Amarok: My Publishing Journey

After my book was signed with Spencer Hill Press, a publication date was set for November. A few days later, the editing process began. There is nothing harder than seeing your manuscript marked in red. It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff and letting go, but that’s exactly what every good author must do—let go. You will be glad you did. One tip my editor, Kate Kaynak, gave me, is to accept all changes and then read the document. Once I got rid of the red, I could see she was right. My story was much tighter, and the pace quicker.

I believe that every author can improve with the use of a skilled editor or a critique group. But you need to listen and consider all suggestions. Ask yourself if it will read better, stronger with the changes.

If you are going to hire a professional, get one who is well versed in your genre. Years ago, I made the mistake of paying a very expensive editor I found in an advertisement of a writer’s magazine to help me with a YA project. The editor specialized only in Women’s fiction—not Young Adult. Although editing was very insightful, the story warped into something strange. My teenage character sounded more like fifty than fifteen. Needless to say, I learned my lesson. For major revisions, stick with a professional editors in your particular genre. You don’t have to agree with everything— but do try to keep an open mind.

Next time we’ll talk about marketing.

Stay tuned and happy writing!
Angela