What Authors Can Expect After Taking the First Step Toward Professional Editing
You finally did it.
You sent the email.
After months, or maybe years, of writing and revising, you’ve reached the point where you’re ready to let someone else look at your manuscript.
And then you wait.
What happens now?
Does the editor start reading? Do you immediately become a client? How does the editor know what kind of help you need? And what happens if you ask for one kind of editing but your manuscript actually needs something else?
Those are reasonable questions. In fact, they’re questions I hear from authors all the time.
Every editor has a different process, but I can tell you what happens when you contact me at MorningStar Editing.
First, I Want to Know About Your Book
When an author contacts me, I don’t open the manuscript and start editing.
I want to know what you’re writing, where you are in the process, and what you think you need help with.
I may ask:
What kind of book are you writing?
Who is your intended reader?
How many drafts have you completed?
What stage is the manuscript in?
Have you worked with an editor before?
What are you hoping an editor will help you accomplish?
There’s a reason for all those questions.
An author may contact me asking for proofreading when the manuscript still needs substantial revision. Another author may be ready for copyediting but isn’t sure whether the manuscript is ready for that step.
And sometimes the author knows exactly what the manuscript needs.
My job is to figure out which situation we’re dealing with.
That’s why I don’t assume every manuscript needs the same kind of editing.
Then I Look at the Manuscript
Once I understand the project, I review a portion of the manuscript.
This gives me a chance to see how the writing is working and whether the service you’re asking about is actually the right fit.
I’m looking at things such as clarity, organization, structure, pacing, consistency, and the needs of your intended reader. What I pay attention to also depends on the type of book.
A picture book has very different editorial needs from a cookbook. A craft book has its own challenges, particularly when readers need to follow instructions successfully.
This is one reason I don’t believe in treating every manuscript exactly the same way.
The goal isn’t to sell you the biggest or most expensive editing package.
The goal is to figure out what will help your manuscript most.
If a manuscript needs more revision before copyediting makes sense, I’ll tell you. If a manuscript evaluation would give you a clearer path forward, I’ll recommend that instead.
Sometimes the best editorial advice is, “You’re not ready for copyediting yet.”
That may not be what an author hoped to hear, but it can save time, money, and frustration.
If you’re wondering what a manuscript evaluation actually looks at and why it can be useful before editing, read What Is a Manuscript Evaluation?
Once We Know What the Manuscript Needs, We Talk About the Project
After reviewing the manuscript and discussing your goals, we can determine what kind of editorial support makes sense.
That might be a manuscript evaluation, coaching, copyediting, proofreading, or another approach based on the project.
At this point, we can talk about the scope of the work, what I’ll be doing, what you can expect from the process, and how the project will move forward.
This is also the point where you can ask questions.
You should.
Hiring an editor is an investment in your book. You should understand what you’re paying for and what the editor will, and won’t, be doing.
It’s also worth understanding that manuscripts move through different stages of development. What your manuscript needs today may be different from what it needs after another round of revision. What Are the Stages of a Manuscript? explains more about how those stages affect the kind of editorial help a writer may need.
Then Comes the Letter of Agreement
Once we’ve agreed on the project, I send a Letter of Agreement.
This outlines the details of our work together, including: the service being provided, the scope of the project, the timeline, fees, deliverables, responsibilities for both of us, and what is included in the editing. It may not be the most exciting part of the process, but it’s an important one.
A clear agreement means we’re not relying on assumptions or trying to remember what we discussed in an email three weeks ago.
You have an opportunity to read the agreement carefully, ask questions, and discuss anything that isn’t clear before accepting it.
If we need to talk through the details, we can schedule a Zoom conversation.
Now You’re Officially on the Schedule
Once the agreement is accepted, the initial payment secures your place on my schedule.
Now the project has moved beyond “Are we going to work together?” and into “Let’s get started.”
Having the agreement and payment in place before work begins gives both of us a clear understanding of what we’re doing and when we’re doing it.
And then comes the part you’ve been waiting for.
I start working on your manuscript.
Editing Is More Than Fixing Sentences
What happens during editing depends on the service we’ve agreed upon.
I might be looking at the big picture, helping you identify areas that need revision. Or I might be working at the sentence level, improving clarity, consistency, grammar, punctuation, and flow.
