Author
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
Each stage requires me to wear a different hat and look at your manuscript differently. The agreement we sign before I edit your manuscript will ensure our expectations align. We’ll start with a phone call to review your goals, answer your questions and mine, and determine if we want to move forward. Once the editing process begins, I’ll keep you informed and reach out if I have additional questions. Likewise, you’re welcome to reach out anytime for updates.
Absolutely! Your manuscript is your intellectual property, and you own the copyright. As a fellow author, I understand the concern with others reading your unpublished works. However, I’m committed to strict confidentiality and will never share or distribute your manuscript. Additionally, I promise never to use any part of your work for my own purposes. This will be written into our agreement, and you can rest assured that I will keep your work confidential.
My 20+ years of experience as an executive assistant in the corporate world have equipped me with unique skills that translate to the art of polishing written works. In this role, I reviewed public and confidential documents and correspondences with precision; developed a skill for catching errors, inconsistencies, and typos; and honed an uncompromising eye for detail. Strong written and verbal communication abilities allowed me to convey ideas with clarity, a talent that now enables me to provide constructive feedback and articulate suggestions to authors. Juggling multiple priorities while adhering to deadlines instilled in me a keen sense of time management and commitment to meeting milestones, ensuring your manuscript receives the attention it deserves without compromising quality or timeliness.
Moreover, my years of handling sensitive information with the utmost professionalism and discretion have prepared me to treat your unpublished work with the confidentiality and respect it deserves. Adaptability, problem-solving, and a deep appreciation for adhering to style guidelines further elevate my approach to polishing your prose.
Plus, I love to read! I grew up in a household of readers and soon realized that words make me happy. I marvel at good storytelling that drops me into worlds that other authors create. In my own writing, I enjoy painting pictures with words, and I love finding just the right ones to perfect an image. And I love the mechanics and techniques behind those words, resulting in seamless, well-constructed, beautifully written stories.
As an indie-published author, I understand the challenges and have navigated those waters. I firmly believe in supporting anyone who desires to write a novel, is dedicated to completing it, and has the courage to put it out into the world. I’ll be your cheerleader and advocate on your writing journey!
Short answer: not at this time.
A developmental editor looks at the “big picture” of your story and examines structure and flow, makes sure each chapter is relevant and in the right order, ensures each section or scene within each chapter leads nicely into the next, and that the reader is guided easily along from paragraph to paragraph through the entire story. If you don’t know if your story is “working,” or you’ve had less-than-positive feedback from beta readers, consider working with a development editor before investing in a copyedit or proofreading service.
However, I do offer a Manuscript Review, in which I read the entire manuscript and offer feedback on your novel’s overall structure, plot, characterization, dialogue, pacing, and writing style. I’ll give you my suggestion for which editing service I feel is the most appropriate next step. If I think your manuscript would benefit from a development edit, I’m happy to point you toward others who offer that service.
Let me be real. Sales for new authors (or authors overall) are low. In 2020, 96% of books sold fewer than 1,000 copies, according to this article by Elle Griffin. Millions of books are published each year, and that number is rapidly increasing, especially with the ease of indie publishing. The competition is tough, and the pay is low. However, there’s never been a better opportunity to make money as an author!
But making money isn’t always what it’s about, right? We write because it gives us pleasure to create something wonderful, interesting, and entertaining with words; it’s our passion and possibly our calling.
So, is this investment worth it? Will you see a return on investment to justify the expense? The answer depends on many factors, which include your marketing/promotion strategies, your book cover design, your dedication to success (however you define it), and, of course, the quality of your book. No author wants reviews that bring up grammar mistakes, typos, and other reader frustrations. We want the readers immersed in our story. We want the reader to give your book a positive review and recommend it to friends. But most of all, we want to put our best work out into the world.
The answer to the question is completely up to you. I’m here if and when you decide this is the direction you want to go, and I’ll help polish your manuscript so it’ll make the best impression on an agent or reader. But if you decide now is not the time, I understand. Being an author is expensive and funds are limited. Only you can decide when and where your budget is best spent.
Yes! There are many low-cost or cost-free ways to improve your writing.
One easy way is to listen to podcasts. My favorites on the craft of writing are Savannah Gilbo’s Fiction Writing Made Easy and Jim Thayer’s Essential Guide to Writing a Novel.
