How to argue with your editor

As I've said before, the writer’s relationship with their editor should be a professional one. Your editor is neither your mother, nor your best friend. S/he is there to work with you to make your book the best it can be.

Therefore arguing with them about every comma and editing change is not a good idea. If your book is being published by a publishing house, there will be House Style which has to be followed. There will be set, unchangeable rules about things like semi colons and certain word choices. Arguing about these things is simply a waste of time, as the publisher will not suddenly rewrite their style manual for you.

Most publishers follow the Chicago Manual of Style. Again, if there is something you want changed that breaks the rules in CMOS, you can stamp your feet as much as you like, but your change is not going to happen.

Outside of these things though, if you explain to your editor why you want something expressed a certain way, s/he will listen to you. If it’s not possible s/he will tell you why. It may be that your sentence had simply been unclear and s/he’d misunderstood what you were trying to convey.

As long as you remain polite and professional, it’s perfectly fine to argue with your editor. Just understand there are some things out of their power to change.

Helen Woodall
Helen.woodall@gmail.com

Author collaboration

Like all relationships, author collaboration can be a wonderful time of sharing and helping each other or an absolute disaster.

It makes sense for several authors to work together on joint promo events like book signings, marketing, and sharing resources. But this can go downhill fast, if authors don’t respect each other’s boundaries. Pushing in on a conversation between an author and a reader to promo your own book is a major no-no, as is inviting yourself to someone else’s book signing/party after the event has been planned.

Giving each other blurbs and reviews can also be a great way to promo. But once again, things can head south fast if one person doesn’t keep to the timeline. If you don’t like their book and can’t honestly praise them it’s important to tell them immediately so they can arrange for someone else to do the review.

Always be polite, professional and show gratitude and good manners. Something that doesn’t work out today may be a good idea tomorrow. Even if it isn’t, remaining calm and professional is the way to behave. There’s no need to burn bridges unnecessarily.

Author collaborations are just like any other alliance. They take work to realize their full potential.


Helen Woodall
helen.woodall@gmail.com

Helen is available to line edit and/ or content edit fiction and non-fiction. Rates on application.