revisions may focus on audience-appropriate language
- Anxiety during editing is normal—but constructive feedback is key
What to Expect from the Editing Process
- What did you know about the editing process and working with an editor before you hired one for Kyrie’s School Blues?
I wrote and published an adult novel prior to writing Kyrie’s School Blues, so I had a singular earlier experience with working with an editor. However, following my experience with that editor, I still knew little about the standard editing process. I knew that editors charged per word. I can say now that the first editor I worked with did not have a clear, organized, editing process so I left that experience with not much more insight than I had prior.
How to Find the Right Editor for Your Book
- How did you find an editor to help you with your children’s book? How long did it take?
After my first experience working with an editor, it was tantamount for me to find an editor for my children’s book through a personal referral from another author. My focus was finding an editor with not only specific editing experience within the genre, but also an individual who had an academic background in English as well as experience in teaching English and/or writing skills.
What Authors Learn During Editing
- Did you discover anything in the editing process that you did not know? If so, what?
I discovered through working with my children’s book editor that editors provide a “style sheet” alongside the manuscript revisions. This simple document encompassed several informational nuggets that I found extremely helpful, e.g., that “style guides” (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition and online)) informed the manuscript’s copyediting process. This context was reassuring as it validated the suggested changes by identifying the guiding reference tools. I also learned several writing rules that I will never forget.
The Hardest Part of Working with an Editor
- What is the hardest part of the editing process and working with an editor?
The hardest part for me is waiting for the editor to turn around that first set of suggested changes; my anxiety is always extremely high as I am apprehensive that the editor is going to rip the work product apart and say that it is poorly written and not worth the paper it’s written on. Of course, that is merely my anxiety and is not based in any reality – because it has never happened. I found my editor to be honest but constructive in their feedback. They were always supportive and encouraging in their overall comments.
“The choice of editor will dictate whether your editing process will be a positive one.”
Revisions and Feedback: What Changes Should You Expect?
- How many revisions to your original manuscript were suggested because of editing? What kind of suggestions were they?
I don’t recall how many suggested revisions there were, but the suggestions were primarily word choice suggestions driven by my use of words that were too advanced for the age/grade level of the intended audience. Beyond that, there were minor stylistic changes.
Writing for a Specific Audience
- Did the suggestions surprise you? If so, why?
No, the suggestions did not surprise me. It was my first time writing for children and my orientation is to use advanced words, which was also a theme of the book. I expected my editor to point out instances where there were more age/grade appropriate choices to select.
Final Advice for Authors About Working with an Editor
- Is there anything you’d like to add about the editing process and working with an editor?
The choice of editor will dictate whether your editing process will be a positive one. Choose wisely and ideally based on a reliable referral source!
Final Thoughts
Working with an editor can feel intimidating, especially for first-time authors or those writing for a new audience. But as S.P. Brown’s experience shows, the editing process is not about tearing a manuscript apart—it’s about refining it with clarity, purpose, and the reader in mind.
The right editor does more than correct grammar. They help shape your work so it connects with your intended audience while preserving your voice.
If you’re preparing your manuscript for submission or publication, understanding what to expect from the editing process—and choosing the right editor—can make all the difference.
Coming Next in the Series: Book Marketing for Authors (Part III)
Editing is only one step in the journey. Once your manuscript is polished, the next challenge is getting your book into the hands of readers.
In Part III of this interview series, S.P. Brown will share her experience with marketing her books—including what worked, what didn’t, and what authors should know about promoting children’s and middle-grade titles.
If you’ve ever wondered how to move from a finished manuscript to a visible, marketable book, the next interview will offer practical, experience-based insight.