Summary of "I Sent My Novel to an Editor. Here's How It Went."

Hiring a Professional Editor: Experience and Advice

The video details the creator’s experience of hiring a professional editor for their novel, sharing practical insights and advice for writers preparing for the editing process.

Key Points and Tips

Finding and Hiring an Editor

The editor was found on Reedsy, a platform that aggregates professional editors, allowing easy browsing and selection.
The process involves submitting a brief including:
- Book description
- Genre
- Plot summary
- Word count Then receiving responses and quotes from editors.
Editors often charge per word; for a 78,000-word young adult fantasy novel, the cost was $1,375 (including a $125 platform fee).
Prices vary widely; some quotes reached $2,200.
Important to plan for longer timelines than expected—editing can take a couple of months, so submit early to avoid delays.

What the Editor Provided

An editorial letter highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.
A manuscript with tracked changes and detailed line-by-line suggestions.
Positive feedback included praise for:
- Strong command of language and voice.
- Well-developed, quirky characters.
- Effective humor that elicited genuine laughs.
Constructive feedback focused on:
- Enhancing world-building with more natural integration.
- Avoiding “pause button violations”—interruptions in narrative flow caused by exposition not seen through the character’s perspective.
- Making character relationships more complex and less immediately harmonious.
Exercises recommended by the editor:
- Outline main characters’ story arcs, including wants, needs, obstacles, and emotional/action responses.
- Analyze pacing and “musicality” of text by marking types of writing (dialogue, exposition, flashbacks) to ensure varied rhythm and tension.

Approach to Feedback and Editing

Three essential skills for handling feedback productively:

Separate yourself from your work: Feedback critiques the work, not your worth as a person.
Seek specific feedback: Clarify vague comments by asking detailed, non-confrontational questions to get actionable advice.
Maintain artistic control: Use feedback to serve your vision; you have the final say on what changes to implement.

The creator uses a spreadsheet to organize feedback by chapter and plan revisions.
Editing is framed as a challenging but rewarding process that improves the final product.

Community Engagement

Encourages viewers to share brief, fun descriptions of their own writing projects in the comments.
Promotes an Instagram page dedicated to updates on the book’s progress.

Notable Platform and Products

Reedsy: Platform used to find and hire professional editors.
Editing Deliverables: Editorial letter, manuscript with track changes, and writing exercises.

Speaker

The video is presented by a writer sharing personal experiences and encouragement for fellow authors, emphasizing growth, learning, and perseverance in creative work.