Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most common FAQs I receive. If you don’t see what you are looking for please contact me

What Would You Like to Know?

What does a book editor do?

As a writer, you are trying to tell a story and you are trying to reach an audience. You’ve probably got a million ideas zipping around your brain, or in your manuscript. An editor’s job is to bring order to these ideas so that your story or message shines through. Depending on your project, an editor may read your manuscript many times, making notes on characterization, plotting, setting, structure, pacing, voice. An editor‘s job is to serve the story or the book and make recommendations to ensure that story or book is the best it can be. A good editor will help pull out ideas that you didn’t even know you had.

How can I tell what kind of book editing I need?

The type of editing you need depends upon where you are in the writing process. The descriptions in the sidebar will point you in the right direction:

Developmental Editing

A developmental editor helps you turn your notes and ideas—even a first draft–into a solid synopsis and outline. A developmental editor will coach you through the writing process, helping you to focus on the strengths in your writing, and identifying the areas that need work.

Substantive Editing

You’ve completed the first draft of your novel. Congratulations! Although it may be tempting to type “The End” and send it off to an agent (or three), your book will be better served if you take a step back and have a book editor read the finished draft to see where the story is working—and where it could use some revision.

While working on a substantive edit, the editor will read your manuscript several times to get to the core of the story. Notes will be made on characterization, plotting, setting, structure, pacing, and voice. The editor will offer suggestions as to how to make your manuscript more refined, more focused, more marketable, allowing you to revise the manuscript so that it meets your goals.

Line Editing

You’ve revised your manuscript, and all the “big pieces”—characterization, plot, pacing–are in place.
Now it’s time to look at the smaller details. In a line edit, the editor will go through the work, word-by-word, line-by-line, looking for areas that may need further explanation, clarity for meaning, elimination of jargon, smoother language, and other non-mechanical line-by-line editing. A line edit is more detail-focused than a substantive edit.

Copyediting

A copyeditor’s job is to make sure all the smallest details are in place. A copyeditor looks for errors in grammar and punctuation, checks your facts and makes sure that your writing is consistent throughout the book. Work is usually done according to the standards in the Chicago Manual of Style.

What is a synopsis? Is it the same thing as a book proposal?

A synopsis is a breakdown of your story. I liken it to a roadmap. Sometimes, authors like to do a chapter-by-chapter synopsis; sometimes they prefer to use a narrative style to reveal the characters, plot, setting etc. A synopsis is a valuable tool for the writer and it is useful for editors and publishers, too. It is not the same thing as a book proposal—you are not necessarily selling anything here. There is no set length for a synopsis, but I think about ten pages is ideal.

Can I edit my own book?

Yes, you can–but editing your own book is like trying to cut your own hair! An editor has the benefit of being able to view your work objectively. It can be difficult to step back from your writing to see the weak spots or, more importantly, to fully appreciate the really strong content. Most creative work involves editors at one stage or another—whether the medium is the written word, film or music. A good editor will help you see things you didn’t even know were there.

How much does a book editor charge for their work?

Some editors charge per word, some charge a flat fee, some charge an hourly rate. The cost depends on how much work is involved and the type of editing required. Whatever the case, a good book editor will work within your budget.

Call me and we can talk about costs for your project.

Everyone Has a Story to Tell, And I’d Love to Help You With Yours.

“I’ve been working with Valerie at Editabook.com as my editor for years now, and I simply cannot exaggerate how indebted I am to her for her amazing skill and talent. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to every project, and her insights and suggestions always improve my manuscripts immensely. She is an invaluable and integral part of my writing process, and I cannot recommend her services highly enough.”

--Jasinda Wilder—New York Times, USATODAY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, Amazon.com, and international bestselling author of more than 90 books.

“Valerie Gray took my broken manuscript and helped me stitch it back together into a book that was quickly acquired, a book that sold beautifully and, most important, a book that I absolutely love. Valerie is a total class act. She is a joy to work with, she knows both the craft and the business of writing, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

--Kimberly Stuart,author of Sugar: A Novel

“Valerie Gray is a joy to work with! Her keen insight brought into focus the problems in my manuscript that I knew were there, but could not see. Better yet, she provided concrete suggestions on how to solve them, identifying ways to strengthen the story, all while respecting my own unique vision and voice. She also calmed my panic during a very stressful time and reminded me that I can do this!”

--Roxanne Snopek,USA TODAY bestselling author

“Valerie and I have worked together on seven books, and in that time she has proven herself to be a gifted, generous, and immensely talented editor. With her elegant style and attention to detail, she is adept at guiding a book from the merest wisp of an idea to a fully realized and beautifully complete novel. I am a better writer for knowing her.”

—Deanna Raybourn,New York Times bestselling author

Selected Portfolio

Love is Murder

You Can Do It

Sugar