What Type of Edit Does Your Book Need?

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Types of book editing available and how to prepare for book editing

Have you finished writing your book? Congratulations! Seriously, you have so much to celebrate. Getting that first draft down can be one of the hardest steps of getting your book out into the world…

But what comes after you’ve written your book? Why, editing of course!

Are you now hunting for an editor to help you shape and polish your book so it can face the world in all its glory? That’s a very exciting, albeit intimidating, prospect—I’ve been there!

Today I’m here to help you discover what kind of editing your book needs so you can know the lingo around the different stages of editing, what to expect, and how to know which level of editing your manuscript needs.

When it comes to book editing, there are a few different stages available, depending on the needs of your book and what kind of shape it’s in.

And I always recommend going through a few rounds of revision, including with an editor, to prepare your manuscript for submission or publication. (No one really ever publishes their first draft… This blog alone had at least four!)

Before I break down the different types of edits, it may be helpful for you to know some ways to prepare yourself and your book prior to hiring an editor and sending your manuscript their way.

First things first… Get your heart involved.

I know it’s scary to have your book reviewed by someone, especially an editor who you may or may not know on a personal level. It’s like revealing some of your deepest darkest secrets on the page, and the last thing you want is someone critiquing or overanalyzing them.

Know that the job of the editor is to improve your book. You want your book to be the best it can be, right? Do you want it to be consistent, to make sense to your ideal reader, and to hit the emotional points you want it to hit for the most impact? Your editor helps you to achieve that. And many editors, myself included, will help you to maintain your voice rather than trying to change it, despite what you may hear about the editing industry.

All this to say: Do your research. Find a credible editor whose vibe you jive with and whose experience and offerings fit what you need. Check out their previous work if it’s available, or request a portfolio (my own portfolio is largely private due to NDAs, for example, so you’d have to reach out to me privately to investigate a majority of them).

Investigate a few editors to get a feel for what’s out there—and yes, doing a price comparison is a natural thing to check as well (check out Editorial Freelancers Association for current editing rates).

There are tons of book editors available for work on the web (I’m in a networking group with a few hundred, at least!). So, it’s essential that you look for an editor with the right skills and preferably experience with the type/genre of book you’ve written. For example, you might search for a YA dystopian or spiritual memoir in front of the search “book editor” when you head to your search engine of choice if that’s the genre of your book.

Some editors specialize in certain types of editing, so that’s why it’s important to know which kind of editing you’re looking for.

I also recommend an editor who you have respectful and constructive chemistry with. You want an editor who will offer feedback to guide you into a better book in an honest way that makes sense to you, not an editor who’ll baby you or be way too harsh in their edits. A good way to check the chemistry is to thoroughly research editors, narrow your list to the ones you like/vibe with/trust best, and have a consult call or interview with them to see if it’s a good match.

Check in with your body to see how it feels in response to the editors you interact with—follow your heart or trust your gut… You’ll know when you’ve found that editor for you if you listen within yourself for the answer.

Once you’ve found an editor, then the real work begins!

Let’s talk about how to prep your manuscript prior to sending it to a book editor.

What should you do before sending your manuscript to an editor?

First, avoid sending your very first draft to an editor. All first drafts are just getting the story onto the page and they are not ready for an editor’s attention yet. Any editor you hire will expect you to have done some sort of review before you send it to them.

Here’s what I recommend to prepare your manuscript before you send it away for an editor’s feedback, suggestions, and edits:

  1. Let your manuscript sit for two weeks once complete, at a minimum, so you come back to it with fresh eyes.
  2. Review your manuscript and take notes, chapter by chapter, of what you feel needs fixing, correcting, or adjustment.
  3. Do your own round of revising and edits based on that pass-through.
  4. Seek out a beta reader or two (or more!) to read your book, particularly someone who enjoys the genre of book you’ve written, and ask for their feedback and thoughts. Use the feedback offered to inform whether or not you want to incorporate changes they suggest. Having reader feedback can help you to know what’s working and what’s not in your book, as well as how it lands with readers overall—this is why I recommend choosing someone with interest in the genre of your book for the most appropriate feedback.
  5. Once you’ve made any other remaining changes from beta readers or other critiques, give it another once over to catch anything else…
  6. And then it’s a great time to send your manuscript off to an editor for professional feedback and to polish up your book with whatever editing services match what your book needs to be its best self.

Pro Tip: A majority of editors will request your manuscript in a specific format for ease of reading and editing.

The standard book submission format is as follows:

  • 12 pt size font
  • Times New Roman preferred, or something similar
  • Double-spaced lines, with no extra line space between paragraphs
  • 1-inch margins on all sides
  • 0.5-inch indents set
  • Title page with the name of the book & author
  • Author Surname/Book Name (abbreviated for space, if needed)/Page # in the header
    (i.e.: SHORT/BLUE HOUR/10)
  • Saved as a .doc or .docx file

See the full article on Reedsy for instructions on how to format your manuscript file properly!

What type of edit does your book need?

Different types of edits serve different purposes when it comes to your book, and each level of book editing has merit.

Ideally, every book would go through each stage of editing to make it the best it can be, but I know that’s not always feasible due to budget or time constraints. Hopefully, armed with this information, you can pinpoint what kind of edit you need to get the most bang for your buck and get your book in shining shape!

Here are the various stages of book editing, in the order in which I’d recommend them:

Developmental Edit

Also known as a structural edit, a developmental edit looks at the overall structure of your book and how it all works together.