But whatever level of editing I’m doing, I’m also reading as a reader.
I’m asking questions such as:
Where did I get confused?
Where did I want more information?
Where did the manuscript slow down?
Does this section do what the author needs it to do?
Will the intended reader understand what the author is trying to communicate?
Those questions can lead to very different kinds of editorial suggestions. And that’s where the collaborative part comes in.
I’m not rewriting your book to make it sound like me. I’m helping you see places where your own ideas, voice, and intentions may not yet be coming through as clearly as you want them to.
You remain the author.
I provide another perspective, explain what I’m seeing, and make recommendations. You decide what to do with them.
If you’ve ever wondered why a manuscript can be technically correct and still not quite work for a reader, Why Your Manuscript Still Feels Flat explores some of the things I look for when I’m reading beyond the individual sentences.
What If We Discover Something Else Along the Way?
Sometimes a manuscript reveals something neither of us expected.
Perhaps we discover that a section needs more work than originally anticipated. Maybe you decide you’d like additional help after seeing the first round of feedback.
If the need falls within the original scope, we address it as part of the project.
If you want additional work beyond that scope, we talk about it before proceeding.
Any significant work outside the original agreement requires a new agreement so that the scope, timeline, and expectations remain clear.
That protects both of us, and keeps surprises out of the process.
And Then It’s Your Turn Again
Eventually, I send the edited manuscript or evaluation back to you.
But my work being finished doesn’t mean the work on the book is finished.
This is where your revision begins.
You’ll need time to read through the feedback, think about the recommendations, make decisions, and revise.
You may agree with everything.
You may disagree with some of it.
You may read a comment and think, “Oh. Now I see what’s wrong.”
Or you may need to sit with a suggestion for a while before you know what you want to do.
That’s normal.
An editor can point out a problem, explain why it matters, and suggest ways to approach it. But you’re the person who knows what you want the book to become.
The final decisions belong to you.
And revision doesn’t always mean changing everything an editor points out. Sometimes it means recognizing that a suggestion doesn’t fit your vision and knowing why you’re keeping something as it is.
So What Really Happens After You Send Your Manuscript to an Editor?
The short answer is: not as much happens all at once as you might think.
There’s a process.
We talk about your project. I look at the manuscript. We determine what kind of help makes sense.
We agree on the scope of the work. We put the details in writing. Then the editing begins.
And eventually, the manuscript comes back to you, with another round of decisions to make.
That’s because professional editing isn’t about handing your manuscript to someone and getting a finished book back.
It’s a conversation between the manuscript, the editor, and the writer.
My job is to help you clearly see your manuscript, identify what will strengthen it, and give you useful direction for the next step.
The goal isn’t simply a better manuscript. It’s a writer who understands more about the manuscript, the reader, and the revision process by the time we’re finished.
That’s what I mean when I say:
Editing should strengthen the writer, not just the manuscript.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ask questions before accepting the Letter of Agreement?
Absolutely. You should understand the project, scope, timeline, and fees before agreeing to the work. If something needs further explanation, we can discuss it before you accept the agreement.
What if I’m not sure what kind of editing I need?
That’s one of the reasons I review a portion of your manuscript before recommending an editorial service. You don’t have to know exactly what your manuscript needs before contacting me.
Can I request additional editing after the project begins?
Yes. If you need work beyond the original scope, we can discuss what you need and determine how to handle the additional work. Work outside the original agreement requires a new agreement.
Do I have to accept every editorial suggestion?
No. You make the final decisions about your manuscript. My role is to give you an outside perspective, explain what I’m seeing, and make recommendations. You decide which changes are right for your book.
About the Author
Cassie Armstrong is the owner of MorningStar Editing LLC, a book editor, writing coach, and mentor with more than nineteen years of experience helping authors strengthen their manuscripts.
She specializes in children’s books, cookbooks, and craft/how-to books and has worked with publishers, packagers, and independent authors.
Her approach begins with understanding what the author is trying to accomplish, looking at how the manuscript is working, and determining what kind of editorial support will actually move the project forward.
Cassie believes editing should strengthen the writer, not just the manuscript.
Visit MorningStar Editing LLC or explore the MorningStar Editing blog to learn more about her approach to editing, revision, and working with authors.