It always annoys me when “literary snobs” dismiss self-published work as sub-par, or something that’s just not worth their time. Sometimes it’s really just them looking down on certain genres (*cough* romance *cough*) because they think it’s “easy to write.” And sometimes, their aversion of all self-published work stems from reading or hearing their peers talk about a handful of badly edited ones.
Sad, but true.
As a reader, I can forgive a few minor grammatical errors in the books I read, but gaping plotholes, one-dimensional characters, and problematic narratives make me cringe and wonder: Who the heck edited this?
I cannot stress this enough: To every author, self-published or not, having a great editor is IMPORTANT. A good editor can spot grammatical or typographical errors for you, but a great editor can do that AND also flag problem points in your manuscript. Great (AKA experienced, skilled, and constantly improving) editors are able to tell if a plot point or character behavior doesn’t make sense and offer constructive insight on how you can make your book better. And the more you continue working with good editors, the better author you will eventually become.
But how exactly do you know if you’re working with a great editor? Here are some qualities that I think they must have.
Your editor must be DETAIL ORIENTED.
As I’ve mentioned above, attention to detail doesn’t only cover technical errors. Any editor worth their salt must be able to spot grammatical and typographical mistakes and help you correct them. In other words, this is surface level. Next-level detail covers the various elements of your story—the main and minor narrative arcs, world building, character builds, tone of voice, and so on. This is called developmental editing.
A great editor keeps an eye on all of these elements and makes sure that every single one of them makes sense. Characters make sound decisions based on how you built them. Events that occur in the world you created are believable. Plot threads are tightly woven together, no loose ends. Even the smallest details matter, too.
I once had my editor, Layla Tanjutco, ask me about the spatial orientation of elements in a scene because the way I’d written it confused her (and therefore could confuse the readers). Sometimes she’d remind me that a certain reaction or dialogue seems inconsistent for my characters. And sometimes she’d point out that I’ve head-hopped multiple times within the same chapter.
The last thing an author wants is to be infamous for careless writing, so a high level of keenness is important. After all, I believe your editor will be your first line of defense against reader disappointment and bad reviews.
Your editor must be WELL READ IN YOUR GENRE.
Imagine you’re an up-and-coming chef specializing in Filipino cuisine. After a lot of hard work on your menu, you’re ready to open a restaurant in Manila! But before that, you ask a food critic to sample your menu and determine whether or not it’s ready to be served to a crowd. Problem is, the food critic you employed has never eaten Filipino food aside from lumpiang shanghai.
Without ample knowledge of Filipino cuisine and the culture around it, do you think the critic, no matter how well-respected, can tell if your cooking will appeal to your audience’s palates?
In #RomanceClass, I’ve learned how important it is that your editor be well read in the genre you’re writing. Genres like romance, science fiction, and crime thrillers have different sets of rules, characteristics, and themes. Well read editors of these genres use their knowledge of these elements to help an author create a book that properly represents the genre. You can’t just ask a science fiction editor to properly edit a romance novel. Likewise, a romance editor isn’t the best person to edit a crime thriller. The lenses genre editors use are very different because they are influenced by the books they read, so choose an editor who reads and understands your genre.
How do you know if the editor you’re hiring is well equipped to edit your book? Here are two basic questions:
- Who are your favorite (genre) authors?
- What’s the last (genre) book you’ve read recently?
Give them bonus points if they give out local authors/titles! Give them more bonus points if the local authors/titles were published in the last five years! If an editor can’t name at least three authors or book titles that they’re fond of, maybe they’re not the best person who can help you.
Your editor must CARE ABOUT THE STORY YOU WANT TO TELL.
An author always has a goal for the kinds of stories they want to tell. Maybe you want to inspire or educate someone with your writing, or maybe you want to make people laugh and forget about their troubles for a little while. Whatever it is you want to achieve with your book, it’s always nice to have someone in your corner who cares about your goal and helps you achieve that.
A great editor won’t just check for errors, correct plot points, send you back your manuscript and call it a day. A great editor will be a partner and collaborator, someone who will say “maybe it’s better if” or “why don’t you try this” if they see something worth exploring. Because great editors are also nurturers. They care about the story you want to tell. They see the seeds you planted and recognize their potential to grow further than you think they could.
I don’t really remember when we started calling Layla our Ninang, but it’s a very fitting term/title. We as authors sometimes call our books our children, right? What better title to bestow the person who has diligently helped you “raise” your children than Godmother?
From Scandalized to Play It By Ear, from Waiting in the Wings to Keeping Miss Kalila, Ninang Layla was there to guide me through. More than once, she’s recommended manuscript revisions I wouldn’t have considered, and I can proudly say my books were all the better for it. I’m really looking forward to working with her again.
(Hihi, hi ninang! Halabshuu!)
Your editor must KNOW HOW TO DISH OUT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
Okay, so here’s the thing: Anticipating critique of your work is NOT FUN. I always feel a bit anxious to open my editor’s email after the first editing pass and learn of her initial thoughts about my work. But even if I don’t fully enjoy this part of the publishing journey, I know it’s necessary.
A great editor knows how to dish out constructive criticism. When something feels off or is problematic, they don’t just say, “this is wrong” or “you should change this.” They tell you why they think something doesn’t work. They provide context based on the world and/or characters you built, or the real world we’re living in. They ask “why do this, when you can do that?” when they feel like you’ve injected an overused plot point in your story. They’re also open to understanding your perspective and will engage you in conversations on how you can send your message across in a clearer, better way.
Ultimately, accepting or rejecting your editor’s recommendations will always be up to you. It’s the insight a good editor provides that encourages you to think and challenge your mindset, and maybe to unpack some personal baggage that might be affecting your storytelling.
BONUS!!!
Your editor must MAKE THE PROCESS OF EDITING FUN.
Let’s face it, editing rounds can get really tiring. Imagine, after months (or even years!) of writing your manuscript, you’ll have to do it over and over again until it’s ready to publish! Ugh!
But a great editor can make things just a little fun. Ninang Layla leaves amusing little comments on my manuscript that make me laugh. Sometimes it’s because of something a character said, and sometimes it’s just her being all up in her feelings. It’s like having a friend read your raw manuscript during a sleepover, and you both stay up late just giggling about the silly things you find.
I once made a (short) Twitter thread about the comments I get from Layla and I’m sharing it with you here just to give you a glimpse of what I’m talking about. It’s not much, but it’s something I really look forward to when I get my drafts back. They just make me feel good and ease my anxiety over the more serious edits I have to do.
So you might ask: “How do I find a great editor?”
I’ve learned from Mina V. Esguerra that one of the best ways to figure out who you wanna work with is to look for your favorite books and find out who edited them. Yes, that means you have to READ. Read your genre, discover the things you like about it, and when you’ve finally found your favorites, find the people who worked on them and reach out.
You can also try getting recommendations from the authors in the genre you’re writing. Or you could meet them by joining a community of authors of your chosen genre. I found Ninang Layla through #RomanceClass. I knew she was (and still is) Mina’s editor, so I asked her if she could edit my books too, and the rest is history.
One last thing:
Authors and editors are not born. They’re made. And by saying this, I mean we all have room for improvement. If I’m a better author now, it’s because I’ve been working with an editor who is also constantly improving with each book she works on. It’s a beautiful cycle of learning, unlearning, and growth, and I hope you find a great editor that will encourage you to go through this with them, one book at a time.