The focus in developmental/structural edits is on story structure, characterization, and plot development.

This is the “big picture” edit where your story structure and character development & arcs are analyzed, plot holes and inconsistencies are found, and your overall themes, voice, and tone are clarified. Developmental editing looks at the overarching picture of your manuscript to make sure it all flows together seamlessly while communicating your larger message or story.

Note this is not the edit for correcting mistakes (like a copyedit or proofread) or offering rewriting suggestions (like a line edit).

When you work with TIE, developmental edits come with an editorial report with feedback on the various aspects of your novel.

If you want to make sure your story works well overall, to ensure an overall cohesive flow of content/chapters, and that your messaging is clear and consistent, this is the edit for you to start with.

Line Edit

Line editing is the book publishing term for this type of edit. It’s also known as content editing, and I’ve seen it called plain book editing in the online sphere. (No wonder it gets confusing with all these editing terms!)

Line editing refines your manuscript’s text line by line, sentence by sentence, to ensure a cohesive voice of the book. It looks at paragraph structure, sentence structure, language choices, and tone for a consistent and compelling narrative.

This is where the choice and order of sentences, phrasing, and words are keenly looked at to improve the flow and readability of your story. Line edits include clearing out redundancies or overused phrases, offering rewrites to tighten up your language or improve the flow, removing the unnecessary, and amplifying what’s important.

Think of line editing as creative or stylistic editing that both preserves and elevates your writing. This is the only type of editing that allows for rewriting suggestions. In line editing, quite a bit of copyediting is also taken care of as well (see below for copyedits).

Line editing is The Intuitive Editor’s specialty as I can sense what it is you’re trying to communicate by tapping into the spirit of your book! TIE’s copyediting service also comes with light line editing suggestions should the situation warrant it.

If you want to elevate and enhance the overall writing in your book, to make sure it flows seamlessly and clearly, a line edit may be the type of edit for your book!

Copyedit

The copyedit is one of my favorites because of its detailed work. Copyediting is the technical edit to clarify and correct your writing.

This is the editing stage where more nitty-gritty errors are swept clean from your manuscript and suggestions may be offered to further activate your language. This is where the details are looked at, such as your sentence structure for clarity, and minor consistencies are flagged. Any glaring errors like misspellings, grammar, verb tense, and punctuation will be swept up in this in-depth technical cleaning of your book.

The copyediting stage is usually where a style guide is developed for your book if it hasn’t been done already. A style guide is helpful to keep the details of your story (character traits, plot, setting, etc.), any special spellings or capitalizations, and other considerations consistent throughout the book and in further series.

Because a copyedit falls under the correction stage of the editing process, most copyedits include proofreading edits as well. However, that doesn’t mean you should forego proofreading as your final step! I always recommend proofreading prior to publishing.

When you work with TIE, light line editing may also be suggested with a copyedit, where sentence structure, consistency, readability, and flow of ideas are examined to present the most impactful language possible.

If you want a thorough technical cleanup of your book for clarity and precision in the text (and you aren’t seeking more creative revisions), then a copyedit is the edit for you.

Proofread

This is the final stage of editing!

The proofreading stage is the final polish where you have a sharp set of eyes catch any remaining errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, or typos—to make your manuscript truly shine, so readers’ eyes don’t snag on small mistakes that may frustrate them, diminish the reading process, or make readers question your credibility.

The proofreading stage is the fine-toothed comb edit to tame the flyaways after everything else has been brushed out, so to speak!

Sometimes minor formatting issues may be flagged. Proofreading is not to be mistaken for formatting, though! That’s another thing entirely, and formatting will typically come before the final proofread, especially in traditional publishing houses. If you’re having your book specially formatted, I recommend proofreading after the formatted version is complete.

I do not advise a proofread being the only type of edit you do on your book. Odds are you need additional editorial support to make the various aspects of your book clear and cohesive first. See the above sections for which edit(s) your book needs!

The Intuitive Editor loves being that final eye to catch those lingering errors, and you can pair a proofread with any other type of edit for a little extra savings!

A proofread is the edit for you if you’ve gone through at least a line edit or copyedit, if not a developmental/ structural edit, you feel good about where your book is, and you want that final eagle-eyed proofread to catch any lingering errors before publication or submission.

Manuscript Review / Manuscript Analysis

Though not specifically editing, a manuscript review/analysis is another way to get professional feedback for your book that might be more budget-friendly.

The manuscript review will vary depending on the editor, even in name or scope. Generally, feedback is provided via a written report that analyzes the story arc, characters, plot holes, what’s going well, and what could use improvement from a bird’s eye level. Some editors will do a breakdown by chapter, or advise on how to structure your book if needed or requested.

Manuscript reviews will also note any tendencies you have as a writer that will need special attention, such as overusing certain phrases or consistently switching between character perspectives or even verb tenses.

Not every editor will offer a manuscript analysis like this, but some do! (Hi!)

Have any other questions about the book editing process? Drop TIE a line here with any Qs! Happy to help.

Ready to have your book edited to its inspired perfection?

The Intuitive Editor would be tickled to help you proof and polish your book into its intended glory and inspired perfection.

Fill out the Book Submission Form here to apply for a book editing spot on The Intuitive Editor’s calendar!

Doing An Editing Business Differently

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I am here to do things differently. I feel like I have known that for a long time.

