Last week I blogged about an editor’s responsibility to an author, and to be honest, I’ve thought of a few more things to put on that list. However, as promised, I also wanted to write about an author’s responsibility to their editor. You see, the editor-author relationship is more than turning over a manuscript to be “fixed”. It’s a unique give and take of responsibilities, and the best editor-author relationships, the ones that I’ve been on both sides of both with editors I’ve adored and authors I’ve adored, is where each feels a responsibility to the other. Let’s talk about what a few of those responsibilities are on the author’s side.
Be Able To Communicate
Normally when an author goes to an editor, they know whether their book is finished, and if it isn’t then when it will be finished. If there is a co-author involved then usually only one person is picked to work with the editor so the editor doesn’t get “tag-teamed”. More importantly, the author is able to communicate changes in schedule and to respond promptly (within 1-2 days) of any queries from the editor. This promptness extends to paying the deposit and the balance of the editing on time, and communicating any questions.
Pre-Edit Your Book
Yes, a pre-edit, even if it’s just a spell check is vital. Read through your story or novel. See if there’s a phrasing that feels awkward to you. This is where reading your novel out loud can really help, because you’ll trip over things that are awkward when you might correct them in your mind as you’re reading. Give the book a polish the best you can. Why? So you can get the best “bang for your buck” out of your editing dollars. Because let’s be serious for a moment, if you have to go through and rewrite large sections of the book then the editor has wasted their time on whatever you took out, and you could have had the editor working on the final version of the story.
Honor The Editor’s Beliefs About AI
If the editor says they don’t work with AI-written works, then don’t send them your novel. Doing so just shows that you feel entitled. If you’re not sure if your level of AI use is acceptable, then ask. Be honest about the AI you used and be prepared for a “no, thank you”.
Know Your Genre
Your editor should be able to help you here, but it’s vital that you know what has been written in your genre (not just within the last 2-3 years) and what the tropes are. This includes names of characters, major plot details, and even genre beats. Why is this important? Because if your book doesn’t match genre expectations, then you’ll either have to rewrite large chunks of it or think about how you’re going to market it. Your editor should be willing to point some things out, but even if you’re paying for a full developmental edit then it’s important to have a baseline of knowledge about your genre.
Be Willing To Learn
Last, but not least, the author should be willing to learn. Each book should be improving, and that means learning from your editor’s suggestions and learning from others. All authors, even ones who have been published for a few decades, have room to learn and grow. That’s part of developing your craft, making sure you’re getting better with each successive book. Make notes after each edit. If you see something that your editor marked in your manuscript, then add it to your editing checklist.
There are vital responsibilities both on the author’s side and the editor’s side of the author-editor relationship. When both parties take their responsibilities seriously, that’s when a book really begins to flourish.