Read time: 4 minutes

After deciding to pursue professional editing and choosing the perfect editor, you have a big decision to make. Which type or types of editing does your manuscript need?

It can be difficult to be objective about your own work's needs, so don't hesitate to reach out to your editor and ask for their opinion.

To help give you a starting place, I've broken down some common types of editing and the order you should pursue them. Note that terminology is not completely standardized across the industry, so always confirm the scope of work with your editor. The definitions below reflect those of the services available from Blue Pen.

Read time: 1 minute

​When proofreading, you can save yourself some time by using the find and replace feature to catch common formatting issues. Use the following checklist to ensure your work is as clean as possible.

For a formatting starting point, click here to grab your free Editing Kit, which includes a standard formatting template.

If you're querying literary agents, especially for the first time, you probably have a lot of questions. What should you be doing? What should you not be doing? How do you make your query stand out?

I've been there, and as a professional editor and represented author, who is passionate about teaching, I was in a position to provide accessible and reliable information.

I created The Query Course to help writers learn the skills and techniques that will make their query irresistible. And I incorporate approachable methods, breaking down the process into manageable bites and allowing writers to learn through practice.
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Read Time: 3 minutes

​At the time of this post’s writing, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted every aspect of daily life, both personal and professional. People are scared, and many writers have put their dreams on the back burner.

​Although I fully understand that this exceptional situation means that many simply do not have the time or energy to focus on their writing careers, many other would-be published authors are not submitting because it’s not “the right time.”

No, we are not often in the throes of a global pandemic. But we each individually experience upheavals in our lives that make us feel like we should put writing or submitting on hold. Whether it’s an apocalypse or a breakup, there will always be a reason that now is not the opportune time.

​Today, I want to put those thoughts to bed. Here are five reasons to submit your work right now.

Read Time: 2 minutes

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​Writers who aspire to traditional publication have multiple options, but the most time-tested—and the route that many writers take—is pursuing representation by a literary agent.

​If you’ve chosen this path, you are likely familiar with much of the internet’s advice on writing query letters. As a professional editor who specializes in queries, and a represented author, I’m here to offer you a bit more advice. But instead of talking about what to include in your query letter, this post will cover five common issues in queries.

Professional editing is crucial for self-publishing authors. But what type of editing do you need? How do you choose the perfect editor for your work? Let’s discuss the ins and outs of hiring a professional editor as an independent author.

Each year, the editors at Revise & Resub host a #10Queries event. Writers enter to win feedback on their query and first five pages.

On the day of the event, the editors post feedback on Twitter, using the hashtags #RevPit and #10Queries.

This is of course useful for the winners, but it's also beneficial for the entire writing community. Since many writers make similar mistakes when writing query letters, writers can typically find some useful feedback in the #10Queries tweets, even if their particular work was not analyzed.

In that vein, I've compiled my feedback from the 2020 event. I hope you find some words of wisdom to guide you through the query trenches.

Read Time: 10 minutes

Anyone who has been involved in publishing during the last decade is aware that self-publishing has entirely changed the landscape of the industry. But for writers who are learning how to publish a book for the first time, the self-publishing process can be more than a little overwhelming. In this guide, we're going to break down the benefits of self-publishing and the simple steps you can take to achieve your publishing goals.

​January 26 is an emotional day for me. Though today I have four years of distance from the event, I suspect this day will always feel turbulent. It’s a reminder of so many things for me, but one that rises to the top is that my personal world could be demolished in an instant. Of course, that goes for all of us.

​When we're discussing success on social media—specifically Twitter—the first question people ask is, "How many followers do you have?" And although having a ton of followers can make you feel successful and valued within your community, it is not an accurate measure of success on the platform. So what is?
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