When it came to starting an editing business, I did a bit of research into what other editing and proofreading professionals were doing to promote their work—from their websites, to their social media, etc. I saw editors sharing their tips and tricks to catch errors as you write. Things they catch all the time as an editor/proofreader. Providing tools to help others edit or proofread their work better.

And as I looked around, I realized that’s not at all what I wanted to do with my editing business. I see the formula, and I don’t want to use it.

I believe through inspired actions on a new path, I can still find success with my editing business.

(In fact, that’s a common thread in my life… If I see one path, you can bet I’ll want to do it my own way. And hopefully show you that you can do things your way too. )

I’m pulling back the curtain a bit on this one, since I believe it’s important to be transparent.

My editing business is different.

I have no interest in teaching you how to write. Or how to proofread your work. At least, not at this point in time.

Of course, I could make resources for that (I mean, if you want them, feel free to contact me), but that’s not the way I want my editing business to work or even how I want to promote it.

My goal is more to inspire creativity.
To unlock the treasure trove of stories within you so they can pour out with fewer obstacles and challenges.
To encourage a healthy, harmonious relationship with your creativity.
To help you seek more joy, beauty, and nurturing in your life—to ultimately take care of yourself, and thus the insightful creative within you.
That way you can write what you’re meant to write from a more balanced and healthy space.

I care about the creator within, much more than trying to teach you how to edit your work.

I’m not knocking that as a valuable skill, because it most definitely is. (Ideally you will do some revising on your book before sending it off to an editor, for example.)

But I care more about you getting to tell your story. Period.

I want you to find your joyful flow that sparks your creativity and sends you flying down the path of writing the book and telling the stories you’ve always dreamed of sharing with the world.

I want the words to flow out of you with ease.

You have a voice, and you have a story to tell.

And I want to see you use it for the highest and best good.

I want you to find the balance in your life, so you’re not struggling to survive while also trying to sustain a creative routine. Because that’s not sustainable. I’m a firm believer that when you take care of you, your creativity will come.

That’s what matters to me.

When you take care of you,
the creativity will come.

Editing and proofreading has been the heartbeat of my adult career.

And then, if you so choose, I can help you with the more technical editing know-how to help you clean it up, so it’s clear, easy to read and understand, and free from discrediting errors and mistakes. Because that’s another way of how I love to help support creatives and writers. Whether you hire me as your editor when you’re done getting your story onto the page, that’s up to you!

(Does this mean I’m turning into a creativity coach as well as a book editor? I don’t know, but I’m open to it. The downloads and inspired actions I’m getting for The Intuitive Editor are taking me in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and I’m loving the journey.)

So, while you may not find “can you find the mistake” posts on my Instagram page, my hope is that you will feel inspired to pick up that pen or get out your keyboard… And get writing. Get working on your creative dreams, however they show up for you.

And do it for you first. Create what you want first.

And keep it fun. Try not to force it from a painful place.

My hope is that by enjoying your life more and engaging your creativity, you start to create a life you’ve dreamed of (or something even better!).

Just like I’m creating a business that feels good to me.

With that, I’m stoked to announce that the Divine Creativity Portal is in development!

The Divine Creativity Portal is a toolbox of self-led tools and intuitively channeled energy healings for creative healing along with practical tools to tap into your creative muse within whenever you desire to.

Because you do have a divine creator within you, and I want to help you remember just that while giving you concrete ways to stay connected to your creative inspiration.

If you’re interested in knowing when the Divine Creativity Portal drops, add your email here so you’re the first to know!

And let’s start to see creativity differently together.

Featured Edit: The Supporting Class

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The Supporting Class

By Suzette Spencer

SERVICE: Developmental Edit + Proofread

Suzette came to The Intuitive Editor in the fall of 2023, when they were seeking editorial help in how to structure and frame their poetry book so it had a cohesive flow. They also wanted to make sure it was clear in its messaging while still respecting their creative voice.

Suzette self-published their collection of poetry in December 2023. Available at Barnes & Noble online.

What inspired you to seek out editorial support?

I sought out editorial assistance/proofreading because writing poetry in my own voice was easy, but making it clear what I wanted to say to others was harder. This way, I didn’t have to journey into the world of publishing and sharing alone.

Why did you choose The Intuitive Editor to help you with your book?

The Intuitive Editor has been a good friend of mine for many years. She has proven to be creative, generous, and kind, and I knew that she was the right person to trust with works precious to me. Everything posted on her Instagram shows that she is the type of person I wanted feedback from.

What was your favorite aspect of working with The Intuitive Editor?

I appreciated the emotional response The Intuitive Editor provided! She was able to tell me how my writing made her feel and that helped me stay motivated. I also learned a lot about grammar I didn’t quite understand before and that was wildly helpful.

In what way do you feel The Intuitive Editor helped you most?

I feel like she showed me how to use my own intuition to figure out where “proper grammar” was necessary in poetry and where I could do as I wished for creative reasons.

As someone with a past of being prolific in writing poetry (more than a year of writing a poem every day) and who studied the format extensively in college, I was so excited when the opportunity to work on a collection of poetry arose.

What I love about poetry is that every little thing can be an intentional choice, and sometimes that means using a line break instead of a comma or period or omitting punctuation altogether. I also love how wordplay is part of the poetic game.

It was fun to point out opportunities to play with these aspects to add further dimension and intrigue—to draw the reader into the intended meaning (or contrariwise, make them ponder it further). The poet gets to make the call for what they want—just like any other author!

