An excellent article from Edan Lepucki, which published on The Millions website this past fall, is one of the best articles I’ve read on self-publishing and the shifting publishing industry in a while. One concern of the author’s caught my eye, however, and that’s what I want to discuss today.
Under list item #5, Lepucki wonders how the shift from publishers paying the bill to writers paying the bill affects the advice an editor will give. To quote the original article, “I know you can hire experienced editors and copyeditors, but how is that role affected when the person paying is the writer himself? What if the hired editor told you not to publish? Would that even happen?”
The biggest difference I see between editors paid by publishers and editors paid by writers is that staff editors have a little more clout with which to nudge (if not shove) a writer toward doing the work necessary to make a book outstanding. If they’re arguing over substantial changes, an editor can push to cancel the contract. Sometimes writers may find this preferable to ruining what they see as the book’s integrity, while other times threat of cancellation puts the requested changes into perspective—maybe the editor is right after all, or maybe the changes aren’t really a big deal.
Hired, or freelance, editors may similarly argue for changes. Like any staff editor, I want my clients’ books to reach their full potential. The difference, however, is my clients will take or leave my suggestions and submit or publish as they wish no matter what I say. They’ve paid good money for my opinion, but the only pressure for them to revise accordingly is generated by the value they place on my experience and insight. I make the strongest arguments I can, but ultimately it’s up to them.
Lepucki also wonders whether a hired editor would ever tell a client not to publish a book. I absolutely will tell a client if I feel his or her book isn’t ready for publication, and in fact have done so more than once. I consider such an assessment integral to any editing job—my clients pay me to be honest, not to stroke their egos. In fact, over the years I’ve learned to recognize those who claim to want an editor’s help yet don’t want to hear that their work…well, needs work! My response in these situations is simple: If you think your book’s perfect, then start submitting or publish it yourself and see what happens. Don’t pay me to tell you what you’re already sure is true.
Too many writers decide to self-publish out of impatience or frustration with the industry when in fact their pile of rejection letters is well-earned. Their work may simply not be up to par or it may not yet be developed enough to compete on the shelves. This reality contributes to the commonly cited statistic that most self-published books average 100-200 sales, and mostly to friends and family.
Even the most open-minded writers will struggle with at least some revisions suggested by an editor, and sometimes rightly so. It’s just that much harder to help them over the fence with the important stuff when you have no leverage, as staff editors do. As a hired editor, I have to work harder to convey suggestions so they will be received on their merit alone. I try to build confidence and decrease defensiveness by identifying strengths as well as weaknesses, by showing not just what isn’t working but also how to make it work better. I must hope my clients can separate any purely emotional reactions from their sincere desire to improve, and that they can step around their egos to reach a better level of objectivity.
No editor I know wants to be a dream-killer. But when saying no is the difference between truly helping a client and making him or her feel good temporarily, I won’t skip it. It’s a difficult word to say, but it’s also part of my job.
Founder of The Writer’s Ally, Ally E. Machate is a bestselling book collaborator, award-winning editor, and expert publishing consultant who loves using her insider knowledge and experience with the publishing industry to lead serious authors toward success. She and her team live to help make great books happen, whether that means showing a writer how to improve a manuscript, get an agent, or self-publish; or coaching an author on growing her platform to sell more books. Since 1999, she has supported hundreds of authors on their publishing journey and takes pride in serving as their books’ best ally.
Excellent, Ally. We pay you for your judgment whether we like it or not! When I taught English I used to say to my students, “I’ll tell you when you write something bad, so that you can trust me when I tell you that you’ve written something good.”
That’s a great line, Austin! And so true. Thanks for sharing.