To strengthen the narrative, check for words in your manuscript that may weaken your prose, such as:
Too many adverbs. Do a global search for “ly” and decide which adverbs to keep and which can be replaced by a stronger verb.
Passive sentences. “The horse ran toward me” is stronger than “The horse was running toward me.”
Too much “telling” and not enough “showing.” As Jim Thayer often explains in his podcast, the phrase “her arm itched” is telling, whereas “she scratched her arm” is showing.
Please note that my philosophy in editing and in my writing is not to eliminate all adverbs, passive sentences, and telling. Sometimes, mixing it up and throwing in these elements (perhaps to get the reader’s attention, perhaps because it’s natural for a particular character when they speak, or perhaps for expediency in the narrative) are perfectly acceptable (IMHO).
To get a sense if your story is working, have beta readers (friends, family, book club members, etc.) provide feedback. Where there is consensus from your readers on an issue (and you agree with their assessment), see where you can improve your writing and fix the issue. (Have your beta readers point out typos, too!)
If you want to run a diagnostic on your entire manuscript within minutes, check out Marlowe. It’s an AI tool that will run a report, checking for clichés, overused adverbs, passive voice, and more (https://authors.ai/marlowe-basic/). There’s also a paid version that provides additional analysis.
Options with a cost:
Grammar books, such as Elements of Style or The Chicago Manual of Style, are wonderful resources for perfecting grammar and punctuation.
AI tools such as Grammarly will check for typos and awkward phrasing. Be aware, however, that its suggestions may not be correct or fit your story and characters.
AutoCrit will review, offer input, and give insights on your manuscript. I don’t use AutoCrit, so I can’t give an opinion; however, from what I’ve heard, it appears to be a great AI writing companion.
Consider brushing up on Save the Cat, The Hero’s Journey, or whatever story structure you prefer to strengthen your plot and meet your readers’ expectations.
Plottr (https://plottr.com/) is an online tool that helps you plot your novel. It has great features to help you start plotting or to keep your story, characters, and timeline on track. In my writing, I use Plottr to keep my storyline organized. I refer to it often to see where (and in what chapters) I hit a story beat, hid a clue, or introduced a character.
Know the conventions and tropes in your genre. Savannah Gilbo does a great job of explaining conventions and obligatory scenes here: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/obligatory-scenes-and-conventions.
There are many more ways to “do it yourself” and produce an elevated manuscript while spending minimal money. I recommend you consider some of these options whether or not you choose to go with an editor. Your work will be stronger, and you’ll become a better writer for it.
Do keep in mind that self-editing and AI-based products are great and can make a huge difference in our writing. However, a fresh, objective, human perspective will catch nuances, contextual cues, and higher-level storytelling elements that automated tools may miss. An objective pair of experienced human eyes can analyze your manuscript through a more holistic, qualitative lens than software tools focused on quantitative aspects, like basic grammar and spelling. AI has a place in our toolbox, but it can’t (and hopefully never will) replicate the human advantage in the grand and revered art of storytelling.
Well, that depends. Here are a few points to consider:
Are you confident your story has a strong beginning, middle, and end?
Are you confident you hit the beats of your novel’s genre?
Do you have strong action verbs and sentences/paragraphs/chapters that keep the story moving forward and will keep your reader engaged?
Have you received glowing feedback from your beta readers?
Have you found all the typos and fixed any grammar and punctuation mistakes?
Are you happy with your final creation, including the character arcs and their journey?
Are you confident it’s ready for the world to see?
And finally, is an editorial review in the budget right now?
You may not need (nor want) to invest funds right now to hire an editor, and it’s certainly not a requirement before indie-publishing or querying an agent. However, readers are savvy and agents are picky, and they’ll likely know if a novel has gone through an editor. But whatever the case, you have to make the right decision for you.
In the meantime, may I suggest taking advantage of my Manuscript Review? It’s a great lower-cost option if you want to see where your manuscript’s strengths and challenges lie. I’ll read your entire manuscript and provide a detailed feedback letter. I’ll suggest which editorial review (development, copyedit, and/or proofreading) might be your manuscript’s next step. If you decide to go with me for further editing (there’s no obligation whatsoever), the cost of the initial manuscript review will be credited toward your selected editing service. Check out my Manuscript Review page for more details!
Absolutely! Please connect via my contact page or email me directly at lbcarl@lbcarl.com. I’m happy to answer any questions you have about my services.