It was a pleasure to work with Suzette! I was honored & delighted when they first came to me to help with their book of poems. I loved finding pieces Suzette wrote I deeply related to (there were a lot!) while I helped them frame and order the poems in a way that added a dynamic flow to the book as a whole.

Thanks for your kind words, Suzette, and for trusting The Intuitive Editor with your poetry! Wishing you all the best on your publishing journey and beyond!

Suzette Spencer

Author of The Supporting Class

@suzieneverlands on Instagram

Photo by:
Kylee Ogzewalla / Wonderglass Photography

Lesson on Perspective From a Ladybug

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We had a strange visitor the other day. A visitor that made me immediately grab for a swatter.

It flew like nothing else we had seen in the apartment. We’ve had moths, mosquitos, flies… But this looked different. Like a small beetle or something. Since it decided to camp out so high on our wall, we couldn’t get a really good look at it.

And our evening quickly turned into a bug-watching night.

“I’ll grab the binoculars,” my love said before disappearing into the bedroom.

“Will we be able to see it since we are already so close?” I asked, glancing up at the little bug on the lime green wall above our LED upright lamp.

“One way to find out!”

After going back and forth, getting dust from the unused binoculars caught in my eyelashes, seeing wobbly views from shaking hands from trying to adjust the knobs and dials on the little seeing contraption, changing positions all over the room, my love announces from the couch that he can see it! I take the binoculars and continue to stand in the middle of the room.

All I can see is a blurry green wall and a fuzzy little brown dot. Still I couldn’t make out what the little bugger was. “Why can’t I see this thing?” I ask, needing to brush more dust from my eyelash, because I’m sure that wasn’t helping either.

Again, another back-and-forth dance resumed with my love and I continuing to change the dials and knobs until he says he can see the little thing crystal clear. I take a look through the binoculars, still to no avail.

I try to change my position, from across the little bug, from right beneath it at a funky angle so I can sit on the couch (but then subsequently tweak my neck), to lying down on the pillows next to me before I can see. Closing one eye, leaving the other open…. Just trying to see.

What my love hadn’t told me was that the dial only affected the right eye, so I started believing my astigmatism was at work and why I couldn’t see the critter clearly since the right lens is zoomed in about twice the size of the left.

(I felt like a real dork when I realized it was the binoculars doing that, and not my “everything-looks-bigger-over-here” astigmatism in my right eye.)

“Aha!” I finally yell, triumphant!

A lady bug! A little yellow lady bug was our unexpected guest. Still, it was hard to see her, and my massive hands were shaking around the tiny binoculars they dwarfed.

We even debated what color the lady bug looked like because it certainly wasn’t red. Yellow? Brown? Tan? We landed on yellow; I had thought it was a hornet at first since I had caught a flash of yellow when it flew away from the wall only to land two feet away from it’s original spot.

Want to know why I finally saw the lady bug clearly?

I had to sit in the exact position, in the same spot on the couch, that my love was sitting in. Any other position or perspective from the room could not provide the clarity of sight with the binoculars that that singular spot could.

Then, of course, I refused to move from that space as I observed the uncommonly colored lady bug as it perched on our wall for a while. We both decided to see what spiritual messages the yellow lady bug might carry (you can discover that here).

And, as I got to thinking—whilst trying to make a little spa for the lady bug to play in, have a drink or a fruity snack from—this was an incredible example of perspective and how no one will see things the way you do. They can wear your clothes, they can learn to move like you, work in a similar job as you…

But they cannot see what you see or the way that you see it.

Your perspective is uniquely your perspective. No one else will see the world as you do. No one else will experience the same things as you even if you’re doing the same activities. Because they are simply not you.

Your perspective is unique. Your thoughts, your feelings, your experiences, your upbringing, how you view things, what triggers you, what makes you smile… So many fractals that just make up pieces of you will effect your perspective.

And with that in mind…

With your perspective, you get to see the world through your own personal lens. And that means no one will communicate the things you yearn to express in the way you do (and will).

So, why (if you ever doubt yourself because other people might be doing what you desire to do) would you ever worry about not stepping into your light and sharing your perspective and being concerned about sounding like someone else? Because you won’t!

The entire make up of your life experiences make you you. Just like someone else’s experience will determine their own perspective.

Just like my upbringing in Utah in a very religious family-centric community colors my perspective, your own experiences will provide a certain type of lens for your perspective.

This is why your voice matters, why each voice matters. This is why your unique story matters. Only you can tell your story in a way that no one else can.

You may think other people have done it before, but they haven’t. They haven’t done it as only you could do it. Only you can.

We all have our own personalities, paths, and yes, perspectives, too.

And when you share your perspective—your voice and stories—then others can relate to and understand you better. It’s when you share the details that make you you that people can also see themselves. How we are alike. How we are different. And how our differences create the kaleidoscope that makes life so interesting and dynamic.

It’s when we share our perspectives that we can more easily step into each other’s shoes, even if just for a moment… For a little perspective. 😉

Now that’s quite the connection to make.

So, I challenge you to embrace your unique perspective, insights, and stories…

You never know what your light can do in this world when you express your unique perspective, or who you might inspire through the stories that only you can share.

Who knows… A lady bug, or other creature, might visit to share their wisdom with you too.

Have a wonderful week, lovely.

(The lady bug ended up staying for almost three days… I hope they liked the snack and water I left for them.)

A Call to Joy – How TIE Was Born

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I want to tell you a secret…

I want to tell you how and why The Intuitive Editor was born.

Because I realize I haven’t told anyone except my coach in 2021…

Why It All Began

The Intuitive Editor was born because writing is one of the most natural things I do. It’s not something I’ve ever felt self-conscious about. And it was something I became known and recognized for. It’s been my selling point for every job I’ve held. 

I’ve always been a writer, pouring stories onto pages since I learned how to write.

And just like writing, reading fills my soul.

Both reading & writing are where my playtime, my learning, my growth, my self-reflection, and my creativity live and thrive.

I love writing in all the ways it serves me and all the ways I can create new things with just words. I can transport and change others just like what I’ve read has transported and changed me throughout my life.

From Writing to Proofreading…

From my love of writing in all the work and all the jobs I’ve done, I began to love improving writing.

Taking an article and cleaning it up. Making sure headlines and lower thirds are accurate. Proofing emails and brochures before they go out. Shiny, sparkly, and clear.

The writing jobs beautifully segued into editing and proofreading. I fell into it and fell in love. 

There’s nothing like taking a piece of writing and polishing it up so it’s free of errors and clear in its message. Scrubbing out all those errors, typos, and misused verb tenses littering the path along the way.

And I love learning about how to improve my writing and editing skills. Those two passions co-exist within me.

The more I write, the better I get.

The more I edit, the better I get at both writing and editing.

Seems like a win-win, no?

A Call to Pursue My Joy

When it became clear to me during the pandemic that I needed to be writing more, that writing calls me more than anything else I do… I found that my voice and stories needed the space, energy, and freedom to pour from me.

And the work I was doing… Needed a big adjustment to allow that. 

While I love writing in all its facets, freelance writing is actually quite draining for me. In multiple ways. Energetically and creatively.

I knew I needed to find work and build a career that wouldn’t drain my creative juices so much and also felt enjoyable because… I’m simply not available for work I don’t enjoy. I know I won’t be motivated to do it if enjoyment isn’t there, and that’s not fair to anyone.

So, I sat down and explored what work I most loved to do that didn’t suck my creative juices dry.

Enter editing…

Every single job I’ve had, I have proofread, copyedited, and edited countless files and documents. And that’s always been my favorite part of every job!

In every office, I became the go-to proofreader, earning the moniker “The Machine”  since I was so efficient and accurate in catching errors and maintaining style guides prior to print, post, or broadcast.

Even when a close friend or family member sent me something for a quick once-over, I’d get so excited that I would literally drop everything to proofread something for them to help. It became my favorite way to help loved ones. 

Serendipitously, a few years back, I was invited to join a book editing firm as a book editor and copyeditor. And honestly? That was the most excited for a job that I’ve ever been. And it’s been the best job ever—plus, I get to work with a dear friend and mentor who saw my potential. <3

What It All Boils Down To…

I love diving into something to make it better. I love correcting the errors and providing guidance for the writer to improve their work in the future. That’s ridiculously fun for me, and I can literally do it for hours without looking up. 

Sometimes it feels like alchemy… Taking something and making it shine. Spinning words and stories into gold. 

That’s it… I’m a story alchemist.

That obsession and excitement to do that kind of work was my sign—my billboard from the Universe—for what kind of work I should be doing.

Then I Started My Business!

So, now I’m here, with my own editing business. One that incorporates my core strengths: my intuition, writing, and editing prowess. It really is a perfect marriage of my skills. 

And in creating this business, my hope and dream is that my editing business will support other writers & creatives live a more balanced and creatively enriched life while polishing up their stories and increasing their potency—while also maintaining my own creative writing practice. 

Because the Universe knows this girl has piles of stories coming out of each finger tip that she wants to put to the page. (I’ve got a couple over here in the Bookshop!)

When it comes time for me to send my books out into the world, you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be hiring an editor or two myself.

After all, even editors need editors!

Want to Work With Me?

So, if you’re ready to step into a more divinely led creative path, putting your stories onto the page, and building a creative practice that’s in harmony with the rest of your life… I’d be tickled & honored to help you shape and polish your written works too.

Thanks for being here and hearing my story. <3

All Roads Lead to Editing: My Story CV

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Have you ever stopped to look at how your experiences have added up to where you are now? It’s quite invigorating and encouraging when you connect the dots between all you’ve done. The patterns that show up, the passions that emerge… It can be very valuable information into what you truly desire to do. In fact, it could create a map to show where you’re heading.

Well, come to find out, telling stories (and polishing them up!) has always been at the heart of the work I do.

When I sat down to reflect on my work history to see how my previous experience bolsters my credibility as a book editor… I came up with quite a bit, and I’m excited to share it with you!

overhead shot of a person with a pen using a laptop

The Road That Led to My Editing Career: A CV

As an IT assistant during college…

I got to assist in writing a cybersecurity newsletter that broke down complex technical stories into actionable ways to protect yourself online. Just a couple of years of this work led to me taking over the helm of that monthly newsletter to this very day, sharing important cyber news stories and tips for a 50,000+ organization to bolster cybersecurity awareness and to protect their employees and company assets.

In my university’s sports media office…

I learned the importance of editing while writing athlete feature stories. I also learned that the red pen can be wielded for good to create more powerful language choices for compelling stories.

My speedy keyboarding skills were also put to the test in transcribing interviews for sporting news updates (85+ WPM, thank you very much). 

In the newsroom…

I got to help curate stories from the endless influx of news submissions and also write news stories for the web.

But my favorite part of that job was proofreading broadcast lower third headlines (the ones at the bottom of the screen) as well as cleaning up and creating a better flow to the scripts for the anchors, so they wouldn’t stumble over their words or mispronounce names.

Although not entirely PC, I did earn the moniker among colleagues as the “AP Nazi” for keeping the station’s web & broadcast content aligned with the Associated Press guidelines. I even remember a producer saying, “Did Mikael take her pass yet? Then, we’re good to go.”

As a communications coordinator for a state business association…

I got to write about all things business for social media, email marketing, radio spots, and website content—while proofreading anything the association sent out. I became fondly known as “The Machine” for punching out efficient proofreads in a pinch for almost all of the departments within the chamber.

I also took tremendous pride in being the head curator and editor for their annual magazine, Life in Utah, for the two years I was there before taking the leap to move to New York City to explore performance opportunities.

They even trusted me enough to keep me on as a contract editor for subsequent issues and important documents after my departure. (And colleagues from that office still call me on occasion for quick proofreads!)

As an actor & performer…

I literally got to put on a show telling all kinds of stories. I got to tap into characters, their motivations, how they change through a story, and emotionally dive into what it takes to make their story seem real and relatable on stage. And this is critical to understanding characters and story arcs in books!

When those gigs led to teaching music and performance to elementary students, I got to create story plans to keep the littles engaged in learning the fundamentals of music (all while singing silly songs!). Getting to know the stories of the children I got to teach was a new kind of thrill (and so was their excitement for my weekly visit).

As a freelance writer & editor in the Big Apple…

I got to connect with a wide variety of entrepreneurs and businesses to translate their messages and stories into about pages, blog posts and articles, press releases, and other web copy and content. I got to offer college essay & SAT/ACT essay prep feedback to students preparing for their next stage of life.

This is where I learned copywriting and writing on the fly (Fiverr is a whole thing, my friends). My quick typing and ability to break down complex concepts into relatable and understandable stories really came in handy!

And now, as a book editor and copyeditor…

Editing and proofreading seemed to always be one-off jobs… Until I got the invitation to become a contract book editor from a friend, who also helped edit my own book, that would light a fire deep within me that just couldn’t be squelched. My career focus was found!

Now I take content and stories and make them shine, by cleaning up the text to keep readers engaged in the moment and in the story. I bring consistency and polish to dialogue, characters, and narrative arcs, so it all makes sense to your audience.

And the message you’re trying to communicate? It actually reaches them so they say, “I really needed to read this right now.”

Because… We all have a voice. We all have a message. And we all have a story.

And that brings me to one of the mottos of The Intuitive Editor:

Your story matters. Your message matters.
Your words matter.

And your story deserves to be told in a way that you’re proud of.

So, ultimately, my favorite thing is polishing up words & stories to make them shine and work for you rather than against you.

It took a while, but eventually I discovered that this is the work I can get utterly lost in because I love it so much. Improving others’ writing (even my own) has been a lifelong passion, and sharing ways to create a more impactful statement or message? My version of Turkish delight.

Believe me, I know it can be so nerve-wrecking to put your words out there, and my hope is that my storytelling and editing expertise will improve your writing and storytelling abilities while instilling the confidence to share your message without fear of looking inexperienced or unprofessional.

You deserve to be seen and heard in your full glory, and it’d be my utter pleasure to help you proof & polish your story to help you share it with the world.

If you’d like to work with me, discover my editorial services over here. I look forward to discovering your story & helping you to proof & polish it! 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Making Comparisonitis Work For You: How to Use Comparison to Find Your Direction

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From my working chair, not so long ago, I found myself on an Instagram page of another book editor. And they were killing it.

(Or at least that’s what it looks like on social media, and we all know how much of that is just appearances…)

I was totally into what they were sharing. Thought their social media game was on point. Looked like they were #bookedandblessed in every pun imaginable. Discovered we had quite a bit in common… And then I noticed they were 20 years old and started their business around the same time as me.

Cue my mood crashing, as a 30+ year-old, who only recently decided to pursue an editorial business after years of trying to identify the the skills I most wanted to use to help people. (And who has also had a decade-plus of professional experience this young person has not had, but that certainly wasn’t coming to mind at that moment.)

I fell into the comparison trap… hard.

The comparisonitis. I drank the compareschläger (as Marie Forleo calls it). The whole bottle, probably. Tears were shed, though I strongly suspect the full moon played a part as well in heightening emotions. Either way, my confidence tanked, the comparisonitis the culprit.

This surprised me, honestly… I am solidly in the “the only person I compete with is myself” camp. Cheering people on as they rock what they’re doing is one of my very favorite things.

Most of the time, I have no reason to compete or compare myself to anyone else because I know everyone is their own unique person, meant to do great things in their world with their gifts and talents. I think that is one of the most beautiful things in this world!

And I still found myself comparing my business to another book editor’s social media profile.

Because I’m human. And humans tend to fall into the comparison trap with each other, even without trying to.

The Reality Check

Calming myself down, especially with thanks to my partner, I remembered that this person is not me. And I am not them. And though we are similar, we do not do our work in the same way. They can rock their social media game while I wish I could bag social media all together. All they are doing that I wish I was doing… I don’t have to do it and I do not have to do it like them.

I can release my grip on the compareschläger, put my head down, listen to what my own heart has to say, and then put in the work to do the work that I actually want to do.

Because, once I sobered myself up, I realized that this instance of comparisonitis gave me a glaring billboard for the work I really want to do.

The book editing and copyediting is the work I truly want to do.

(Along with writing my own books, of course!)

And this epiphany came with this reminder:

You don’t compare yourself to people who are doing things you have no interest in…
You compare yourself to the people who are doing what you truly want to do.

This is why comparing yourself to others and looking at where you get jealous of other people can actually be a helpful tool. It may not feel good in the moment; however, it can point you in the direction of where you most want to move in.

How to Use Comparison to Find Your Direction

Start to notice when you get jealous of someone else or find yourself falling into the comparison trap. And ask yourself why those feelings are arising.

You’re jealous of that woman who can work from the beach on her laptop? How can you create that feeling with your own work from where you’re at until you can make that a reality for yourself?

You find yourself comparing your achievements to peer who seems much further along than you? What is it about what they have or are doing that you seek?

Odds are, because there’s something there, something you desire on a much deeper level, that you haven’t achieved yet… Or maybe even something you haven’t acknowledged that you want.

I have a feeling you’ll find your own aha moment in asking why the feelings of comparison and jealousy come up, especially if you’ve been questioning your purpose, direction, or next steps. I know I did.

Find out what the desire is—the desire hidden deep underneath the mask of comparing yourself to another—and start moving toward it.

So, you may see a refocus from me on sharing more about the book editing and copyediting work. I love the intuitive side of my business, and I don’t want to let it take away from the editorial side of things that I utterly love doing… My intuition supports my hard-earned editing skills, and it thrills me to no end to see how I can help others with these gifts.

And I plan on using any social media stalking of other editors for inspiration and ideas, not comparison. If it start falling into the comparison mire again, I’ll know to pull myself out before it gets too far. Because we all know that can work against you rather than for you.

Remember that only you can do the work you were put on this earth to do with the gifts that only you have. No one can do it like you do… So keep going, especially when comparison comes along to try and derail you. Let the comparison be fuel for you to pinpoint the next steps for you to reach for your dreams.

Want to join me in putting down the compareschläger, putting your head down, listening to your heart, and doing the work you really, really want to do? See you there. <3

Do Expectations Serve Your Creative Process?

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blank paper with pen and coffee cup on wood table


Did I tell you I’m writing a book?

It’s a story that’s been brewing within me since high school, but somehow now is the time that it feels right to get it all fleshed out. It’s taking directions I don’t think I was expecting when I first started envisioning it 15 years ago, and I find that exciting. I have a general map of where it’s going but also releasing the reins to see how the story wants to be told…

I’ve always loved writing. As a little kid, I was the kid sitting in the shadows of the big brick building, notebook in hand and just jotting down story ideas as they came to me. I can’t count how many stories I’ve written, but just writing stories alone has always felt natural—creating characters and new worlds to explore as I wrote them down.

It came as no surprise when a healer in NYC told me that my sacral chakra was thumping and bumping with stories that wanted to be born, like warriors yearning to burst through into the world. 

When the pandemic began, it felt important to return to my creative writing practice. As something to create, keep myself engaged, and to give myself permission to work on something I really wanted to work on.

My mermaid novel, the one I’m presently working on, practically danced onto the stage of my mind and said, “It’s my turn!” 

While I previously self-published my first novel in 2015, I cannot say I have any expectations for this mermaid book… Kind of like I have no expectations as for how the nitty-gritties of the storyline will work out, as I let the inspirations come as I go. I’m typically a pantser (writing by the seat of your pants, a NaNoWriMo term), not a plotter, though I do believe an outline can be helpful. I don’t know what I’m going to do with this book yet, how I want it to be published, if I want to go self-publishing again, or if I think I’d like to shop it to agents or to a traditional publishing house.

I’m finding that I love just being in the process of writing it, without any expectation of what will come of it once the book is fully written—though I can already tell it’s a book of epic proportions. Somehow, this book has been transforming into an epic environmentalist fantasy mermaid rescue tale (or tail?), and it’s quite a thrill of a ride to see how it all unfolds. 

Which leads me to what I’m musing on today… 

Expectations.

Where, how, and why we have them, and how they ultimately serve us and our creativity. Particularly in regards to our dreams or what we want to accomplish. 

This morning, in my reading time, I kept coming across the idea that God/the Universe/Source experiences life and itself through us as human beings. That expectations can get in the way of truly experiencing life to the fullest and essentially separates us from what IS by focusing on the future rather than the present. It does harken back to the whole “focus on the journey, not the end result” concept. How you can never truly know how something will work out and how expectations can set you up for disappointment, resentment, or even anger. (From Conversations with God, Vol. I)

The idea of releasing expectations to allow yourself to immerse into the experience you feel inspired to take, from my understanding, is how things can turn out even more magical than you plan for. Allowing yourself to do something for the joy and pleasure of it without having to think about the end result can open up universal possibilities to fill in the gaps and create something more than you imagine. 

Why not take a passionate step forward even if you can’t see the way ahead
or what’s at the end of the road?
Why not enjoy the journey toward something you want,
but also allow yourself to be open to something even greater if you take inspired action?

Life wants to be fulfilled through us. Life yearns to be experienced just as we as humans yearn to experience life. If we put expectations on everything that will happen to us or how things will turn out, we could cut ourselves off from the universal flow that wants to work with us. We cut ourselves off by focusing on the future outcomes rather than staying present in the moment to our needs and inspirations as they come.

By staying open, by releasing attachment to outcomes or results, we open the doors to be surprised by life, by the universe, by the greater power present in every creation in this world… 

So, I invite you to take a look at where you may be harboring expectations when it comes to your dreams, how you can release your hold on them, and how you can start taking inspired action just because that’s what feels right to you in the present moment.

Do something just to do it, because you love it. Not because it will get you something, somewhere, or someone. Focus on how it feels to do it in the moment so you can carry that feeling with you—because, ultimately, it’s the feeling of what we desire that we are chasing. 

Stay present. Take a breath. Release expectations for how it will go or end.

And go write that book.* Just to do it. 

***

* – Or any other activity you feel lit up by. 😉

As a writer, I’ve been through the editorial process with my own editor (and plan to again—even editors have editors). It’s not as scary as you might think! I credit my editor with helping my story to truly come out how it was meant to… And I want to help you do that too!

If you’re in the market for an editor who also knows what it’s like to be in the writer’s shoes (thus knows how to make it more fun and easeful), check out my editorial services here. I look forward to hearing from you!

Joy Challenge #4 ~ Unexpected Delights

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surprised ethnic girl picking apples on tree

This week for your Joy Challenge, let’s keep it extremely simple…

surprised ethnic girl picking apples on tree

Unexpected Delights

I’d love for you to keep your eyes open for this Joy Challenge.

Set the intention before you leave the house to be delighted by what you see. Then, let yourself be delighted by what’s around you.

Let the unexpected things grab your attention. It could be an animal (or more!), an insect, a child, the shift of colors in the leaves, or a lovely exchange between strangers that you observe.

Be open to being delighted by the random happenings and nature around you!

How this challenge went for me…

I saw school of fish, flashing their silvery bodies as they crossed the Hudson on my usual visit to Riverbank State Park for my morning walk. I hadn’t seen that before! The Hudson usually has pretty cloudy waters, so to actually see the shape and form of the school topped with the flashing and splashing of their swim brought me a fresh joy.

Also, seeing a cute Pez dispenser at the store gave me a tickle of delight, so I had to pick that up too.

I’d be tickled to know what ends up delighting you in your observations this week! Leave a comment below and let me know!

Have a blessed week!

The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.

Sign up to receive the weekly Joy Challenge and regular updates
from The Intuitive Editor in your inbox today!

Photo by Zen Chung on Pexels.com

Joy Challenge #3 ~ Song from Your Youth

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boy tuning transistor radio

Our joy is found only in the present, so we are going to create some joy from a past love for a twist today..

And when I say a past love, I mean a song you loved in the past.

boy tuning transistor radio

A Song From Your Youth

Identify a song that brought you joy as a kid. And then go find it. If you can, find it in the original rendition you first heard all those years ago (same artist, same album, etc).

Let it be a song you haven’t heard in who knows how long.
Let it be a song that whenever it was on the radio in the car, you yelled out to let it keep playing.
Perhaps it’s a song from a movie or from a TV show you particularly enjoyed.
Or a song that your dad used to play when he got ready in the morning,
or the song your grandmother used to hum to herself as she went about her day.
It could be any song, as long as it was one that made you smile as a child.

Then it’s time to get present with a song that delighted you as a child to see how it brings you joy now.

Plug in your headphones and turn it on with whatever source you can find it on. Hear the song with your adult ears.

The goal this week is to bring a new sense of joy to an old love of music.

Most songs are only 3-5 minutes long, so I challenge you to sit and listen without any other distractions. Just sit. Close your eyes. Focus on just the sounds coming into your ears and the how the vibrations make your body feel. And listen to your song.

What emotions does it bring up for you?
Did you find new meaning in it?
Does it make more sense now or does it confuse you even more?

A bonus challenge:

If you want, choose more than one song of your childhood to return to to re-enjoy! Maybe make yourself a playlist of your favorite tunes from your youth that you can return to anytime you like.

How this challenge went for me…

A few songs I love from my childhood that immediately came to mind include:

“Hold On” by Wilson Phillips
“Dreams to Dream” from Fievel Goes West
“Whatever You Imagine” from The Pagemaster
“Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks (why this was a 3-year old’s favorite song, I’ll never know!).

I loved rediscovering the harmonies in “Hold On”…
Hearing “Dreams to Dream” replays the animated sequence with Tanya from the movie. “Whatever You Imagine” is one of my favorite songs ever so it’s always been in my playlists. And “Thunder Roles” returns me to the living room in my grandparents’ house with my little black tape player.

Music carries memory and history… See where your childhood favorites return you to.

Maybe these will spark further memories of songs you love from your childhood!

Did one song in particular come to mind at reading this post?
Does it carry significant meaning or a special message that’s relevant to you now?

I’d be tickled to know if your chosen song brings a needed salve or message to you right now. If you feel like sharing, let me know which song you chose to return to in the comments below. You may remind someone of a song they loved too!

Have a blessed week!

The true joy is starting to be present to your life.
Start to notice where you can pause and enjoy the moment more.
Because when you align with your joy through all of your senses,
you become more aligned with your core, your body, and your soul.
Then it becomes easier to listen to your intuition and to let it guide your creativity.

Sign up to receive the weekly Joy Challenge and regular updates
from The Intuitive Editor in your inbox today!

Photo by Victoria Borodinova on Pexels.com